Peugeot 308 SW Review: The perfect alternative to the popular SUV?

The versatile and impressive estate that flies under the radar of family cars.

Ask yourself this, how many SUVs do you drive past each day?

We’ll hazard a guess and say it’s considerably higher than the number of estate cars you see, which you can probably count on one hand. Why?

In a world where cars are getting bigger and heavier, the humble estate is often overlooked by family car buyers and business car lease drivers alike.

Following a history of inefficient and cumbersome engines, the Peugeot 308 SW is the beacon of hope that the estate sector needs. Its impressive performance is a quiet reminder of why they still deserve a place on our roads.

Going head-to-head with the likes of the SEAT Leon Estate and the Volkswagen Golf Estate, it is up against some timeless competitors.

Eager to see if the estate still warrants a place on our roads, we’ve been testing this 1.5L BlueHDi Active Premium 308 SW in Cumulus Grey to see how well it performs.

What did we drive?

Model: 1.5 BlueHDi Active Premium 5dr EAT8

Transmission: Automatic

Power: Diesel    

Colour: Cumulus Grey

Wheels: 16-inch ‘Auckland’ alloy wheels

OTR: from £28,350*

Price of model driven: £31,395*

*Prices correct at the time of publication

Price

Prices for the Peugeot 308 SW start from £28,350 for the entry-level Active Premium trim and from there, the OTR rises to at least £32,915 for the range-topping GT variant.

If you would prefer to pay monthly, our latest Peugeot lease deals offer you the opportunity to spread that cost with flexible terms designed to suit your needs.

The cost of your 308 SW will largely depend on your engine choice, rather than trim level. The Active Premium we tested was well specced for an entry-level option, so all trims will offer competitive value for money if you choose the 308 SW for your next car lease.

However, it’s the engine list where the numbers start to rise. If you choose the big Hybrid 225 E-EAT8 engine in GT trim, the OTR rises to at least £42,340.

Engines

Versatility has to be at the heart of every great estate car and that reflects in the 308’s engine choices.

There are petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrain options to choose from depending on your needs and wants from the car.

Peugeot have also confirmed that an all-electric 308 will be hitting our roads very soon, with a claimed range of 248 miles to complete the line-up.

This will be competing with the likes of the MG5 EV Long Range (250-mile range) and the future Vauxhall Astra Electric estate, which will reportedly have a range of 258 miles.

The diesel engine that we were testing may not be to everyone’s taste, which is understandable. However, if you are regularly travelling long distances, the efficiency it offers is going to be unrivalled in the 308 line-up.

Both the petrol and hybrid engines also offer good value for money. With the ability to add up to 37 miles of pure electric range, the hybrid engines are a good alternative while we wait for the all-electric version to arrive.

A full breakdown of the engines available in the 308 line-up and what specifications they’re available in are outlined below.

Drive

For a vehicle that is over 4.6 metres long, the Peugeot 308 SW was surprisingly easy to drive and get to grips with. Not once did it feel overwhelming or too big.

Peugeot have minimised the risk of the 308 feeling too daunting by creating fantastic visibility behind the wheel and making a cabin space that feels compact and comfortable while driving.

One element that continues to divide opinions is Peugeot’s compact steering wheel, that aims to make the cabin feel sporty.

In some models – and this can also be dependent on the height of the driver – the steering wheel can block your visibility of the driver’s display. Not ideal.

We did find it a hindrance at times during our Peugeot e-2008 review, but here, it did help give this big estate the perceived feeling of being more nimble and agile, without impacting visibility.

Taller drivers above six feet tall may not feel so passionately about the steering wheel, which can then feel disproportionately small, and the overall driving position becomes clunky and not so comfortable. It’s manageable, but not ideal.

Regardless of the engine choice you make, all options are powered by an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It’s responsive enough once you get going and switches between the gears seamlessly, but from a standstill it can be sluggish on occasions.

The increased torque from the diesel engine was a noticeable benefit. The throttle was light and responsive, which helped make a car of this size and stature feel quite punchy when a motorway overtake was required.

Design & Interior

It’s not an outlandish claim to say that this could be the best-looking estate car on the road today. All looks are subjective, and we’ll leave you to make the final call, but for me, you have to look at the big three German manufacturers to find a car of this size that offers the dynamics of the 308.

It’s a guaranteed head-turner. It has presence and a stance. The Matrix LED fang-like headlights lead into a large front grille that makes it instantly recognisable.

There’s an element of history, too. The 308 is the first Peugeot model to be equipped with the manufacturer’s new and updated badge, giving this French estate a modern twist.

At the rear of the 308, things are equally robust and angular. The shape and style of the car offers character and style that you rarely expect to find in the estate market.

