EVERYnow and then a car comes along that lifts your spirits – and your eyebrows.

It might not be a head-turner but the all-round ability of the Peugeot 308 SW is stunning.

It was obviously not just me who was instantly impressed by the 308 as an expert panel has already voted it European Car of the Year.

So take an acknowledged winner and make it more spacious and you really cannot go wrong.

Our top stories

With good looks, build quality that is second to none and a superbly refined interior, the 308 SW has more than enough to put a smile on your face. But the remarkable engine in the test model quickly turns that into a proper grin.

The 120 horsepower, 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel — the brand’s first diesel engine to meet tough Euro 6 regulations — linked to a six-speed manual gearbox, offers the prospect of day-to-day fuel consumption of more than 80mpg.

More than a third of models will also be fitted with ultra-low rolling resistance Michelin tyres, which Peugeot says give average savings in CO2 emissions of 3g/km, reduced braking distances on wet roads and wear rates identical to standard tyres.

Peugeot has a long heritage with C-segment estate cars, and since the arrival of the 304 in 1969, every generation of the 300 series has included a successful estate version.

The front end shares the character of the hatchback with a ‘floating’ grille framed in chrome, flanked on the upper trim level test model by LED headlamps.

Space is key to the success of any estate car and the 308 has plenty with the boot below the parcel shelf offering 660 litres of space, which includes 70 litres of storage under the floor.

It is fitted as standard with so-called ‘Magic Flat’ rear seats that fold both parts of the rear seat using levers accessible on the sides of the boot. Thanks to the automatic lowering of the rear seat cushions, the result is a flat floor and 1,660 litres of luggage space.

Watford Observer:

A refined interior

Movable and removable dividers can be positioned in various positions to allow awkwardly-shaped items to be carried, while an elastic strap on the left-side trim allows smaller objects to be held in place.

Storage is provided for the luggage cover and the removable lashing hooks in dedicated housings under the boot floor.

Watford Observer:

An impressively spacious boot

Slip behind the wheel and the dashboard is pure streamlined elegance, dominated by a 9.7-inch touchscreen, with seven touch buttons, split between the left and right sides, that give control of everything from air conditioning and audio, to satellite navigation and Bluetooth telephone. It is sleek, slick and it works beautifully.

The Peugeot 308 SW is one of those cars that simply exceeds all your expectations.

At a glance

  • Cost £21, 645
  • Insurance group: 21E 
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 85.6mpg 
  • Top speed: 121mph 
  • Length: 458.5cm/180.5in 
  • Width: 204.3cm/80.4in 
  • Luggage capacity: 21.5 cu ft 
  • Fuel tank capacity:
  • 11.7 gallons/53 litres 
  • CO2 emissions: 88g/km 
  • Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles


  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.