New Peugeot 508 2018: prices, engines and features announced

All-new 2018 Peugeot 508 prices, engines and features announcedDeliveries of sleek, hi-tech 2018 Peugeot 508 'fastback' to commence in October

An all-new Peugeot 508 has been launched, with prices starting at £25,000 for the entry-level model. With several power and trim choices, the Peugeot 508 range is a wide one, and we've got all the engine and specification details here.

Although the popularity of saloons has dropped sharply in recent years in favour of fashionable SUVs, Peugeot clearly believes there's still a place for the 508. As before, the new model rivals the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport and Ford Mondeo, and addresses fierce competition from cars like the Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat. An estate version – the Peugeot 508 SW – will follow, sharing the same sharp style.

Our full Peugeot 508 review

Thanks to the way it looks – and the sophisticated technology it carries – the new 508 is also in with a shout of stealing sales from the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5 and Mercedes C-Class. Although it slips into the large saloon category, the new Peugeot 508 is actually a 'fastback coupe'. Peugeot has sought to create a sporty, upmarket aesthetic, with details that echo the Instinct concept car from the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. However, while that was a two-door 'shooting brake', the 508 is a five-door hatchback with a low, coupe-aping roofline not dissimilar to the Volkswagen Arteon.

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New Peugeot 508 design

Like the Arteon, the 508 features frameless side windows, but trades the VW's elegance for a more muscular look. Recessed headlamps characterise the front end, with dagger-like daytime running lights that slice down through the headlights and a shallow, thrust-forward grille with three-dimensional detailing and a prominent lion emblem. The 508 model name is positioned above this – a detail that recalls celebrated Peugeot saloons of the 1970s.

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The sides are deeply sculpted, with a sharp feature line that starts at the front door and leads the eye over a set of broad rear wheelarches before fading ahead of the 'claw-effect' LED rear lights. These are concealed within a dark full-width moulding and appear to only be visible when illuminated.

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The full-width panel echoes a dark-coloured diffuser-style panel beneath the rear bumper, which houses reflectors and reversing lights mounted above prominent exhaust outlets – these images show one on each side, but this feature could be reserved for the most powerful models. Sportiness certainly seems to be on the agenda, though, if the large, wheelarch-filling alloy wheels are any indication.

Despite its sleek looks, Peugeot claims the new 508 is more versatile than the outgoing model, with a 487-litre boot and wide tailgate opening for ease of access. The choice of a hatchback layout will be welcomed by families and anyone who regularly needs to carry bulky items – for whom a saloon bootlid can hamper a car's practicality.

New Peugeot 508 engines, trim levels and prices

Turn up at your Peugeot dealer with £25,000 and you can sign up for a 1.5-litre PureHDi 130 diesel Active, with a six-speed manual gearbox. This is the entry-level 508, but it's far from sparsely equipped, with dual-zone climate control. An eight-inch capacitive touchscreen display controls TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as MirrorLink and DAB radio.

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On top of this, every 508 also has Peugeot's i-Cockpit digital dashboard, which offers a broad choice of driver-configurable information displays. Those who prefer an automatic gearbox can add Peugeot's EAT8 eight-speed box to the 508 Active for an extra £1,600.

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The Peugeot 508 Allure is offered with the same PureHDi 130 diesel engine, with a manual gearbox for £26,300, or the eight-speed automatic for £27,900. Alternatively, there's a more powerful, automatic-only 2.0-litre BlueHDi 160 diesel for £29,300. The Allure also offers the least expensive petrol model in the 508 range – the 1.6-litre BlueTech 180 with an eight-speed automatic starts at £29,450.

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Allure adds an upgraded 10-inch touchscreen, multi-way power adjustment for the front seats, keyless entry and go, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and a safety pack that includes road-sign recognition and active blind-spot monitoring. Ambient lighting creates the interior mood and the 17-inch alloy wheels gain a diamond-cut finish. Petrol versions also boast an active suspension system.

Next up is the GT Line, with the same engine line-up as the Allure. The BlueHDi 130 diesel costs £28,050 as a manual or £29,650 as an automatic, the BlueHDi 160 diesel automatic costs £31,050, and the PureTech 180 petrol costs £31,200. GT Line specification takes a leap forward, with full LED headlamps front and rear, 19-inch alloy wheels and a distinctive 'chequered' bright finish to the grille, with contrasting gloss-black details elsewhere.

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GT Line also introduces i-Cockpit Amplify, which offers two configurable 'ambiences' to match your driving style. The car's handling, response and interior lighting can be tailored with exciting 'Boost' or more serene 'Relax' modes. A wireless smartphone charging plate completes the high-tech theme.

Two more powerful engines are exclusive to the Peugeot 508 GT. The 2.0-litre BlueHDi 180 diesel automatic costs £37,400, and the 1.6-litre BlueTech 225 automatic petrol takes the mantle as most powerful member of the 508 range, priced at £35,975. As well as extra power, the GT adds soft Nappa leather upholstery and memory and massage functions to the front seats. Active cruise control is standard, with stop and go, as is hands-free tailgate opening and a special set of 19-inch alloy wheels.

Early adopters of the Peugeot 508 can go for the First Edition. It's based on the GT, sharing its engines and adding everything from the options list. These include special upholstery in Nappa Leather and Alcantara Suede, a 360-degree camera system and 'fully automated' parking assistance, as well as night vision and a special set of 19-inch alloy wheels. It costs £36,975 for the petrol and £37,400 for the diesel.

New Peugeot 508 price and availability

The Peugeot 508 First Edition will start deliveries in October, with other models and trim levels filtering through soon after. The Peugeot 508 SW estate is likely to offer a similar range of engines and trim levels, and we'll confirm details as soon as we have them. The same is true of a rumoured hybrid version of the 5008 SUV. It's likely that the same drivetrain will eventually be offered in the 508 – both cars use the EMP2 mechanical platform that's shared by other cars built by PSA Group (Peugeot's parent company).