The interior is made up of a nice blend of high-quality materials and intricate stitching. Everything inside the cabin is well-positioned and well within reach of the driver. It’s a welcoming and comfortable place to be, with French styling.

Space & Practicality

SUVs have become the de facto family vehicle, but cars don’t come much more practical than an estate when it comes to storage.

If you choose a petrol or diesel engine, you get an impressive 608L of boot space. This drops to 548L with a hybrid engine, which remains impressive for a family car. It’s not class-leading in the estate world, you have to look at the likes of the Skoda Octavia Estate (640L) for that, but it’s impressive.

The boot features a wide opening and the smallest of load lips that’s not even worth mentioning, so you’re never going to struggle to get items in and out. There are also storage nets and anchor points to hook your bits and pieces to.

The rear seats can be folded from a lever in the boot and once completely flat, there’s up to 1634 litres of space to play with. While an SUV might offer that little bit of extra height, it’s hard to argue with the space on offer here.

Something like a Skoda Karoq, a worthy contender in the mid-size SUV sector, falls marginally short in comparison with 588L and up to 1605L with its seats flat.

Head and legroom is good enough for young and old, which should please your passengers.

Technology

Peugeot have done a solid job with the infotainment system in the 308. The 10-inch touchscreen looks fantastic, with a crisp display and menus that are clear, well laid out and generally, easy to use.

The addition of Peugeot’s iToggles adds a row of customisable shortcut buttons and it makes accessing your favourite menus hassle-free while driving. Beyond that you also have another row of physical toggles for your climate controls.

The new levels of personalisation and depth to Peugeot’s system help it feel less reliant on touch-sensitive buttons.

Don’t get us wrong, it’s not perfect. There were a few instances of delays when jumping through menus, but as an overall system, it’s easy to operate and looks as sharp as the rest of the car.

There are lots of menus to jump through initially, but once you’re familiar with the system, it is easy to use.

Both Android Auto & Apple CarPlay come as standard and there’s the opportunity to make that connection wireless further in the range. 

Safety

Packed with safety equipment as standard, the 308 SW includes an Active Safety Brake System for intelligent autonomous braking that will ensure you avoid any obstacles on your travels.

Rear parking sensors, cruise control, and intelligent speed adaptation are all available as standard.

Elsewhere in the range, you can upgrade to access Adaptive Cruise Control and Long Range Blind Spot Detection from Allure Premium and above.

Model lines & equipment

The kit list on the 308 is generous, even when you venture into this entry-level spec.

As standard, you get things like Peugeot’s brilliant i-Cockpit, LED daytime running lights and parking sensors among so much more.

During the model year change from 2022 to 2023, there were some small changes to the standard specifications. Below, we have outlined some of the key highlights from each specification, based on what is currently available in the 2023 trim.

Active Premium – from £28,350

• Active Safety Brake
• Automatic air conditioning
• Parking sensors – rear
• PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® with 10 digital instrument panel display
• USB Socket (x2) front including 1 USB-C
• Voice recognition
• 16 ‘Auckland’ alloy wheels
• EcoLED headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• Visibility Pack

Allure – from £29,885

(In addition to/replacement of Active Premium)

• Automatic air conditioning with AQS 3 (Air Quality System)
• Dark tinted rear side and tailgate windows
• Visio Park 1: 180° Colour Reversing Camera
• Ski Hatch
• 17 ‘Calgary’ diamond cut alloy wheels
• Front grille with horizontal chrome stamping
• Chrome exhaust surrounds
• USB Socket (x2) rear including 1 USB-C
• New PEUGEOT customisable i-Toggles

Allure Premium – from £30,885

(In addition to/replacement of Allure)

• Rear cross traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function
• Long range Blind Spot Detection
• Peugeot Open & Go (keyless entry)
• 17" ‘Halong’ diamond cut alloy wheels
• Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• Front & Rear parking sensors

GT – from £32,915

In addition to/replacement of Allure Premium)

• Driver Sport Pack
• Interior ambient lighting to the door panels
• Aluminium door sills
• 18 ‘Kamakura’ diamond cut two tone alloy wheels  
• Gloss black roof rails (SW only)
• Full Matrix LED headlights (with automatic adjustment)

Verdict

The Peugeot 308 SW is a stylish and good-looking estate car that challenges the popularity of SUVs and other models. It deserves recognition for its practicality and attractive design, making it a strong contender for anyone searching for a family car.

At face value, an estate car can appear big, heavy and awkward. However, Peugeot have reinvigorated them with the 308. It delivers good looks, sleek and refined French styling that can rival any SUV at its price point.

The Peugeot 308 SW successfully bridges the gap between aesthetics and practicality, establishing itself as a worthwhile contender for those searching for a family car that is versatile and spacious, while still delivering an enjoyable drive.