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To prove its 508 can be a real driver's car, even in heavier PHEV form, Peugeot has brought us this, the 508 PSE or 'Peugeot Sport Engineered'. It looks arresting, particularly in this updated form, and there's no shortage of power or ambition here. But the price tag is formidable.
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Detailed ratings
Performance Sporting Cars
Background
Back in 2019, Peugeot announced a car that probably didn't register on your radar, the one we look at here, the 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered. It's subtle market presence is somewhat strange because it was then - and still is - the most powerful model the Gallic brand has ever sold. Delayed by the Pandemic, it took until 2021 for this car to go on sale here and just two years more before it was facelifted to create the version of this model we look at here.
It's one of those cars we like because it's different from anything else in its segment and full of apparent contradictions: a PHEV that's all about performance. And a mainstream brand model targeted at the premium segment. From a sub-brand with virtually no market recognition. Still interested? Read on.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 53975 | 55175 |
| Insurance group 1-50 | 41 | 41 |
| CO2 (g/km) | 36 | 36 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 155 | 155 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Min | Max |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 34 | 34 |
| Combined Mpg | 235.5 | 235.5 |
| Length (mm) | 4750 | 4750 |
| Width (mm) | 1859 | 1859 |
| Height (mm) | 1403 | 1403 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 487 | 487 |
Driving experience
Peugeot Sport knows a thing or two about the 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine that beats beneath the bonnet of this 508 PSE, having tuned it in all kinds of special ways the memorable 208 GTi hot hatch that sold in the middle of the last decade. Here, that unit appears in 200hp form supplemented with a pair of 11.5kWh battery-powered electric motors, a 113hp one on the rear axle and a 110hp one built into the 8-speed auto gearbox at the front. That takes power up to 360hp - more than virtually all obvious rivals; hence the sprightly 5.2s 0-62mph time despite the prodigious 1,875kg kerb weight. To give you some class perspective, think a second faster than a rival BMW 330e. This Peugeot's top speed is 155mph.
That's with combustion power and of course the eager 'Sport' drive mode engaged. The top EV speed is 86mph but if you get anywhere near that, you'll decimate the claimed EV range from the PHEV system (rated at 34.2 miles). It's good around the bends too. Having a motor on each axle means AWD, which combined with grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres means tenacious traction through the turns. Adaptive damping is standard and, with the 'Comfort' drive setting selected, allows for supple standard of ride, despite the big 20-inch wheels. The electric steering rack isn't particularly feelsome, but the car changes direction alertly. It's really quite a different kind of 508.
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Design and build
It's entirely possible that potential 508 PSE customer might be prepared to overlook this car's lack of a premium badge merely on the basis of the way it looks, especially in SW estate guise. As part of this mid-term update, it's gained '3-claw' LED running lights, slimmer headlamps and an aggressive contrasting gloss black front grille. There are also PSE flashes of lime green and big 20-inch wheels. In short, in saloon or SW form, it makes a statement.
There's a light PSE makeover for the interior too - sports seats, special badging, lime green kryptonite trim and so on. In a cabin that's completely different in every way to the Teutonic sports saloon rival you might previously have been considering. That's mainly because of the usual Peugeot 'i-Cockpit' dashboard design that sees you looking at the digital instrument screen over the top of the steering wheel, rather than more conventionally through its spokes. Said wheel is smaller than the norm too: don't worry, you'll adjust to it all quickly. The main update for this refresh is the new 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen with its new 'i-Connect Advanced' software which brings better graphics and classier menus, including a homepage with up to 10 configurable shortcuts. Surrounding all of this, perceived cabin quality isn't quite up to German standards, but more interesting trim materials and thoughtful design make up for that.
The rear seat space is reasonable, but three adults will need to be on friendly terms. The Fastback has a large, shallow 487-litre boot. With the SW estate, the cargo area is 530-litres in size, extendable to 1,780-litres.
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Market and model
This top AWD PHEV 'Peugeot Sport Engineered' 508 model is ambitiously priced from around £54,000 and will be a rare sight on our roads. To be fair though, it's a fairly unique confection with a prodigious 360hp on tap. The closest match we can think of is a BMW 330e xDrive M Sport at just under £50,000, but that's got an awful lot less power.
Equipment-wise, you get just about everything Peugeot can fit to this car. So apart from the potent AWD PHEV system and a bespoke front grille, there's 20-inch 'Exxar' diamond-cut two-tone wheels and upholstery in Mistral' nappa leather paired with Alcantara. Along with a Night Vision system, a powered tailgate, power-adjustable massaging front seats, a wireless 'phone charger, branded door sills and a 10-speaker 690-watt FOCAL premium audio HiFi system. That's in addition to features carried over from mid-level 'GT' trim, including aluminium pedals, blue ambient lighting, Nera Black door mirrors, a 360-degree 'Visio Park' camera system and heated front seats that are ergonomically approved by the AGR organisation, who campaign for healthy backs.
The PSE also includes Peugeot's 'Drive Assist Pack' plus which includes 'ACC' Adaptive Cruise Control'. This includes a 'Stop & Go' function that recognises an oncoming tailback and can, if necessary, slow you right down to a stop, then seamlessly start you off again. And there's 'Lane Positioning Assist' which positions the car centrally in the lane of travel, applying left and right trajectory corrections accordingly, whilst the adaptive cruise control maintains speed and distance from the traffic ahead.
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Cost of ownership
Obviously this heavier AWD twin motor 'Peugeot Sport Engineered' PHEV model doesn't do quite as well as an ordinary 2WD 508 Hybrid 225 when it comes to efficiency stats. The EV range falls to 34.2 miles (down from 42.3 miles), the combined fuel figure is 158.5mpg (down from 274.8mpg) and the CO2 reading is 40g/km (down from 23g/km). Insurance is group 41E (up from 31) or 42E for the SW version. Charging the 12.4kWh battery from empty to full via a 7.4kW wallbox takes an hour and 45 minutes (the same). With this PSE variant, you don't have to pay extra for a 7.4kW monophase on-board charger to quicken charging times.
Also the same as the Hybrid 225 is this PSE model's thermal pre-conditioning function. Via the 'MyPeugeot' smartphone app or by using the vehicle's touchscreen, owners can schedule a wake-up time for the battery. This means that the cells can be at the optimal temperature for efficiency from the time you start up, plus of course the interior can also be pre-cooled or pre-heated too. As for public charging, well via Peugeot's 'Free2Move eSolutions' set-up, 508 customers are offered access to over 260,000 charging points across Europe.
As usual with a 508, service intervals are every year or 20,000 miles. You can budget ahead for the work by taking up Peugeot's 'Service Plan' that for a fixed monthly fee, can cover you for up to 50,000 miles of motoring over either three or five years. You'll be given a certificate of battery capacity after each service, to make it easier to re-sell your car by being able to guarantee its level of battery capacity. The battery in question, by the way, comes with an eight year / 100,000 warranty for 70% of its capacity.
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Summary
The glory days of Peugeot Sport - the Le Mans victories, the World Rally Championship wins - seem long ago now but this sub-brand evidently still has engineers with petrol running through their veins. What could have been just a 508 PHEV in a higher state of tune has here been transformed into something more. The 508 has always claimed - a little misleadingly - to be a 'sports saloon' but this one really is.
Actually, we think it's at its most alluring in SW estate form but either body style offers something refreshingly different from the Teutonic norm. Which you're going have to really like to blow the kind of money Peugeot is asking for here. But in return, you're offered looks, power and rarity value. It's still not enough to justify the sticker figure and compensate for the lack of a premium badge, but if despite that you still want this car anyway, we'd entirely understand.
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