CARS don’t often go on to achieve cult status but if there’s one that will in a few years’ time, it will be Peugeot’s all-new 508 GT.
That’s a big claim, especially so given its uninspiring spec sheet reveals a diesel-powered engine and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, but bear with me on this one as I haven’t been as surprised by a car in a long time as I was having spent a week with the French marque’s new four-door saloon.
Cars built on the other side of the English Channel are often the ones which secure a place in our hearts. The French simply have a knack for producing characterful, weird-but-wonderful vehicles and it’s something we shouldn’t be surprised at. Think of cult French cars and my mind immediately conjures up images of Renaultsport Clio V6s, Citroen C6s and the mighty DS from the mid-1960s. All quirky, all rare and all beguiling because of it.
Peugeot’s been on its renaissance for the last few years now. The revitalised GTI moniker has appeared on the rumps of the mightily impressive pumped-up 208 and 308 recently, but its non-sporting models have slowly but surely been getting more exciting. The 508 - which is seen as a rival to the established BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class - is the latest model to have a crack at the German-dominated sector, which has also seen the rise of the Jaguar XE and Alfa Romeo Giulia.
The German offerings, although undeniably polished, are the equivalent of beige chinos - you know they’re not going to be a controversial choice but it simply isn’t possible to be more boring. However, while the Giulia might stake a claim for being the most interesting of the bunch, the 508 drinks it under the table in just about every department thanks to how it goes about its business.
Firstly, it has the key ingredient of any cult car: extremely ‘out there’ looks. It’s incredibly striking from whichever angle you’re viewing it and there’s genuine style and attention to detail, such as the daytime running lights which swoop down the front bumper. It gets the attention by passers-by and draws opinions - the same simply cannot be said about a 320d, can it?
Open the door and it all gets better, because the interior - a major sticking point in French cars - is actually fantastic. It feels plush, expensive and different, its design is beautifully judged and all of the switchgear feels premium. Try as you might but you won’t find any of those cheap, scratchy plastics which used to ruin Peugeots of the past.
There’s the marque’s signature small steering wheel, glossy black trim and acres of space. BMW interiors aren’t exactly forward-thinking and Audi alternatives are undeniably class-leading thanks to their quality, but the 508’s is a genuine contender and people can’t dock it points anymore.
Press the starter button and the 2.0-litre is actually rather refined for a diesel motor and doesn’t sound at all agricultural. On the move it’s also hushed, offering 180bhp and super-frugal fuel economy. For reference, during a particularly busy week-long spell with it, a full tank yielded a genuine 600-mile range.
The eight-speed auto shuffles through its speeds well and the ride is supple, comfortable and has just the right amount of stiffness dialled in so it doesn’t feel wobbly round corners. As with most French cars, there are annoyances which rear their head, such as the view in front.
The steering wheel, despite being beautifully designed, completely blocks off your eyes from seeing the elevated instrument cluster as it does in other Peugeots. You can get around this foible by jacking your seat higher but the driving position feels all wrong when you do that, so you have to learn to live with the fact your eyes can only see the top half of the speedometer.
As is the case with most modern cars, the 508 is brimming with technology - the majority of which is pointless - that does little other than infuriate its driver. Lane-keep assist, which thankfully can be switched off, is arguably the most keen I’ve tried, while the pre-collision warning cuts in far too quickly and grabs at the brakes when it really isn’t necessary.
If you’re within a safe distance of a vehicle in front, it’ll warn you with an amber glow, whereas it implores you to brake and the mood lighting turns an angry red if you do not heed its command. Despite my best attempts, I never found the option to switch everything off.
But these irritations are a mere blemish on an otherwise impeccable car, one which is not only beautiful inside and out but a genuine alternative to yawn-inducing saloons it’s pitched against.
Do I think it’ll be a sales hit? Despite all this praise, I don’t think it will. People are set in their ways because German cars have dominated the sector for as far back as I can remember and to go French is deemed sacrilege, hence why I believe the 508 become a cult car in years to come.
In many ways, the blinkered brigade’s tunnel version and lust for German saloons makes it even cooler than it already is and, just like the Citroen C6, will be remembered fondly as a car bought by people only in the know.
Prices start at £24,000, reaching £34,000 in GT spec, and it’s worth every single penny.
