IT'S big, it's bold and it's definitely in your face.

The newest version of the Peugeot 508 is not the sort of car you opt for if you don't want to get noticed.

While the bulk of the 508 range are sleek, stylish and mild mannered the RXH - particularly in black - has aggressive looks and packs performance to match.

It's a body style that was first developed for the hybrid model but has now been extended to a new powerful 180bhp diesel.

With a high stance, side skirts, cladding over the wheel arches, distinctive 18-inch alloy wheels and dark tinted windows the RXH has the looks of a tough off-roader, although unlike the hybrid is not designed for that sort of work.

But it's the "face" of the car that gives it that macho image with strips of three daylight running lights built into the bumper on each side looking like shark's teeth.

Underneath all that bluster, of course, it's a superbly comfortable and refined vehicle which cossets passengers while offering vast luggage space. And taking a cue from Peugeot's line up of SW models the RXH also boasts a vast panoramic glass roof which gives rear seat passengers in particular a whole new window on the world when you drive through skyscraper cities or countryside dominated by mountains.

The size of the car means there is an abundance of leg and shoulder room for all on board, and front seat travellers benefit from electrically adjustable and heated seats.

A seven-inch multifunction colour touchscreen allows easy use of most of the on-board features, including DAB radio and satellite navigation.

And the RXH comes with a fighter-pilot-style colour head up display so you don't have to take your eyes off the road to know what speed you are doing or what direction the sat nav is showing.

I found the dogleg-style automatic gear shift a little awkward at first but it's something you soon get used to and the six-speed gearbox gives seamless gear changes.

A button next to the gear shift allows you to switch to Sport for more enthusiastic driving and there are paddles behind the steering wheel if you want to take control yourself.

On the road the 508 RXH proved to be a superbly smooth, refined car, allowing you to eat up the miles in comfort.

And when you need that bit of extra power the beefy 180bhp engine delivers instantly while at the same time being frugal with its fuel consumption. For such a large car an average of more than 60mpg is not to be sniffed at, particularly when it comes with road tax of just £30pa.

A super spacious luggage area allows you to pack in 512 litres of luggage with the rear seatbacks in place and a vanload with them lowered.