Peugeot 508

FIRST DRIVE All-new family car takes on stylish fastback shape. Is it a winner?

- Richard Ingram

SALES of saloon cars have been falling for more than a decade. Even premium makers such as BMW have attempted to diversify with stylish four door coupés, sports cars and SUVs.

To combat this demise, Peugeot has reinvented its sole saloon offering. The 508 is no longer a frumpy three-box; from next month the French firm’s executive option will morph into a fashionable ‘fastback’. A redesigned estate version, badged 508 SW, arrives early in 2019.

It’s certainly more striking to look at than before, lifting many of its exterior details from the successful 3008 and 5008 SUVs. The fastback is lower and wider than the old 508, giving it a squatter and more purposeful stance. The standard-fit LED running lights offer a sharper signature, while the sloping roof line gives away nothing to rivals such as the Volkswagen Arteon or Mazda 6.

It’s equally impressive inside, with a high-quality finish and a dynamic driving position. Peugeot’s familiar i-Cockpit dash features, with its small, squared-off steering wheel and raised dials.