Peugeot 508 SW Puretech 225 GT 2019 UK first drive

Peugeot’s i-Cockpit creates a driver-focused cabin, with the now-signature small steering wheel leaving ample room to see the 12.3in digital instrument cluster. It’s a high-resolution screen that’s filled with useful information, though perhaps isn’t quite as customisable as other fully digital systems. The 10in widescreen infotainment screen isn’t quite as crisp, and is noticeably blocky when displaying the rear-view camera, but does play nicely with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The compact steering wheel is incredibly light, which initially feels at odds with the sheer size of the car, but it gains weight nicely at speed. Steering is responsive enough, though the lane keeping assist function can be a little too keen to force you back towards what it deems the middle of a lane.

The 1.6-litre petrol engine delivers more assured progress than the entry-level diesel model we tested previously, managing 0-62mph in 7.4sec, but seems happy to use a significant portion of the rev range to achieve it. The reluctance of the gearbox to shift up under a moderate throttle does little to limit the somewhat coarse engine noise, either.

Even in comfort mode, it held onto cogs for longer than expected, and while Eco mode helps keep things under control, it does nothing to mitigate the noticeable road roar. Column-mounted paddle shifters are a little on the small side, should you wish to take charge, and a manual mode hands back some control. Either way, an average touring economy of 39.8mpg is merely adequate - longer-distance drivers and fleets will almost certainly be better served by the BlueHDI 180 diesel.

Those hoping that adaptive dampers would offset the effects of the 19in alloys will be a little disappointed. While stable at city speeds, vertical body control remains lacking, thumping over potholes and proving somewhat bouncy in the Comfort setting, but not all that locked down in Sport. This mode certainly firms everything up, and it hangs on well in corners, but doesn’t deliver the precision you’d hope for given the amount of jostle experienced in the cabin when travelling at speed. A shorter ride in a version with 18in wheels showed only marginal gains in terms of comfort, too, though compared with fixed damping and larger wheels, things do show signs of improvement.