If its equipment, eye catching styling, generous room inside and in trunk as well as extreme safety, as confirmed at Euro-CAP crash test are anything to go bye, PAN Nigeria Limited has got in its Peugeot 508 a strong contender in the nation’s luxury car market, reports FEMI OWOEYE
Last week was significant. In a way. Motoring World’s editorial team paid a courtesy visit to Peugeot’s Lagos Office showroom. While being conducted through the showroom, a car stuck out its fat cheek like a belly-full lion.
It is all-new Peugeot 508. What came to mind after all-round inspection of the car was that the likes of Honda Accord, Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia and VW Passat have got a strong competitor.
Even parked among its siblings, including the bold 4008, Pug 3008 and 301, the trendy 508 luxuriously stands out.
Styling
The Peugeot 508 effortlessly catches the eyes with its sweeping shape and unique grille which can be likened to a fat cheek lion at rest after catching a whole animal for nice meal. I dare to add that the lion 508 seems to be saying, “tooth pick, please!”
Seriously, it’s good looking and Its lion-mouth like grill above which is a nose, which in turn incorporates the grill and headlamps featuring a real pair of lion’s eyes. I mean the headlamps are really shaped like fearful eyes of a lion. Much bigger than its predecessor, the new 508 stands at 4.8m long – about the same as a Ford Mondeo.
The Trunk
The boot is practical and roomy, with a generous capacity of 497 litres of l. With the seatbacks folded, this rises to 1,533 litres. It would no doubt swallow four golf bags.
INTERIOR
We checked out the interior. I captured the cozy and luxurious scene with my inner eyes. First to strike one was its leather trimmed steering wheel. With chrome and leather detailing and a clean, sleek dash, the 508 has a modern, high quality feel. A premium quality leather trim is fitted as standard; The front seats are also heated and electrically adjustable.Donned with high quality materials, 508’s cabin feels much more up-market. Though a first-timer might encounter a bit of difficulty in navigating his or her way around, because of so many buttons, by the time he or she gets familiar with them, it should be fun.
EQUIPMENT
Peugeot 508 comes with Rd5 Radio/hands-free Car Kit/Bluetooth Audio. There is also auto headlight in which case, the headlight turns towards the direction at which the driver steers. It has also got front auto windshield wiper, electric folding side mirrors, front and rear sequential power window, cooling glove box, side airbags, dual zone (front and back seats) climate control air-conditioning, 60/40 folding rear seats and electronically operated front seats. Other standard equipments include cruise control+speed limiter with preset speed memory function and convenience.
SAFETY
The car is equipped with six airbags, electric child safety locks and Electronic has gone through rigorous Euro NCAP crash test and at the end, earned itself a maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
RUNNING COST
According to Peugeot’s national Sales Manager, Abubakar Jimeta, who conducted us around the showroom, Peugeot 508 is about the most economical to run among all models in its category.
“Cost of ownership is cheaper”, he claimed. “While Ford goes for only 7000 kilometer before due for servicing and others as low as 5000 kilometers, Peugeot 508 will run for 10,000 kilometer before there would be need for servicing.”
POWER
Under the hood of 508 is 1.6-litr turbocharged engine with, according to Jimeta, “capacity of 3.0-litre.” Indeed what gives it such a muscular power is its turbocharger.
“It will travel conveniently from Lagos to Abuja on a full tank”, Jimeta added.
LAST WORDS
While we intend to arrange for a test-drive to be able to report the car’s claimed Ride and Handling, with what we witnessed and felt during close observation of the luxury machine, it is bound to be value for money in the hands of top company executive and individual auto enthusiasts, who are looking for a cozy world of automobile to sometimes cruise in.
