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2020 Peugeot 508 sedan and wagon pricing and features

Generous standard kit and knee-weakening looks buoy Peugeot 508’s chances in a risky market

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UPDATED 28/08/19

Peugeot has now confirmed it will double the 508 Australian assault with a wagon variant now joining the 508 sedan that was confirmed in April.

Priced from $55,990, the 508 Sportswagon adds another $2000 on top of its midsized sedan sibling’s price and is equipped with identical specification. That includes the 165kW/300Nm 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

A single grade will be offered for now - the GT specification - with the only options being a panoramic glass sunroof or premium paint.

With the extra capacity of a wagon bodystyle, the Sportswagon forfeits a tenth of a second in the zero to 100km/h dash, compared with the sedan’s 8.1s figure, but manages the same average fuel consumption of 6.3 litres per 100km - not to mention significantly improved utility.

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Introducing the pair is an ambitious move by the French manufacturer, with Australians not typically enamoured with mainstream four-doors regardless of the body style. Rival brand Renault recently discontinued its Megane sedan and wagon, with only the sportiest hatchbacks remaining on sale. Those models that continue to compete from other brands generate only modest sales.

In the Pug’s favour however, is a compelling list of standard equipment that includes a well-appointed cabin, LED exterior lighting, power tailgate with hands-free operation, 19-inch alloy wheels, a high-end sound system, digital instrument and central displays, leather and Alcantara seats, and wireless charging and mirroring for ‘smart’ devices.

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It also pulls Peugeot’s customary trick of providing a chassis that manages to be both supple and cosseting but also rewarding for the driver. That achievement has standard adaptive dampers and Peugeot's lightweight EMP2 platform partly to thank.

Read next: Peugeot 508 review in France

There’s neither a diesel powertrain nor the 133kw petrol version that is offered to European customers. That said, an electrified version is certainly on the cards.

In addition to the highest power output and adaptive suspension, the GT grade gets bigger brakes and sexier body kits than what's offered as stnadard overseas. Customers wanting more kit can stump up another $2500 for a panoramic sunroof, or a palette of different metallic and pearl colours priced up to $1050.

ORIGINAL STORY PUBLISHED APRIL 2019

“The lion will roar again.” This has been the resounding message from Peugeot worldwide – how to make a once-great brand great again. “Small is the new big. We can leverage our boutique position and be more personal,” says Ben Farlow, Managing Director of Peugeot Citroen Australia. “We can be nimble as part of wider consumer trends.” Which brings us to one of the trickiest markets to get right in Australia: the mid-size sedan.

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As we know from driving it last year, the Peugeot 508 is an elegant, sexy comeback of a car that was well, never really all that sexy. The 2019 model has already won awards around the world, due to its emotionally-driven on-road appeal. Inspired by the 504 of the 1970s, Peugeot’s design team has created one of its most beautiful sedans yet.

It’s lower and sportier than its predecessor, brags incredibly supple cabin materials, frameless windows, creative use of 3D effect LED lighting on rear and a new fang-like design language on the nose; and a sleek, fastback shape.

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Peugeot are even shouting about the design in terms of its surprising drag co-efficiency, with one of the best in the segment (0.25Cd), More surprising is the sheer size of the boot – and asWheels’ Andy Enright discovered, it comfortably fits a mountain bike – an increasingly popular unit of measurement.

This is a sedan that, on looks, would be able to stare down the fashionable Audi A5 or Volvo S60 with that confidence the French have perfected over centuries of stylish smugness.

In Australia, the 508 will initially only arrive in one guise: the 508 GT, with a 508 touring wagon confirmed for later in the year. This will be offered with a 1.6L 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine, producing 167kW and 300Nm through an all-new Aisin eight-speed automatic transmission.

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As for gear, the 508 will include 19-inch alloys, semi-autonomous technology including cruise control and lane assist, massage seats in the front, all-new Peugeot I-Cockpit digitalised instrument cluster, hands-free tailgate with gesture control, a 515-watt, ten-speaker Focal sound system and adaptive dampers as standard.

Thanks to its EMP2 platform and the use of composite materials, it’s 70kgs lighter than its predecessor, too, and has a power to weight ratio that Peugeot claims is unmatched in the segment of 118kW/tonne.

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In Australia, Peugeot will also only have two options on the table: paint and a glass panoramic sunroof. Confirmed this week, the 508 GT will be priced at $53,990.

PRICING

  • Peugeot 508 Fastback GT - $53,990
  • Peugeot 509 Sportswagon GT - $55,990
  • Panoramic glass sunroof - $2500
  • Metallic paint - $5590
  • Pearlescent paint - $1050
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