Subaru WRX VS Peugeot 508
Subaru WRX
Likes
- Performance & dynamics
- Value
- Safety
Dislikes
- Marginal rear headroom
- Pricey servicing
- No adjustable ventilation in rear
Peugeot 508
Likes
- Can't fault its looks - it's sexy
- Pleasant driving experience (once you get used to it)
- Boot space is fab for families
Dislikes
- Multimedia system leaves you wanting
- 180-degree view camera is poor quality
- Must charge it every day to get good fuel economy
Summary
Subaru WRX
This car features something many people reading this review won’t have experienced or even seen up close before.
Especially for you younger ones, it’s called a ‘gear lever’ or ‘gear stick’. And down in the driver’s footwell an extra pedal on the left operates the ‘clutch’ which helps you use the gear lever because this car, the Subaru WRX RS, is what’s known as a ‘manual’.
That means you get to change the gears and wrest back some control from a modern car, many of which seem hell bent on taking over completely!
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This is the fifth-generation version of what long ago morphed into a cult phenomenon, the ‘Rex’, with hardcore devotees around the globe loving its brash turbo flat-four performance and tenacious all-wheel-drive dynamics.
It’s been tweaked for the 2024 model year with heaps of extra safety gear and upgraded multimedia, which is the perfect excuse to strap in and reacquaint ourselves with this compact powerhouse.
Read on to see if this small sedan with the lot has what it takes to qualify for a spot on your driveway!
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.4L turbo |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 9.9L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Peugeot 508
The humble station wagon has fallen by the wayside in favour of the ever-popular SUV, however, it was once more common for a very good reason.
It offers the space many families crave without having to upsize into a vehicle that can feel big and bulky.
A lot of drivers enjoy the sportier on-road feel and the good-looking styling that often accompanies a wagon. Enter the Peugeot 508 Sportswagon. A model that proves wagons can be hot.
Read more about
I’m family-testing the top GT plug-in hybrid model this week but there’s not a lot to compare it to because of the interesting engine specs.
So, we’re being a bit cheeky and doing an ‘apples with oranges’ comparo instead.
Being on the premium end, the 508 Sportswagon faces competition from the Audi A4 Allroad 45 TFSI, Genesis G70 Shooting Brake and Volvo V60 Cross Country Ultimate.
It certainly has the looks to turn heads but we’re sussing out whether it’s a practical alternative for families, too.
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.6L turbo |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 1.8L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Subaru WRX7.9/10
Over three decades the WRX has matured into a more grown-up, refined performance package.
It’s fast with excellent dynamics, yet comfortable. Safety’s top-shelf, it’s well screwed together and the value equation stacks up. Rear seat headroom could be better and service costs are on the high side for the category. But I just love the way this car puts you in control.
Peugeot 5087.1/10
The Peugeot 508 Sportswagon GT PHEV proves wagons can be extremely stylish but looks aren’t everything and it is an expensive option compared to its luxury rivals. It earns its place with the premium interior but the safety could be improved on and the tech is more confusing than it needs to be. But this wagon offers an alternative for families who are sick of being in an SUV yet still need a little extra space.
My son didn’t go nuts over this and complained about his view.
Design
Subaru WRX
For a while there in the mid- to late teens it felt like Subaru was pulling the wraps off a ‘VIZIV’-themed concept car design roughly once every five minutes.
Future-focused SUVs, crossovers and wagons, as well as 2017’s Performance Concept, a muscular four-door that clearly had an influence on the look and feel of this car.
From its sinister headlights and all-business hood scoop to the pumped-up flared guards with black 18-inch alloys filling them, the WRX’s intent is clear.
And at the back the professional-grade theme continues with dual twin exhaust tips, boot lid lip spoiler and what looks like a multi-vane diffuser that’s actually more cosmetic than functional.
That said, a low-key technical design feature is the integration of air outlets on the trailing edges of the front wheel arch flares and the outer edges of the rear bumper.
This is to release air pressure from the wheel arches, forming external vortices to minimise body sway and drift caused by wind turbulence.
