• Efficient range of engines available
• Impressive claimed fuel economy on diesels
• BlueHDi 130 is the economy star

How much is it going to cost to run?

The Peugeot 508 SW is powered by a range of efficient petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains and shares many components with the 308 and 508 SUVs, making it a cheap car to fuel and service.

MPG and CO2

Unsurprisingly the petrol 508s fare the worst for fuel economy, but things aren’t too terrible. The PureTech 180 returns a respectable 41.8mpg, while the PureTech 225 is capable of up to 39.8mpg. If you don’t work the engines too hard this shouldn’t be difficult to replicate in everyday driving.

The diesels are far more impressive though. The most powerful BlueHDi 180 returns up to a claimed 50.6mpg, while the BlueHDi 160 beats this slightly at 51.1mpg. Go for the BlueHDi 130, however, and you could see up to 58.6mpg for the EAT8 automatic, and 59.8mpg for the manual.

In terms of miles per pound, the 508 SW range returns 5.3 - 8.1 – the latter figure of course referring to the upcoming plug-in hybrid model.

The 508 SW Hybrid’s eco credentials are as good as any other PHEV you care to mention. The fact it can drive up to 39 miles on battery alone will cover many people’s commutes, making it an ideal choice for city dwellers. Clearly its 235mpg claimed will drop drastically once the batteries are depleted. More good news is that Peugeot has teamed up with EV chargepoint supplier Podpoint to offer six months’ free public charging with every 508 PHEV sold.

The rest of the 508 range is on a par with many rivals regarding the amount of CO2 it emits. Across the range, the worst offender is the PureTech 225 which emits a maximum of 132g/km, which isn’t bad considering the fairly strong performance available. The PureTech 180 produces up to 127g/km, while the diesels fall rather lower.

The BlueHDi 130 is the best performer in the range with the EAT8 transmission, emitting between 99-105g/km. The manual version produces between 102 and 107g/km. Next is the BlueHDi 160, producing 118-122g/km while the BlueHDi 180 emits 124-125g/km.

Servicing and maintenance

Peugeot’s image for reliability and dealer service is rapidly improving. Customer service is rated highly, and in the JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study, Peugeot topped the table with 77 faults per 100 cars – beating Skoda, Hyundai and Nissan.

Peugeot doesn’t offer fixed-term servicing or maintenance plans, but many of its larger dealer groups do. However the firm offers a selection of fixed proce repairs on a two-tier system based on whether the dealer is using Peugeot or Peugeot-approved parts. Typically, a cambelt change comes in at £499 (or £399).

It shouldn’t prove too costly to service and maintain the 508, with service intervals of one year or 20,000 miles, while a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is standard.

Reliability

• Peugeot’s reliability has improved in recent years
• No recalls for the 508 so far
• Feels solidly built and of good quality

Peugeot has managed to shake off its reputation for building unreliable cars. The company has successfully become one of the most dependable car manufacturers in recent years, and you can tell – to some degree – with the 508.

The quality of materials is impressive throughout the interior of the car, and it feels solid. There are some niggles with the infotainment system and its speed, but that’s not necessarily a reliability issue. And while the engines are recent, few problems have been reported, so you shouldn’t have too much to be concerned about.