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Peugeot 508 Active e-HDI micro-hybrid
No, it's not an e-car for very small people...
Well-engineered chassis
It’s a combination that strikes a fine balance between ride comfort and road holding, and underlines that fact that few mass-market car companies engineer their chassis better than Peugeot.
The boot is deep and has a cubby
Taking styling cues from last year’s SR1 concept, the 508 is the most handsome Peugeot for many a year. Not only is the overall shape well balanced but the ubiquitous Peugeot mouth finally makes some stylistic sense. Peugeot’s new design guru, Giles Vidal, deserves a pat on the noggin for getting things back on track.
One issue I do have with the styling, though, is the extraordinary thickness of the B-pillars. They are massive. I’m sure if you rolled it, or dropped an elephant on the roof, you’d be thankful, but trying to peer around them when pulling out of junctions is a constant niggle.
As you might expect of a car that has to replace the very large but very unloved 607, the 508's interior is well appointed and spacious. The seats are extremely comfortable and there is enough space in the back to hold an athletics meeting.
The pop-up HUD takes a minimalist approach
If you like your car technology a bit more in-your-face, the 508 has a standard head-up display which is projected onto a panel that pops up out of the dashboard.