OUR CARS
ou’ve got to love
marketing speak.
Sometimes it states
the bleedin’ obvious,sometimes you simply wonder:
what does that actually mean? I’ve
b e e n l i v i n g i n (not l it e r a l l y, but it
feels like it) Peugeot’s much-vaunted
i-Cockpit for some weeks now, and
first impressions have morphed
into something more solid. But
before picking through the detail, I
returned to Peugeot’s info gubbins to
c he c k w h at I ’m s upp o s e d t o t h i n k ...
T he y k e y me s s a ge s f r om t he
i-Cockpit “philosophy” are to be “a
driving environment that puts you in
control” (that’s the bleedin’ obvious,
then. A cockpit that doesn’t would
be a problem); and one that allows
“a greater connection to the road”.
T h at s e c ond one i s mor e p e r t i ne nt.
Steering, driving position and
comfort are where Peugeot can hope
t o de l i v e r i n t h i s r e ga rd. S o do e s it?
I’ve previously mentioned the
small steering wheel, which adds a
welcome sporting f lavour but blocks
Y
Life in the i-Cockpit is proving comfortable – if perplexing
PEUGEOT 5 08
a complete view of the dashboard.
S o do e s si z e m at t e r? I n t h i s c a s e ,
yes. The small diameter contributes
to a directness and reasonable
feedback that inspires a modicum of
confidence. The dash sits high in your
eyeline, above the small wheel, to be
“more within your field of vision”
rather than viewing dials through
t he s p ok e s a s i s u s u a l on mo s t c a r s.
I hadn’t really thought much about
it until I re-read the bumf. In truth,
it’s what you can’t see that is more
not ic e a ble t h a n w h at y ou c a n.
Beyond the dash, the wheel’s
positioning and the manual
gearchange paddles totally cut off
any view of the indicator and wiper
stalks. Sure, you don’t have to look
at these often when driving, but itw ou ld b e n ic e t o h av e a c hoic e.
The other oddity, which feels like
a weird oversight in 2019, is the lack
of a mileage countdown on the fuel
gau ge. T he r e ’s ju s t a n old-f a sh ione d
bar that decreases in height as the
fuel level recedes. For someone who
has always been a terrible range
worrier (Lord knows what I’d be like
i n a n e le c t r ic c a r), t he l a c k of s e c u r it y
of not having a mileage countdown
feels like a step back into the past –
and I’m sure I refuel earlier than I
s t r ic t l y ne e d t o b e c au s e of it.
Seating gets a solid tick this far
into our test. The Nappa Mistral
leather in our GT looks and
feels great, with lumbar support
proving firm but comfortable
ov e r d i s t a nc e. My le gs t e nd t o b e
stiff after even medium-length
journeys, but to be fair that
m i g ht ju s t b e me a s I c r e e p w it h
a cloying inevitability towards
a certain age... Front and side
views are good for a relatively low
car, but I’m proving rubbish at
judging how close I can get to ac a r pa rk w a l l w he n no si ng i n (a ga i n ,
t h at m i g ht ju s t b e me). T he r e a r
view is limited through the raked
fastback window, but when parking
the excellent rear camera steps in.
Only when I drive our ageing family
Ford S-Max, which lacks all digital
sophistication, do I realise how
reliant I have become on it.
The tablet-shaped 10in high-def
infotainment screen grates in terms
of aesthetics (integrated units look so
much better), but its position makes
it e a s y t o g l a nc e at w h i le i n mot ion.
The characterful ‘piano keys’ for the
menu options are a plus, too, and add
a welcome physicality to its functions.
So does the i-Cockpit put one “in
control”? Er, yes, of course. But does
it contribute to a “greater connection
to the road”? Okay, let’s give the
marketeers a break: yes, the interior
do e s he lp m a k e t h i s a ple a s a nt c a r t o
drive. With odd reservations.
DAMIEN SMITHi-Cockpit is idiosyncratic but comfy,
while Smith’s parking lacks precision
DAB RADIO RECEPTION
It drops out far too often for a
sy ste m i n a c a r a t th i s p r i ce. Eve r y
day in the same ‘black spots’ the
silence is deafening.
LANE ASSIST. YES, REALLY
But only because the button to
turn it off is so accessible (below
right of the steering wheel). Always
pressed soon after starting up.
LOATHE IT
LOVE IT
MILEAGE 4210
WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT
To see if Peugeot’s smart new
generation of saloons really do offer
a viable alternative to premium rivals
OWN ONE? SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE
PEUGEOT 508 GT
Price £36,420 Price as tested £37,145
Faults None Expenses None
Economy 40.3mpg Last seen 10.7.19
TEST DATA
BMW i3s
MILEAGE 4312 LAST SEEN 10.7.19
The i3’s charging point is where
you’d normally find the filler cap in
a combustion car. This isn’t always
convenient – especially for on-road
rapid chargers, where you either
need to mount a kerb or three-point
turn to allow the cable to reach. I’ve
had fewer issues with EVs where
the charging point is located on the
nose, but think the Audi E-tron’s
double-sided approach is best. TM
Honda CR-V
MILEAGE 3487 LAST SEEN 3.7.19
Car makers spend lots of money
on refining and perfecting the
ergonomics of vehicles – even to the
extent of modelling reflections from
shiny elements on the dashboard.
But if that’s the case, why does
Honda persist with a chrome badge
in the centre of the steering wheel?
I’m blinded morning and evening by
a gleaming silver H emblem. MM
Audi E-tron
MILEAGE 2740 LAST SEEN 17.7.19
Given how gloriously quiet the
E-tron is, a fair bit of noise from the
windscreen wipers is a surprise.
There’s a strip of plastic trim that
r u n s u p e a c h s i d e of th e w i n d s c r e e n ,
and the wiper on the driver’s side
smacks against it at the top of each
sweep. Perhaps the wiper simply
needs adjusting, but the rhythmic
clack it makes is rather jarring. AM
OOUURR C CAARRSS
3 1 JULY 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 69