Inside, the cabin treatment is a fairly busy mix of sharpish angles and shallow curves, the dash dominated by an 11.6-inch, portrait-oriented multimedia screen with a separate instrument pod for the driver next to it.
The colour palette is mid-grey to black with dark metallic highlights here and there, with alloy covers on all three pedals as well as patches of faux carbon on the doors and steering wheel.
Sports front seats look and feel good and the overall standard of fit and finish is high.
Peugeot 508
The design of this wagon is what wins it the most points. It is a damn fine specimen with the sleek lines in the body panelling and the sexy rear that looks well-proportioned for its 4790mm length.
Dark, narrow windows, 18-inch alloy wheels and a minimalist-looking nose, with fang-like daytime-running lights, all enhance its sporty look.
The rear lights have Peugeot’s signature ‘claw’ design and there’s something suggestively fun about seeing a twin-exhaust on a wagon!
On the interior, the multimedia system takes centre stage and the dashboard looks quite sleek, despite all of the deep cutaways.
The steering wheel is in the compact style that Peugeot is known for but it makes the cockpit feel driver orientated.
The quilted Nappa leather trims and shiny piano-black accents (with the piano-key controls) make for a refined cabin space.
Practicality
Subaru WRX
At just under 4.7m long, a little over 1.8m wide and close to 1.5m tall, with a roughly 2.7m wheelbase the WRX stands as a ‘big’ small sedan.
At 183cm I’ve got more than enough breathing room in the front, the away slope of the dash enhancing the feeling of space.
For storage, there’s lots, including a centre console box between the seats, two cupholders and some oddments trays in the centre console, door pockets with room for decent size bottles and a medium glove box
And in the back, sitting behind the driver’s seat set to my position, there’s good foot room, ample legroom, but sitting straight I experienced a bonce-to-roof interface in terms of headroom. No adjustable ventilation, either. Thumbs down.
Storage options include door bins with room for bottles, a single map pocket (on the back of the front passenger seat) and two cupholders in the fold down centre armrest.
Power and connectivity runs to a 12V socket in the front as well as USB-A and -C sockets for charging and/or media.
Plus two USB charge ports (again -A and -C) in the back, the latter a model year 2024 spec upgrade.
The WRX’s boot offers 411 litres of storage space, which is enough to accommodate our three-piece luggage set, but remember, the aperture isn’t as accommodating as a hatch or SUV’s. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats improve flexibility, though.
A space-saver spare sits under the floor and braked trailer towing capacity is a handy 1200kg.
Peugeot 508
The front row gets the most space and you’ll be able to get into a comfortable position even if you’re tall.
However, it is a low car with its 142mm ground clearance and there may be a few grunts as you get in and out (or is it just me?).
My seven-year old loves how easy it is to climb in, though he didn’t have the best view out of the windows because the sills sit high.
The footwell lip also sits quite high, which isn’t an issue until you can’t open your door very wide and then it’s clumsy in a tight parking space.
The electric front seats are very comfortable and the extendable under-thigh support helps to minimise leg fatigue on a longer journey.
Surprisingly, for my 168cm (5'6") height, I have to sit much further back than I ordinarily would to get a comfy driving position.
In the back, you have plenty of headroom but behind my driving position, the legroom could be better.
An adult would still find it fairly comfortable on a longer journey so long as they aren’t behind someone tall. The seats themselves are well-cushioned and you sit in, rather than on top of them.
Individual storage options are good for this class with a dual-opening middle console, glove box and a great utility cubby next to the transmission shifter.
There is also a shelf underneath the centre console that houses the wireless charging pad and two USB-A ports but it’s a tad awkward to use and even see the ports when you're seated.
The amenities are good in the rear but for a top-spec model it’s lacking the luxury items you might expect, like heated seats and climate control but you’ll enjoy map pockets, reading lights, two USB-A ports and directional air vents.
It also has a fold-down armrest with two shallow cupholders, that in a quick turn, might spill their cups!
The boot is a great size at 530L with all seats in use and you can bump it to 1780L with the rear seats folded.
You get a level loading space and a 60/40 split with a ski-port in the back seat, which opens up your storage options.
