Review: Peugeot 508 PSE
Peugeot 508 PSE Review
Time has raced away and it is now already three years since Peugeot threw the curtains open on its brand new 508 ‘Peugeot Sport Engineered’ department. It kickstarted a whole new range of electrified performance models for the brand but, since that time, the 508 has been the only car to get the PSE treatment.
And despite three years not being an awfully long time, Peugeot has already seen fit to refresh its 508 PSE. It follows on from some tweaks and edits made to the ‘regular’ 508.
What’s new?
Peugeot really broke new ground when it released its 508 back in 2018, with this dynamic-looking ‘fastback’ showing up many of the more ‘premium’ brands with its flair and eye-catching look. The ‘claw’ style lights, for example, have now become a true hallmark of modern Peugeot's and it was a feature which really played a central part of the 508.
So you can understand why Peugeot hasn’t blitzed the styling of the 508 PSE with a complete refit. It’s still a great-looking car - so why change it?
What’s under the bonnet?
Believe it or not, this is actually Peugeot’s most powerful road car. That title comes courtesy of a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which is blended with a pair of electric motors - one at the front and one at the rear - to produce a total of 355bhp. It also results in a 0-60mph time of just five seconds and a top speed of 155mph.
But Peugeot has also bumped up the size of the battery in the PSE, increasing it to 12.4kWh. As a result, the fully-electric range of the PSE increases from 26 to 34 miles - so it’s got some great efficiency on its side as well as performance.
What’s the Peugeot 508 PSE like to drive?
Most of the time, hybrids are seen as the go-to options for urban runarounds or for people who want to drive down the price of motoring. They’re not, however, often the pick of people after go-faster performance, but the 508 PSE flies in the face of this convention. It’s speedy, of course, but thanks to a tweaked suspension and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres it’s entertaining in the bends, too.
It’s a comfortable cruiser when you’re not driving quickly, however, while the electric motors really help to reduce the amount of ‘lag’ that is sometimes present in Peugeot’s automatic gearboxes - it means that as soon as you press the throttle, you’re off.
How does it look?
As we’ve touched upon, Peugeot has carved a new niche with its vehicle design. It now creates cars that are exciting to look at - both inside and out - and the 508 is one vehicle which epitomises this brand-new wave of great-looking Peugeots.
The PSE gets some classy extras, too, such as the 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels with a carbon-fibre effect, or the bright green accents on the brake calipers and trim areas. As before, you can also choose the 508 PSE in either Fastback or SW estate car body styles.
What’s it like inside?
Though the interior of the PSE might not be quite as ‘dynamic’ to look at as the rest of the car, it’s still got plenty of neat touches. We like the Alcantara-like sports seats - which have plenty of support and really do ‘hug’ you in - as well as the green colour which matches that used on the exterior.
The relatively chunky gear selector has been ditched in favour of a smaller ‘toggle’ style setup which does help to clear some extra space in the centre console. Peugeot has also fitted a new 10-inch touchscreen in the 508, which is clear and packed with features.
What’s the spec like?
Given that the PSE sits at the very top of the 508 range, it’ll probably come as no surprise that it’s packed with features. Top-notch fitments include massaging front seats, a 360-degree parking camera and loads of driver assistance features. There’s also night vision, which uses a clever infrared camera to ‘see’ ahead in the dark and highlight any animals or pedestrians in an unlit road ahead.
It’s got more than enough equipment to keep rivals honest and, if you compare it to cars from the likes of Mercedes and BMW, it definitely has the most generous level of standard kit.
Verdict
The Peugeot 508 PSE offers a cleverly blended experience, combining the zero-emissions running of a true hybrid with the invigoratingly sprightly performance of a high-powered model. It’s also drop-dead good-looking - to our eyes at least - and packed with loads of standard features.
Though it might not be the most obvious choice in the market it’s definitely one with plenty of merit. Opt for the 508 PSE and you’re definitely in for a good time.
