Peugeot's third generation 308 SW isn't quite as practical as before, but you might now like it a lot more. Jonathan Crouch drives it.
Ten Second Review
Peugeot's 308 SW estate is 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.
Background
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. 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. This 308 SW measures in at 4.64m but offers up to 1634-litres of space.
The last 308 SW wasn't really a car many customers would have chosen in preference to a Golf Estate, let alone anything premium, but this MK3 version might be. Everything's different - even the front Peugeot grille badge. And the sharky looks clothe a cabin that could just be the segment's most sophisticated. Premium values with mainstream value? Is that what we've got here? Let's find out.
Driving Experience
The SW version of the 308 obviously drives just like the hatch and in both cases, with this third generation design, Peugeot has sought a return to the reputation it enjoyed forty years ago when its humblest family five doors were marked by an engaging degree of handling excellence. Sure enough, the unusual 'i-Cockpit' dash design that sees you peering above a small, low-set steering wheel at a slick-looking virtual dial pack suggests a welcome level of potential drive engagement. Which turns out to be largely realised, thanks to well judging firm-style damping, plenty of cornering traction and decent body control.
Under the bonnet, there's a mix of something old and something new. Familiarity comes with the conventional petrol unit, an updated version of the brand's usual PureTech three cylinder 1.2-litre powerplant and available with 130hp. Surprisingly, Peugeot is still offering its usual 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel in 130hp form. Both these two mainstream engines are being offered only with 8-speed EAT8 auto transmission.
The mainstream alternative is a Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 variant that which uses much the same engine mated to a dual-clutch 6-speed auto with an electric motor built into the transmission casing. On the move, the Hybrid system's 136bhp 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine and the electric motor can operate together - or separately. And, unlike with a mild hybrid system like that fitted to say, a Golf eTSI, here the car can be driven for short urban distances (under 18mph) on electric power alone. The motor also assists the engine under acceleration.
Want to be able to plug your 308 SW in? Well for this, your starting point lies with the two petrol Plug-in Hybrid units. The Hybrid 180 model combines a 150hp PureTech petrol engine with a 109hp electric motor and a 12.4kWh battery smaller than that in the 3008 SUV, but large enough to take the car up to 44 miles between charges. The same range is also possible from the alternative Hybrid 225 variant, which combines a 180bhp petrol engine with the same 109bhp electric motor for a maximum combined power output of 225hp.
The last powertrain option is the full-electric E-308 variant. This uses a 54kWh battery incorporating a sophisticated chemical composition which makes possible a 248 mile range figure. This battery powers a front axle-mounted 156bhp motor which will get you to 62mph from rest in about 8 seconds.
Design and Build
This third generation 308 SW is 60mm longer than its predecessor, making it 4.64-metres long; and it's been lowered by 20mm. There's a longer-looking bonnet and a lower-looking nose bearing the latest, rather different Peugeot badge on its grille. Flanking this are slim LED headlights complemented by Peugeot's fang-like LED daytime running lights. In profile, there's a sleeker look that's delivered a more slippery 0.27Cd drag coefficient.
There's 55mm of extra wheelbase this time round, which has benefitted rear seat passengers - but not the cargo area, space in which falls by 52-litres over the previous generation model to 608-litres (though that's still very class-competitive). That figure is for the conventionally-engined models and for the E-308 SW, but capacity falls to 548-litres with the Plug-in Hybrid variant. Despite 55mm of extra wheelbase this time round, there's been no return to offering the third seating row that characterised the first generation version of this model. You can extend the cargo area to 1,634-litres with the seats retracted - they now fold in a more convenient 40:20:40-split with catches on the cargo area side walls. In this format, items up to 1.85m long can be accommodated. Again, the capacity figure is for the conventionally-engined models and for the e-308 SW; seats-down capacity falls to 1,574-litres with the Plug-in Hybrid variant.