There is a tyre repair kit rather than a physical spare but the tailgate is powered, which I always like.
The technology is a mixed bag. It looks sharp and the touchscreen multimedia system is responsive but isn’t as easy to use as others I’ve sampled.
It doesn’t have a lot of accessible information or customisations available but it is easy to connect to the wired Apple CarPlay. There is also wired Android Auto for those users and built-in satellite navigation.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel is the prettiest piece of tech in the car and there is more customisation available to make it feel yours.
Considering its price point and top-model status, it's more obvious that you miss out on premium items like three-zone climate control, faster USB-C connections and a head-up display.
Price and features
Subaru WRX
The Subaru WRX RS weighs in at $52,990, before on-road costs, and the RS Sport with CVT auto is a fraction below 55 and a half thousand dollars.
There are some tasty alternatives around that price band, including the Toyota GR Yaris ($51,390), Mazda MX-5 GT RS ($51,640) and Mini Cooper S Clubman Classic ($53,250).
But maybe the most telling competition is closer to home with the less powerful but even purer Subaru BRZ tS ‘2+2’ manual coupe undercutting its WRX RS sibling by more than four grand at $48,690, before on-road costs.
Either way, aside from the standard performance and safety tech we’ll get to shortly, this car boasts an impressive features list including dual-zone climate control air, eight-way power-adjustable and heated sports front seats, heated outboard rear seats, interior ambient lighting, synthetic suede seat trim, built-in sat-nav and an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented multimedia screen (with voice command).
There’s also 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio (with digital radio and 265mm subwoofer), wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, keyless entry and start, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a sunroof, exterior LED lighting all around, ‘Steering Responsive Headlights’, rear privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Relative to its asking price and closest competitors this WRX RS delivers plenty of bang for the buck when it comes to performance and value.
Peugeot 508
Keeping things simple, there are only two variants for the 508 Sportswagon and our test vehicle is the top GT plug-in hybrid model that will cost $82,915 before on road costs.
That’s a $1000 price hike from last year and sets it well above its rivals with the Audi A4 coming closest at $78,169 (MSRP).
Given its rivals are well known for their luxury, the 508 has a fair bit to live up to but its styling and use of premium materials, like the quilted Nappa-leather trims, help it earn its position within the ranks.
The interior gets some other lovely big-ticket items with the eight-way electric front seats and a two-way memory position function on the driver’s seat.
Both front seats feature a heat function, adjustable lumbar support and a fabulous massage function. The ‘Cat Paw’ option is particularly nice!
However, the back seat misses out on these ‘top-end’ creature comforts.
There is a sunroof optioned on our test vehicle which adds $2500 to the price tag but creates an airy cabin in what would ordinarily be a bat-cave-esque space with that black headliner.
Only one colour is included in the price and our ‘Pearl White’ costs an extra $1050.
Technology has been revitalised with a new 10-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Dual-zone climate control, push-button start, keyless entry and a powered tailgate all add some practicality to every day life, too.
Phone mirroring tech like wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are easy to connect to and there are a bunch of charging options available throughout the car, including a wireless charging pad up front.
All-in-all, though, the features list isn’t as long as the price point might suggest.
Under the bonnet
Subaru WRX
The WRX RS is powered by a 2.4-litre, horizontally opposed four-cylinder, turbo-intercooled petrol engine developing 202kW and 350Nm.
Some call it ‘flat’, others a ‘boxer’, but either way it’s the Rex’s mechanical calling card delivering its distinctively raucous, pulsing engine and exhaust sound.
The all-alloy unit features direct-injection and dual variable valve timing, its relatively flat design lowering the car’s centre of gravity significantly.
And as mentioned earlier, in this case it’s connected to a six-speed manual gearbox driving all four wheels via a centre viscous limited slip differential able to distribute drive between the front and rear axles on demand. But you can have a CVT auto if you really want one in the RS Sport.
Peugeot 508
The GT plug-in hybrid model has a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, as well as an electric motor that sits on the front axle. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission that produces smooth gear changing driving the front wheels.
