The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
The new 508 is a fine
saloon – sorry, fastback
- that does well in this
month’s 3-series mega-
test. But how best to spec
it? We’ve gone for GT Line,
which adds the visual
drama of the GT version
(like the sabre-tooth DRL
lights) without the massive
wheels, which can be
too much on UK roads.
There’s a choice of good
powertrains; our pick is the
gutsy but frugal 2.0-litre
BlueHDi 160 engine with
158bhp and 295lb ft mated
to PSA’s eight-speed auto.
Starting price: £31,089
SPEC EXPERT
BUILD THE PERFECT
PEUGEOT 508
It comes well-equipped – but there’s still room for improvement...
Our GT Line car has been
finished in Celebes Blue
(£575) – the same as the
one in our comparison
test – as it’s a colour that
strays away from the usual
endless shades of grey
or black. Inside, we’ve
kept the standard GT Line
upholstery: a part-leather,
part-cloth design with
double stitching.
Running total: £31,664
GT Line is well equipped
with nav, LED headlights
and a wireless phone
charger. We’ve added the
Visio Park 3 pack (£600)
for a 360º parking camera
and auto-park functions,
power folding mirrors
with blindspot monitoring
(£180) and the Drive Assist
Pack (£400) featuring
smart active cruise control.
Running total: £32,844
MAY 2019 | CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK 151
RAPID HATCH/SPACEBACK ★★★★★
DIES
SOON
> Long, narrow notchback with a useful
amount of luggage space. Spaceback
is shorter, still dross > VERDICT Unless
you’ve got a lot of potatoes and no other way to
carry them, just don’t
OCTAVIA HATCH/ESTATE ★★★★★
> Basically the same as a Golf and A3, but bigger
(especially for rear legroom), cheaper and more
functional. Hot vRS versions old-school ballistic
fun. 4x4s practical > VERDICT It’s a lot of car for
the money
SUPERB SALOON/ESTATE ★★★★★
> So vast inside it echoes. Sharp lines, stacks of
kit, double the number of umbrellas. Shame about
the dull interior and the stiff price, especially for the
bigger-powered and higher-spec versions
> VERDICT All the family car you’ll ever need. Only
bigger
KAROQ ★★★★★
> A miniature Kodiaq: practical, sharply styled and
comfortable. Shame it’s just not as likeable as its
predecessor, even in more rugged Scout spec
> VERDICT R I P Yet i
KODIAQ ★★★★★
> Vast SUV takes the Octavia approach by bulking
out on a shared platform, but doesn’t share its
dazzling personality. Hot vRS version expensive
overkill > VERDICT The most comfortable place to
die a little inside
SMART
FORTWO ★★★★★
> Wider than the last one, with a much better ride,
higher quality cabin and slicker auto > VERDICT A
brilliant city runabout, with an electric version that
makes sense
FORFOUR ★★★★★
> Renault/Merc tie-up means ForFour is
accomplished, with a classy cabin, although
ludicrous pricing seem at odds with targeted
budget city car buyers > VERDICT Its sister car, the
Renault Twingo, is more than two grand cheaper.
Work that out
SSANGYONG
KORANDO ★★★★★
> Borderline rubbish to drive but more practical
than the Teflon-coated trousers you’re probably
wearing if you’re giving it serious consideration
> VERDICT Huge, handy and hellish value, but
we’d have a used Nissan Qashqai or Mazda CX-5
any day
REXTON ★★★★★
> SY’s poshest SUV yet, which admittedly isn’t
saying a huge amount. Think old Discovery and
you’re not actually that far off > VERDICT Far less
rubbish than the last one
TURISMO ★★★★★
> Less odious than the old Rodius, but every bit as
practical, this giant seven-seater is slower than the
Crossrail boring machine > VERDICT Has minicab
written all over it, or soon will, which will handily
help disguise the ugliness
TIVOLI ★★★★★
> There’s no getting away from it: Korea’s
also-ran car maker has finally built a contender.
