WITH six-speed gearboxes all-round, Euro5 and five-star ENCAP ratings, four-cylinder-only powerplants, three diesel engine choices, two body styles and a single petrol engine variant, the fresh 508 represents Peugeot’s most thorough attack on the medium and large car segments in a generation. After the disappointing 407, the 508 offers space, comfort and quality with high-tech driveability and eco features to take on everything from the Hyundai i45 to a Holden Calais. We drive the GT sedan.
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407
Released: September 2004
Ended: June 2011
Family Tree: 508PERHAPS one of the biggest motoring disappointments of the decade, particularly after the fine 406 that preceded it, the 407 looked promising on paper with its double wishbone front suspension and advanced diesel technology, but failed to sufficiently deliver as either a driver’s car or as a quality premium product.
Divisive design coupled with poor packaging didn’t help either. Two body styles arrived – four-door sedan and Touring wagon – with a choice of petrol or turbo-diesel engines driving the front wheels. The 407 SV model was the GT’s equivalent, sitting above the SR and ST base cars, and offered a 155kW/290Nm 3.0-litre V6 petrol with six-speed auto until 2009, with a 150kW/440Nm 2.7-litre V6 HDi turbo-diesel version available from 2006 to 2009.
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