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STYLISED GALLIC ESTATE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_peugeot308sw_2023

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 52

Peugeot's 308 SW estate became a more polished proposition in this third generation guise, with smart packaging, extra engineering options and a bit more useful technology. The result is a more desirable product than you might expect from this familiar Gallic brand. You might be surprised at how much you'd like it.

Modelsword count: 14

SW estate (1.2, 1.2 Hybrid, 1.6 PHEV petrol / 1.5 diesel / E-308 EV)

Historyword count: 280

We've always struggled a little with the concept of a 'compact estate car'. After all, most people buy an estate in search of space and versatility, both tough briefs to meet if the model in question is in any way compact. Though not in this case. Not with this car - the third generation version of Peugeot's 308 SW, which we look at here in in pre-facelift 2021-2025-era form. Here's proof positive that it isn't how big your car is that matters. It's how cleverly it's been designed for interior use of the space that it has. Previous first and second generation 308 SW models, the 'T7' of 2008 and the 'T9' of 2013, effectively demonstrated this approach, something continued with this replacement 'P5'-series design, launched in late 2021. This MK3 308 SW measures in at 4.64m but offers up to 1634-litres of space - almost as much as the brand's larger 508 SW of this period. The MK2 308 SW wasn't really a car many customers would have chosen in preference to a Golf Estate, let alone anything premium, but this third generation version might be. Everything was different - even the front Peugeot grille badge. And the sharky looks clothed a cabin that you might see as the segment's most sophisticated. Peugeot expanded the powertrain line-up considerably after launch, in 2023 introducing a petrol Hybrid 136hp model - and the all-electric E-308 SW. In 2025, the Hybrid was uprated to 145hp and the flagship PHEV powertrain got re-engineered, gaining a new gearbox and a larger battery. Late 2025 brought a mid-term facelift, but it's the pre-facelift 2021-2025-period versions of this P5-era 308 SW that we look at here.

What You Getword count: 653

Most would probably agree with us that the SW version of this third generation 308 is a rather sleeker and more cohesive piece of design than its hatch showroom stablemate. You certainly wouldn't need to be an estate customer to necessarily want one. In MK3 form, the 308 SW was 60mm longer than its predecessor, making it 4.64-metres long; and it was lowered by 20mm. There's a longer-looking bonnet and a lower-looking nose bearing a Peugeot badge on its grille. Flanking this are slim LED headlights complemented by Peugeot's fang-like LED daytime running lights. And in profile? Well you might be a little disappointed to find that that this SW estate is no longer than the alternative hatch variant, but this station wagon model does enjoy an extra 10mm of roof height and a slippery 0.27Cd drag coefficient. At the rear, as with the hatch, there are thin LED tail lamps, decorated on 'GT' models with a distinctive 'three claw' lighting signature. Inside up-front, everything's very in-your-face and angular. Virtually everything you touch feels tactile and of high quality, particularly in the top-spec models, marked out by green-stitching and Alcantara trimming. Would a premium brand compact contender of this size really be any better finished than this? We doubt it. As with this model's direct predecessor, the first thing you're going to have to decide is whether you can get on with the distinctive 'i-Cockpit' dash design with its tiny steering wheel, above which (rather than through which) you're supposed to view the instruments. The little gauges you view, now of the virtual variety displayed on a 10-inch screen, are unusual too, but all the information shown is clear and easy to assimilate and the screen layout gets clever 3D graphics. The central monitor is also 10-inches in size, but is deeper and more informative, underscored by a row of what Peugeot calls 'i-toggle' switches which operate the climate features but can be re-programmed for other functions if you wish. Normally, you'd expect this central screen layout to flow down into the lower part of the centre stack, but the designers clearly felt more storage space could be freed up by separating out the angular lower console with its diminutive little 'impulse selector' gear shifting switch. Lumbar adjustment comes as standard for the beautifully-upholstered seats, with the exception of restricted rear three-quarter vision, the ergonomics are fine and build quality from the French Mulhouse factory is difficult to fault. As for the rear, well the SW model's extra roof height we mentioned earlier makes it a touch easier to get in. And once inside, you appreciate this third generation design's extra 55mm of wheelbase length. But the scalloped-out seat backs don't help much with space for your knees and there's not a lot of room to slide your feet beneath the seats ahead. Headroom's not overly generous either, especially with the optional panoramic glass roof fitted. As at the front though, classy finishing makes up for much: the way the interior part of this centre armrest is trimmed for instance, is a far cry from the mediocre class norm. Out back on most models, you'll have to raise the tailgate yourself. And once it's up, owners of the previous generation model might be disappointed to find that carriage capacity has fallen by 52-litres with this MK3 model - to 608-litres with the conventionally-engined models (though that's still very class-competitive). It's the same with the E-308 SW, but the figure falls to 548-litres with the Plug-in Hybrid variant. This MK3 308 SW gets a flexible 40:20:40 rear seat back split, so that longer things like skis can be slid between a couple of rear-seated folk. Items up to 1.85m long can be accommodated. Flatten the rear bench with the sidewall catches and up to 1,634-litres of space is available with the conventionally-engined models and with the E-308 SW. It's 1,574-litres with the Plug-in Hybrid.

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