Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV 2024 Review

The 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV is $82,915 before on-road costs (ORCs), standing as the slightly more expensive and versatile option compared to the $81,610 five-door Fastback.

Competition can’t be much more direct than the $73,990 Citroen C5 X PHEV which shares its platform and drivetrain with the Peugeot.

Two left-of-field options that compete on price are the fully electric BMW i4 eDrive35 for $85,900 and the hybridised Lexus ES ES300h Sports Luxury at $80,170 before ORCs.

Or you could go smaller and opt for the similarly engineered Peugeot 308 GT Sport PHEV which is a snip at $64,990 before ORCs.

The 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV lives up to its monetary billing with loads of features.

The patterned, Nappa-leather-clad cabin is more than a match for the slick exterior design which features frameless doors and a beautifully proportioned wagon body style. The eight-way power-adjustable front seats (memory for driver) with heating and a massage function are a highlight.

The now trademark, but still somewhat polarising, i-Cockpit driver layout remains in the 508. It incorporates a compact multi-function steering wheel with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster that’s raised to your line of sight above the tiller.

Other equipment includes 18-inch alloys, LED headlights and tail-lights, dual-zone climate control and a premium Focal audio system with a sub-woofer and 10 speakers.

There is a cosy, cockpit-like sense of comfort and security thanks to the low-set seating position while the wide centre console houses the short shift lever, dual cupholders and armrests that open to reveal a storage compartment.

Options comprise a $2500 panoramic glass sunroof and the $1050 Pearl White hue.

The 508 PHEV is covered by Peugeot’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. It includes five years of roadside assist and a three- or five-year capped-price servicing plan set at $1200 and $2100 respectively.

The Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km.

The 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV has six airbags and the range gained a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2018.

Although it is surprising that autonomous emergency braking is only functional at low speed and doesn’t operate at all in reverse while front and rear cross traffic alert is also missing from the active-safety checklist.

Yet, there is a long list of active safety inclusions such as pedestrian avoidance, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with stop/go function, front and rear parking sensors with 180-degree camera, self-parking, road sign recognition, auto dimming rear-view mirror, auto headlights and tyre pressure monitoring.

To help minimise the risk of ongoing damage after a crash, the Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV will also keep the braking system engaged.

Despite launching in 2018, the second generation 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV gains up-to-date technology.

The 10-inch capacitive touch-screen infotainment display offers wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as 3D sat-nav, Bluetooth and DAB+ digital radio.

There’s also wireless phone charging, four USB ports (two up front and two in the rear) and in-built voice recognition for distraction-free driving in the Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV.

Energising the 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 133kW and 300Nm. It’s paired with an 81kW/320Nm electric motor housed within the transmission for a combined petrol-electric figure of 165kW/360Nm.

The 11.8kW/h lithium-ion 40 Amp-hour battery pack is located under the rear seats and can be charged from empty, via a regular 10-amp/2.3kW 240-volt socket, to 100 per cent in about six hours. To speed things up, it can also be charged on a 3.7kW outboard charger, or 32-amp/7.4kW or 16-amp/11kW single-phase or three-phase wall boxe, in about 3.5 hours.

The Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV’s grunt is sent exclusively to the front wheels via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

A hotter version of the 508 exists, but sadly the Peugeot Sport Engineered isn’t offered in Australia.

The 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV can run in an EV-only state for up to 55km (WLTP) when starting with a fully charged battery.

However, throughout our time behind the wheel, the real-world figure came in closer to 40km, which is a reduction of about 25 per cent.

The powertrain is quoted as having a combined fuel-consumption figure of 1.5L/100km. Yet, as with all PHEVs, this is hard to achieve and based on starting with full battery charge.

Our Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV tester showed an average of 5.6L/100km (fully charged) when being driven across a variety of circumstances.

Given the range of the Lithium-ion battery pack, for most general commutes the 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon acts like a pure EV.

Acceleration and response from the 81kW/320Nm electric motor is unobtrusive and strong, while it’s reassuring to know that the 43-litre fuel tank isn’t depleting in this mode.

Exceed the claimed 55km WLTP range and the internal-combustion engine resumes regular service. And this isn’t a negative, as the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine returns decent response and hushed acoustics.

As with any hybrid, how you drive impacts the consumption greatly. So, given the 508 runs 95 RON and weighs 1720kg, our 5.6L/100km result is impressive.

Being able to tailor your driving experience via various modes both aids efficiency and adds to the fun factor behind the wheel. You can toggle between EV, Hybrid, Sport and Comfort modes, which all vary the petrol-electric interactions. Exactly what the hybrid system is doing can also be displayed on the central screen.

In terms of dynamic ability, the electrified 508 retains its almost sporty, yet comfortable character. Coil springs and electronically controlled adaptive dampers combine to offer a truly cossetting ride quality in Comfort mode. Flicking to Sport firms everything up for livelier responses that are more reactive to steering inputs.

The Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV’s brake pedal can feel a bit spongy and vague at times, a direct result of the regenerative braking system channelling charge back to the battery pack.

The 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV is an enjoyable place to be as it oozes a luxurious and chich vibe.

The cabin looks and feels premium with just enough French quirk and detailed ambient lighting to make it different from the crowd.

Form does encroach on function in terms of rear headroom, though, with tall occupants feeling the pinch of the slinky roofline. Conversely, shoulder room brings no complaints and the shapely, comfy and massaging Nappa leather seats are pleasing.

Being a wagon, the body style affords a capacious load capacity of 530 litres. This expands to a commodious 1780 litres with the 60/40-split rear seats folded and there is a powered tailgate for extra ease of use.

Largely due to the placement of the Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV’s battery pack there is no spare wheel, instead you’ll find a compact tyre-repair kit.

Apart from its Stellantis blood relative, the 2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV has little in the way of competition. Hence, it is pretty much on its own as a stylish mid-size wagon with EV capabilities.

Yes, at $82,915 the Pug is expensive, especially given the fact it is now the sole 508 variant. And there is an updated version available in Europe, but it’s yet to land Down Under.

However, as it stands, the electrified Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV is a unique and worthwhile offering with an ace up its sleeve.

2024 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon PHEV at a glance:
Price: $82,915 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol electric
Output: 133kW/300Nm (electric motor: 81kW/320Nm)
Combined output: 165kW/360Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Battery: 11.8kWh lithium-ion
Range: 55km (WLTP)
Fuel: 1.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 34g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)

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