It will need to be good, mind you, considering that it costs £53,995. The Audi S4 starts at about £5000 less and does 0-62mph in 4.6sec. Still, one appealing aspect of the 508 PSE is how almost everything is included as standard. The only options that Peugeot’s website shows are a panoramic sunroof (£870), a 7.4kW monophase on-board charger (£300) and black or pearlescent white paint (our Selenium Grey is no extra cost).
There are the ample safety systems that we’ve come to expect on modern cars: ABS, EBA, ESP, ABSD, DAA3, AEBS3… I’m just winding you up now (but there’s a congratulatory email in store for anyone who can name what they are without Google). Anyway, it’s very safe. Slightly more excitingly, there’s a 360deg colour camera, a 10.0in touchscreen, many seat adjustments for comfort, heated rear windscreen and, I would wager, almost everything you might want.
Outside, there are 20in diamond- cut alloys, LED lights and plenty of gloss-black details.
Despite the 508 PSE being a performance model, the quality and usability of the interior feel crucial to rival traditional luxury brands such as Audi and BMW. Getting into it for the first time impresses: the cockpit is cosseting in the way one expects from higher-end cars, and the mix of leather and Alcantara, plus the layout, lends it a top-quality air.
At first glance, it feels, if not on a par with those brands, very, very close. The touchscreen also looks good; only time will tell whether that equates to a positive user experience.
