At last a chance to drive the new Peugeot 508 sedan – a much more stylish car to the one it replaces – very distinctive in two variants – Fastback and Sportswagon, sensibly in one well-equipped GT grade – the Fastback at $53,990 with a $2,000 premium for the Sportswagon.  I tested the Fastback, one of the best looking new models to emerge last year – with low roof line it’s a car that draws eyes with its stunning styling – a front-wheel-drive powered by a 1.6-litre turbo 165kW four-cylinder driving through an 8-speed automatic with manual shift paddles. This is a French car with real panache and a sporty flair. Packed with features like Nappa leather seats with driver and passenger massage, a 10-speaker stereo and a well-placed 10-inch high definition centre screen.

The steering wheel with flat top and bottom falls nicely to hand and its practical nature makes it easy to get behind the wheel with good instrument visibility. A low roof line makes access a little harder and rear seat headroom is a little restrictive but it’s a small price to pay for the low fastback styling. The French do premium very well and the interior excels in finishes and substance. The Peugeot 508 well supported with a five-year/unlimited kilometer warranty and a five-year capped price service scheme – it won’t be a big seller given our love of SUV’s but it offers a real point of difference as only the French know how.

I’m David Berthon

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