Peugeot's improved third generation 308 SW now gets a sharper look. It still isn't particularly practical, but you might now like it a lot more. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Ten Second Review
The improved version of Peugeot's third generation 308 SW estate is now a more polished proposition, with smart packaging, some tweaked 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 enhanced 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 1,634-litres of space.
We first saw this P5-generation model back in 2021, a model usefully updated in Summer 2025 to create the car we're going to look at here. Earlier-generation 308 SW models weren't really cars that many customers would have chosen in preference to a Golf Estate, let alone anything premium, but this improved design just might be. 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.
Engines and Tech Spec
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.
Not much has changed with the engineering of this 308. The most predictable difference is the slight upgrade to the Hybrid variant, which gains a slightly upgraded 145hp version of the previous 136hp unit. As before, this set-up sees a 1.2-litre three cylinder turbo petrol 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 petrol unit and that electric motor can operate together - or separately. This is really a mild hybrid system rather than a proper Toyota-like full-Hybrid set-up, but it can do most of the things you'd want a Hybrid to do, like cut in for up to 50% of the time to assist the engine in urban travel. Unlike with the sort of 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.
If you don't want that petrol drivetrain, you might be interested to know that, curiously, there's still a diesel option - the same 130hp 1.5-litre four cylinder unit mated to 8-speed auto transmission.
But what about if you want to plug your 308 SW in? Well just before this facelift, Peugeot introduced far-reaching changes to the PHEV rivetrain, limiting total power output to 195hp, adding a new 7-speed auto gearbox and including a bigger 17.2kWh battery. This Plug-in Hybrid 195 e-DSC7 package mates a 1.6-litre PureTech petrol engine with a 109hp electric motor. For this update, that set-up's been tweaked further, with the result that EV driving range rises to 53 miles (from 49 miles before).
Perhaps the biggest engineering change as part of this facelift though, has been applied to the all-electric E-308 SW. It still features the same front-mounted 154hp motor, but now trades its old 51kWh (usable-capacity) battery for a slightly larger 55.4kWh package. With the result that EV drive range rises from 254 to 281 miles. 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 308 SW has always made a bit of a pavement statement - and does so even more as part of this update, which sees a sleeker nose featuring LED headlamps more hidden in the front face. As part of the front end changes, Peugeot has added an illuminated badge and more body-coloured inserts into the now-sleeker grille. A new 'three-claw' daytime running llight signature replaces the pre-facelift model's vertical bar and the GT models get vertical lighting across the bonnet. More sculpted bumpers and a large air vent aim to improve aerodynamic efficiency too. At the back, all models now get the 3D three-claw rear lights previously only fitted to top-spec GT variants. In profile, there's the same slippery 0.27Cd drag coefficient.
There are far fewer changes inside, but that always looked quite avant garde and modern - and still does. This update has brought smarter seat fabrics and revised instrument cluster graphics. Otherwise, things are as before, the cabin characterised by Peugeot's usual i-Cockpit dashboard layout with its small steering wheel which 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 fascia 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.
Out back, the rear cabin is reasonably spacious thanks to an extra 55mm of additional wheelbase length with this current generation model. And boot space for an ordinary version of this SW is rated at 608-litres, 196-litres more than the 308 hatch. It's 1,634-litres with the seats folded. These figures apply to the conventionally-engined and E-308 SW variants. For the Plug-in Hybrid, you're looking at 548-litres and 1,574-litres. You flatten everything via catches on the cargo area side walls. In this format, items up to 1.85m long can be accommodated.
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
The BlueHDi diesel engine delivers up to 59.6mpg on the combined cycle and up to 124g/km of CO2. The alternative Hybrid 145 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 53 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 model? As part of this update, that's gained a 55.4kWh (usable-capacity) battery which now offers a 281 mile driving range. The brand claims a recharge rate from 20 to 80% in under 25 minutes using a 100kW charger. With 308 SW PHEV and E-308 SW 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.
The E-308 SW benefits from an 8-year / 100,000 mile warranty. As well as the usual 8 year / 100,000 mile battery warranty.
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 improved 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 is rather compact for something calling itself an estate, 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.