Up-front, you still get Peugeot's i-Cockpit layout with its small steering wheel, but that now sits beneath a very avant garde digital instrument panel, with clever 3D image tech borrowed from the brand's smaller 208 supermini. The tall, sloping dashboard features a sharp-looking 10-inch touchscreen display which has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and is available in two forms - basic 'i-Connect' and more sophisticated 'i-Connect plus', which offers widescreen navigation from TomTom. Beneath this monitor is a row of freely configurable touch-sensitive controls, called 'i-Toggles'. Each one offers a shortcut to a major function, such as radio, climate control or 'phone.
Market and Model
To reflect all the fresh technology, prices have risen a little. Expect a starting point for this SW of just over £32,000, around £1,200 more than the hatch. You get the brand's usual 'Allure' and 'GT' trim levels. You'll need over £39,000 to get either the Plug-in Hybrid version or the E-308 model.
'Allure'-spec gets you 17-inch 'Halong' diamond cut alloy wheels, horizontal chrome stamping on the grille, chromed exhaust surrounds, signature LED daytime running lights and a gloss black connecting strip between the rear lamp clusters. Also added are front parking sensors and dark tinted rear side and tailgate windows. Inside at 'Allure' level, there's upholstery part-trimmed in 'Isabella' synthetic leather, ambient lighting for the door panels, an 'AQS 3' air quality system, a 'Visio Park 1' 180-degree colour reversing camera, a rear seat ski hatch and LED-lit sun visors with concealable mirrors. Plus the infotainment screen features 'OK Peugeot' voice recognition. There's also a 'Drive Assist Pack' with various camera safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control.
Things start to get really luxurious at 'GT' level, marked out by 18-inch 'Kamakura' alloy wheels, a dark chrome chequered radiator grille, extended front and side lower body sills, Lion emblem badging on the front wings and, on the SW version, gloss black roof rails. The headlights gain intelligent 'Matrix' technology, which the tail lamps play a sequential 'welcome sequence' when you unlock the car. A 'Driver Sport Pack' adds a personalised colour theme to the digital instrument display and sport adjustment for the steering and accelerator pedal. The steering wheel gains heat, green stitching and full-grain leather, plus there's a 'Mistral' black roof liner and aluminium door sills.
Cost of Ownership
As you'd expect, the efficiency figures for this SW estate body style are pretty much identical to those of the 308 hatch. The BlueHDi diesel engine delivers up to 59.6mpg on the combined cycle and up to 124g/km of CO2. The alternative Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 petrol variant manages up to 62.6mpg and up to 102g/km.
What about the Plug-in Hybrid variant? Well as we mentioned in our 'Driving Experience' section, up to 49 miles of WLTP-rated battery running is claimed from the 17.2kWh battery and the car is combined cycle fuel-rated at up to 242.7mpg; the BiK tax-beating CO2 reading is rated at up to 26g/km. A 3.7kW onboard charger is fitted as standard to this PHEV model, enabling a 0-100% charge in 4 hours and 20 minutes, reducing to just over 2 hours with the optional 7.4kW onboard charger.
What about the E-308 full-electric SW model? That has a 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) which offers a 248 mile driving range. The brand claims a recharge rate from 20 to 80% in under 25 minutes using a 100kW charger. With 308 PHEV and E-308 models, using the MyPeugeot smartphone app or by using the vehicle's touchscreen, owners can schedule a wake-up time for the battery. This means that the cells can be at the optimal temperature for efficiency from the time you start up, plus of course the interior can also be pre-cooled or pre-heated too.
Summary
The Peugeot 308 SW is that rarest of things; a compact estate with genuine style. All too often cars in this class are horribly compromised, offer little in the way of genuine practicality over their hatchback siblings and look gawky and ill-proportioned. The 308 SW is sleek and stylish and in this third generation guise, there's a reassuring aura of quality both inside and out.
The asking prices are a little higher than we'd like, but aside from that, there aren't too many caveats, apart from the fact that luggage space has fallen, a victim of those more swept-back looks. This SW is still quite a spacious thing though. And residual values look to be firming up nicely for this third generation 308 too. You have to spend premium brand money to get the really premium brand feel we have here, but if you can, the end result feels very nice indeed. You might call it a classy estatement of intent on Peugeot's part. And we wouldn't disagree.
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