French cars traditionally have served up rather unique driving experiences through novel and funky solutions to engineering problems, soft suspensions, and, more often than not, futuristic designs. For Peugeot, however, its styling efforts have devolved into downright boring cars since the elegant, Pininfarina-styled 405 it last sold in the United States in the early 1990s. A conservative approach is unlikely to help the brand reestablish itself as it plans its return to the U.S. market in the near future. Thankfully, a new generation of models is coming to reestablish Peugeot’s previous design mojo and is spearheaded by the shapely 2020 508 GT, a car that squarely aims at the sports-sedan establishment dominated by the Audi A4, BMW 3-series, and Mercedes-Benz C-class.
The front-drive-based 508 is a stunner—low, wide, and compact, with an aggressive, chiseled look created by tightly drawn lines and hard creases. The new face of Peugeot incorporates two vertical driving lights that look like fangs. The obnoxiously large mouth of recent Peugeot models has been scaled back. There also are frameless windows, and the 508’s flowing tail hides a large liftgate. For those who want even more space, a 508 wagon is available.
The forward thinking continues inside, but just because it looks like a spaceship doesn’t mean it’s impractical. Getting in and out is easy. Once inside the cabin is spacious, and the area under the hatch is massive. The center console is wide and tall, and the small-diameter, two-spoke steering wheel sits low in the dash. The main instrumentation in front of the driver is positioned above the upper rim of the steering wheel, which allows it to work as sort of a head-up display. The digital gauge display can be configured in various styles, including a drum-type speedometer and tachometer, as in a classic Citroën. Below the center touchscreen for climate and infotainment functions, there is a set of piano-style keys that accent the angular and sleek gear selector. Higher trim levels gain open-pore wood trim.
A Range of Powerplants
Peugeot’s current top-of-the-line engine for the 508, a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four, is based on the venerable Prince architecture. Codeveloped with BMW and best known in the U.S. as the engine in the 2007 to 2014 Mini Cooper, the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine has been reworked to produce 222 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. According to Peugeot, that’s enough for an unremarkable zero-to-62-mph sprint of 7.3 seconds and a terminal velocity of 154 mph. Combined fuel economy in the European cycle is impressive at 44 mpg, but it’s easy to manage at least 30 mpg, even with prolonged high-speed driving.
The 1.6-liter emits pleasantly low levels of noise, vibration, and harshness, but it’s not as refined as the V-6 offered in the 508’s predecessor, the 406. The 508 GT will move with authority when spurred, though it never delivers kick-in-the-pants acceleration. PSA’s eight-speed automatic transmission shifts effortlessly and with surprising quickness, particularly when the 508’s Sport driving mode is activated.
Diesels are still big in France and are arguably more compelling. Three diesel-power levels are available. Even the weakest one, with just 129 horsepower, matches the maximum torque of the top-level gasoline engine. The most powerful diesel makes 175 horses and churns out 295 lb-ft. There is also a plug-in hybrid with a 178-hp gasoline engine and a combined output of 222 horsepower, but that setup is a modest performer since it adds more than 600 pounds to the curb weight of conventional gasoline models. We’re more interested in a rumored hybrid variant that will make around 400 horsepower and is poised to take on the Volvo S60 T8.
A Promising Preview
We were more than a bit curious about the merits of the 508’s peculiar steering wheel and dashboard arrangement, which is odd in that characteristically French way. Despite riding on low-profile 235/40R-19 all-season tires, the driving experience of the cars we sampled is numbed by the highly boosted steering. The steering is direct, however, and its lightness gives the 508 an effortlessness that we like. Still, German rivals are more fun to drive.
The 508 GT’s chassis will tolerate aggression, but the tuning is clearly for comfort. That ride softness makes this Peugeot a perfect companion for long, effortless travel over long distances. While the market’s shift toward SUVs and crossovers means that the 508 GT is unlikely to make the trip Stateside, the relaxed and refined demeanor of Peugeot’s new sedan bodes well for the larger vehicles the brand might eventually sell here. That said, the 508’s personality, design, and overt Frenchness does make a convincing argument for keeping a sedan in the lineup. It’s a look at the future, but probably not our future.
Source: Reviews - aranddriver.com
