Peugeot 508 vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class

What's the difference?

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.

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.

You like performance, love a bit of luxury and fancy a traditional sedan. The budget is healthy and there’s a surprising amount of choice. But Mercedes-AMG believes it’s created the car that perfectly answers your new-car brief. 

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid 4Matic+ is a fresh expression of an established high-performance sedan formula mixing internal-combustion power with electric punch and all-wheel drive.

We were invited to its local launch, so stay with us to see if this newcomer is ready to fill that primo European performance car shaped space in your garage.