The combined outputs are 165kW and 360Nm which means you have a good amount of power for this sized car but it’s not a performance wagon as its 0-100km/h sprint time is 8.3 seconds.
The lithium-ion battery has a small 11.8kWh capacity and will get from 0-100 per cent in three and a half hours on an 11kW system. On my standard house plug, it took closer to six and a half hours.
Efficiency
Subaru WRX
Subaru’s official combined cycle fuel-economy figure for the WRX RS is 9.9L/100km, which is moderate for a performance sedan like this. And it emits 225g/km of CO2 in the process.
Over a week covering mainly urban and suburban driving, with some enthusiastic sessions and a hint of freeway running thrown in, we recorded an average of 10.6L/100km, which isn’t outrageous.
Worth noting the minimum fuel requirement is the pricier 95 RON premium unleaded and you’ll need 63 litres of it to fill the tank which translates to a theoretical range of around 635km and roughly 595km using our real-world number.
Peugeot 508
Peugeot says you can travel up to 55km on pure electric function, however my morning (return) school run is 38.4km and the electric range was spent by the time I parked in my garage after starting on a full charge.
Under optimal conditions, where you’re utilising both the engine and motor, the GT PHEV has an official fuel cycle consumption of 1.5L/100km.
After charging it three times, travelling 444km on a mix of open/urban roads and using 33 litres of fuel, my real-world usage came to 7.4L/100km.
You absolutely get the best economy when you regularly charge it but sometimes you just don’t get the time to!
You'll need 43 litres of premium 95 RON unleaded fuel to fill the tank which, using our real-world average consumption figure, translates to a driving range of around 580km.
Driving
Subaru WRX
In driving the first Subaru Impreza WRX when it launched here in the early 1990s, the first attempt to control its surging, decidedly non-linear acceleration felt like pulling back on the reins of a bolting horse.
Subaru was in the thick of its commitment to the World Rally Championship (WRX stands for ‘World Rally eXperimental’) and the Japanese maker had a red hot product on its hands.
Fast forward to the 2024 version and the turbo torque still arrives with something of a rush but this is an infinitely more refined performance sedan than its relatively raw ancestor.
Subaru doesn’t quote a 0-100km/h figure but expect it to come up in the high five-second bracket and with maximum torque available all the way from 2000–5200rpm (and peak power taking over at 5600rpm) there’s always plenty or urgent acceleration available.
And that pulsing engine noise and percussive exhaust beat is still there in a no less distinctive and entertaining way. Our test car was fitted with the newly optional STi-branded exhaust ($2497, fitted) which adds to the aural impact.
The gearshift isn’t ‘click-clack’ direct but it’s smooth and positive and the clutch is perfectly weighted. Such a pleasure to swap through the ratios, with a bit of old school heel and toe action thrown in for downshifts. Love it.
Subaru says the ‘Global Platform’ underpinning the WRX features a “full inner-frame construction” making it “14 per cent better in terms of front lateral flexing rigidity and 28 per cent stiffer torsionally” than its predecessor.
Suspension is strut front, double wishbone rear, which is a relatively sophisticated configuration allowing the WRX RS to combine impressive ride quality with excellent dynamic response.
The 245/40 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx rubber grips hard and steadfastly refuses to squeal or squirm in ‘press-on’ cornering, the AWD system defaulting to a nominal 45/55 front/rear torque split to deliver an initial rear-drive attitude with active torque vectoring helping to keep any pesky understeer in check.
Push even harder and the system seamlessly adjusts the balance. And to top it off, the steering is great; accurate with good road feel.
Despite an alloy bonnet and front guards (even the fuel flap is resin) the WRX RS weighs in at 1482kg. That’s solid without qualifying as chonky, and it still feels nimble, responsive and balanced, helped in no small part by the boxer engine lowering the car’s overall centre of gravity.
The WRX has copped some criticism in the past about its braking performance under intense pressure. And while we didn’t hammer the RS around a race circuit we did repeatedly apply full-force to the centre pedal without any noticeable reduction in effectiveness.
