She says, he says: Peugeot 508
A powerful, well-equipped wagon to rival top-spec versions of the Mondeo, Liberty and Passat.
He: Peugeot has added a twin-turbo diesel GT flagship to its 508 Touring range. It's a powerful, well-equipped wagon to rival top-spec versions of the Ford Mondeo, Subaru Liberty, Volkswagen Passat and its fellow Frenchie, Citroen C5 Tourer. First impressions, Deb?
She: There's a lot to like about this spacious, practical, fuel-efficient car - and it looks a treat. It's a stylish premium wagon that garners plenty of interest from onlookers. Perhaps the panoramic glass roof catches the eye?
He: It adds a sense of airiness and warmth - handy on these faintly sunny winter days. The 508's cabin is roomy and offers good all-round visibility. If only it came with more small-item storage spots up front.
She: Agreed, there are design glitches in the dark cabin: for example, the retractable cup holders on the dash block the satnav screen and the aircon control buttons sit directly above the digital temp gauge (so as you press the button you can't see the readout). But it does feel like a premium car - even a more expensive one.
He: The other oddities are the GT's equipment list. It's loaded with some luxury items you wouldn't expect, such as heated front seats with a massage function for the driver, four-zone climate control, a head-up display and automatic parking assist, yet it misses out on more common items such as a reversing camera, satellite navigation (a $1500 option) and a stop-start system to save fuel when stationary.
She: A stop-start system would sure help in urban driving, where I averaged 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres. That diesel engine sounds muted at idle and power delivery is quite impressive. How did you like the drive, Chris?
He: The diesel's muscular characteristics make light work of quick acceleration bursts and it's quiet all right. It's also worth noting the 2.2-litre four-cylinder unit is more powerful, significantly cleaner and more fuel efficient than the outgoing 2.7-litre diesel V6, a version of which now serves Ford's Territory. Along with Peugeot's striking new design language, the engine is the jewel of the 508 crown for me.
She: It's a smooth, refined driving experience overall yet the suspension is firm, which might detract after some time spent behind the wheel. The upside is decent handling and a pretty engaging, dynamic drive.
He: As its sportier name suggests, the GT comes with a more dynamic rear suspension set-up, as well as bigger, 18-inch alloy wheels and lower-profile rubber than its siblings. Sounds good in theory but in practice the ride can crash over everyday road bumps. For me, the GT's ride quality is where it gets trumped by some rivals.
She: The 508 Touring can take a big load - the rear seats fold completely flat for a load area two metres long (this is Skoda Superb territory) - but only offers a space-saver spare wheel. Rear passengers also get ample head, shoulder and legroom.
He: It's a mix of emotions for Peugeot's family flagship for me but I'd wait for the new Mazda6 wagon, due early next year, before I'd drop my cash. How about you, Deb?
She: Like you, I expect the Mazda will be worth the wait, and less expensive, too. The refinement level of this polished, practical Peugeot will be hard to beat, however, so it's well worth the test drive.
Peugeot 508 GT Touring HDi
The price: From $55,990 plus on-road and dealer costs
Vital statistics: 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel 4-cyl; 150kW/450Nm; 6-sp auto; 5.9L/100km and 154g/km CO2; FWD
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