Peugeot 508 Allure HDi

Peugeots are rarely dull; sometimes infuriating, sometimes disappointing and unreliable but rarely are they dull.

And so it is with the French maker's latest creation, the 508, although first impressions might suggest otherwise.

The new 508 is conservatively clothed. The trademark gaping front grille and dramatically swooping lines have given way to an exterior design unlikely to turn many heads.

But the positioning of this new car is likely to prick ears, as Peugeot says it is a large car, which places it in competition with Australia's besieged home-grown heroes, the Holden Commodore and the Ford Falcon.

More likely competitors, however, are mid-sizers such as the Volkswagen Passat and the Ford Mondeo, cars that offer European cachet for a reasonable price.