For the record, the system uses ventilated discs all around (290mm fr / 316mm rr) with dual-piston front calipers up front and singles at the rear. In everyday use the pedal is agreeably progressive.
Under the heading of general, mainly ergonomic, observations, the driver display may not be full digital but the 4.2-inch multi-information display in the centre of the instrument cluster delivers a healthy amount of relevant information clearly and simply.
At 11.2 metres the turning circle is okay, while vision for parking, supported by a high-def reversing camera is good. And applying the manual park brake is another reminder of the physical nature of this car.
Peugeot 508
The 508 Sportswagon is an odd car to drive. Around the city, the steering makes it feel like you’re in a go-kart and you may over-correct until you get used to it.
On the open-road, it feels like it gets into its groove but the power reserves feel a tad too shallow as the engine can complain with only a light load.
The suspension is well padded and you won’t notice too many bumps but you do get a fair bit of wind and road feedback at higher speeds.
Because of the narrow windows, I am surprised by how great the visibility is but you feel tiny when you sit next to a big SUV in traffic!
That said, it corners beautifully and taking this on a winding coastal road is super fun.
The brakes are very responsive, which is great in stop-start city traffic but can make it feel a little jerky while navigating a car park.
And on that note, because of the funky steering feel, it takes a moment to calibrate your senses with what the car is doing.
Once you get used to it, it’s simple to park but the quality of the 180-degree camera system is pretty rubbish for where this car sits in the market.
Safety
Subaru WRX
The WRX is “unrated” by ANCAP (it’s maximum five-star rating timed out in 2022) but for the 2024 model year the RS manual picks up Subaru’s ‘EyeSight’ active (crash-avoidance) safety suite including features like AEB, adaptive cruise and more assists, warnings and alerts than you could poke a crash test dummy at.
Specifically, ‘Emergency Lane Keep Assist’, lane centring, ‘Lane Departure Prevention’, ‘Lane Departure Warning’, ‘Lane Sway Warning’, ‘Lead Vehicle Start Alert’, driver monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, ‘Pre-collision Braking System’, ‘Pre-collision Brake Assist’, ‘Brake Light Recognition’, ‘Speed Sign Recognition’ and tyre pressure monitoring.
If an impact is unavoidable, there are seven airbags onboard, including full-length side curtains and a front centre bag to minimise head clash injuries in a side-on crash.
There are three top tether points and two ISOFIX anchors for child seats/baby capsules across the rear seat.
Peugeot 508
The 508 has most but not all of the safety features you expect to see in a family car.
The active bonnet is a great feature as it lifts up in a collision to help minimise pedestrian injuries.
However, in the modern market and this being a top-spec model, I am surprised it's lacking a few safety features, namely rear cross-traffic alert.
Other standard safety equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, LED daytime running lights, forward collision warning, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, intelligent seat belt reminders, front and rear parking sensors, a 180-degree view reversing camera, traffic sign recognition, a driver attention monitor, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality.
The 508 has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done way back in 2018 and it only sports six airbags, which is low for a family vehicle.
The 508 has autonomous emergency braking with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection and is operational from 10.0– 80km/h (5.0 – 140km/h for car).
There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard rear seat positions and three top tethers in the second row but two child seats will fit best. Front passenger comfort may be compromised when a 0-4 rearward facing child seat is installed.
Ownership
Subaru WRX
Subaru covers the WRX with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, which is still the norm in the mainstream market, although more than a few brands are stepping up to seven years.
The main service interval is 12 months/15,000km, also on par with the market and (five-year/75,000km) capped-price servicing is available.
Average is just under $535 per workshop visit, which is on the high side but maybe to be expected for a highly-tuned car like this.
That said, Roadside Assist is complimentary for 12 months, which is a nice sweetener.
Peugeot 508
On the 508 you’ll enjoy a five-year/unlimited km warranty and the battery is covered by an eight-year or up to 160,000km warranty, which is great.
You can pre-purchase either a three- or five-year servicing plan and the five-year plan costs a flat $2100 or an average of $420 per service which is very reasonable for this class.
Servicing intervals are at every 12months or 20,000km, whichever occurs first.