Peugeot’s latest offering in the D-segment of the passenger vehicle market is one that is multi-faceted, branches out to many sub-segments and can potentially best its rivals in terms of market reach and penetration.
For one, the Peugeot 508 has no less than five variants: the 508 Turbo S, 508 Premium, 508SW, 508GT, and 508SW GT. The first three are powered by identical 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged petrol engines while the latter two feature 2.2-litre diesel powertrains.
Second, the two SW variants as station wagons with considerably more storage space (an additional 213 litres with seats upright), thus offering greater variance in choices for prospective buyers, depending on the features and options they seek in a vehicle.
Third, the five variants are also spread apart in price tags (with a notably wide range of about RM53,500) and certain features so this expands the 508 family’s versatile marketability into multiple price brackets to reach larger segments of the auto market, as opposed to a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Despite their differences, all variants available here in Malaysia come with basically the same essentials (such as six-speed auto-adaptive transmissions and safety packages) and refined amenities like bi-xenon headlamps and eight-way electronic control for driver and front passenger seats.
When the lowest priced 508 Turbo S was test-driven by The Borneo Post, the features were found to be plentiful in the 4,792mm long five-door sedan, especially in the aesthetics department with sleek authoritative lines with 17-inch wheels.
The interior is also lush and elegant as it has an impressive steering wheel (with audio, cruise control and paddle shifters), leather trimming, seven-inch HD colour display, intuitive knob control at the centre console and dual zone temperature controls.
The seats are quite a treat as they offer supreme comfort with well-designed ergonomics, especially in the driver and front passenger seats with full electronic control including quad-directional lumbar support.
The vehicle with a five-star score in the Euro NCAP had safety features including six airbags, ABS, EBA, EBD, ESP with Anti Skid Regulation, Dynamic Stability Control as well as volumetric and perimetric alarms in addition to Peugeot’s rolling code transponder immobiliser.
Getting down to the nitty gritty of the test drive, the vehicle’s performance and handling were found to be quite satisfactory with the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine giving ample power to propel the large sedan quite well and rock solid vehicle stability at three-digit speeds.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/17/latest-peugeot-508-model-widening-the-playing-field/#ixzz2WeBYR0fh