Great value, spacious and – get this – well-
finished inside > VERDICT If they do this again
the dross heritage is under threat
SUBARU
IMPREZA ★★★★★
> Yes, it still exists beyond the WRX and STi of
legend. No, you don’t want one. Boggo Impreza
is now reduced to a 1.6 petrol hatchback only with
optional CVT. Shudder > VERDICT Have you got
a brand new combine harvester? It’s probably a
better drive
LEVORG ★★★★★
> Impreza estate with a silly name. Single choice
of 1.6 petrol with CVT auto and 4wd means it’s got
a silly drivetrain too > VERDICT Levorg is grovel
backwards; dealers may need to. Niche, as is all too
common with Subaru
XV ★★★★★
> We admire the engineering that goes into the
XV but you have to pay through the nose for it and
you’re limited to a petrol, all-wheel-drive and CVT
powertrain that dims the driving pleasure
> VERDICT Another very niche Subaru
FORESTER ★★★★★
> Appealingly functional square-rigger is the kind
of crossover that existed before we had ‘lifestyles’.
Good on road, great off it, not cheap
> VERDICT A solid old-school Subaru. Tweed cap,
pipe, sheep flock optional
OUTBACK ★★★★★
> The unloved Legacy’s only UK legacy is this
Allroad-style crossover. It’s huge inside and
the 4x4 look isn’t all for show > VERDICT
Dependable, not desirable
BRZ ★★★★★
> Gloriously simple but under-nourished rear-
drive boxer coupe, crying out for a supercharger.
Toyota GT86 twin marginally more fun > VERDICT
Loveable car we wanted them to make but you
don’t want to buy
SUZUKI
CELERIO ★★★★★
> Braking-phobic city car is otherwise spacious,
full of kit and cheap. Three-cylinder petrol engine
only, plus all the handling vigour of a B&Q Value
wheelbarrow > VERDICT Dowdy and rowdy. Stop
complaining and be grateful you’ve got DAB and
a cupholder
SWIFT ★★★★★
> An unsung hero, and not just the excellent
134bhp Sport. Handles well, spacious and cheap.
Upgraded Dualjet motor sweet > VERDICT Buy one
and challenge anyone who questions your choice
to a fistfight
BALENO ★★★★★
> The biggest of Suzuki’s small cars, but not a Focus
rival by a long shot. Brand traits come through
here: hollow interior, bargain price but fun to
drive if you’re prepared to work with it > VERDICT
Practical, unpretentious, almost entirely forgettable
SX4 S-CROSS ★★★★★
> The cheap way to clone a Nissan Qashqai. Won’t
score any points for style – in fact you might be
encouraged by your kids (and everybody else’s
kids) to hide it at the back of the school car park.
Diesel is the best bet, if not an attractive one
> VERDICT A crossover to be cross over
JIMNY ★★★★★
> It’s a mini Tonka toy! Still supreme off road and,
now, there’s few else like it on sale. It’s slow, still
not great on road, but we know what we’d have
in a zombie apocalypse > VERDICT So incredibly
loveable we forgive its road manners
VITARA ★★★★★
> Two-tone cross-dresser to rival the Nissan Juke,
with handsome body and economical diesel
engine or a lively petrol, and genuine all-wheel-
drive ability. Cabin could do with some work,
though > VERDICT Rutting rhinos and pink paint a
thing of the past: it’s a serious family car now, but
still good value
TESLA
MODEL 3 ★★★★★
> An affordable electric vehicle you actually want
to drive? Say it ain’t so. Impressive performance,
taut but spine-breaking dynamics, clean interior
> VERDICT Musk’s watershed moment – if only he
could build them at anything approaching a rate
to meet global demand. Right-hand-drive versions
currently not expected before 2020
MODEL S ★★★★★
> Electro-rocket covers ground like nothing else
on the planet, and in P100D guise is capable of
delivering kidney-thumping acceleration. The
future, with a cabin from the recent past
> VERDICT Crush supercars, emit nothing
MODEL X ★★★★★
> You can scare the bejeezus out of your six
passengers by reaching 62mph in 3.1 seconds. It’s
effective, albeit in one dimension. Looks like an
TOTAL PRICE: £33,434 SUV holding its breath > VERDICT Musky
We were tempted by active
suspension, available for
£1000, but it’s not really
necessary unless you’ve
gone for bigger wheels.
Something we couldn’t
resist, though, was the
Focal audio upgrade, for a
pretty reasonable £590. It’s
designed to give an extra
richness and precision to all
styles of music and spoken-
word entertainment.
Total price: £33,434
