Coming soon: Peugeot 308 SW estate

With confirmation of the new Peugeot 308 SW it seems estate cars could be enjoying something of a comeback as buyers come to realise that, while fashionable, SUVs and crossovers aren’t always as practical as they look. And having already revealed the hatchback version of its Golf-rivalling 308 it seems Peugeot is eager to add an even more spacious variant to the range.
With the choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid powertrains there are engine options to suit all tastes, needs and budgets, the super low CO2 figures of the hybrids and attractive tax rates they currently attract making them especially appealing to company buyers. With Renault having added a plug-in option to its Megane Sport Tourer estate and Toyota’s proven hybrid system powering the equivalent Corolla Touring Sports the 308 SW adds another option to the electrified mid-size estate market, bringing with it fresh styling and tech.

With the new 308 already increasing its wheelbase to improve interior space the SW adds even more to that, as well as more bodywork behind the rear wheels. That means great interior space, the 608-litre boot a chunk bigger than the 3008 crossover you might also be considering. That difference is even more noticeable with the hybrid versions of the 3008, which lose further boot space to accommodate the batteries. To make it even more practical the 308 SW comes with 40/20/80 split fold seats, with remote releases so you can fold them from the boot for big loads.
Tech is also important for the new car, with Peugeot increasing the scope of its semi-autonomous driver aids. Depending on the model this can include ‘semi-automatic’ lane changing on the motorway where you indicate your intentions and the car slots itself into the first available space in the adjacent traffic. While on cruise control it can also pre-empt limit changes to slow your speed in readiness and even automatically slow for corners. Extended range blind-spot scanning and rear-cross traffic alert will also be available while inside the higher trim levels get the funky 3D version of Peugeot’s distinctive i-Cockpit instrument display and customisable i-Toggle switches. These can be configured into ‘hot keys’ to quickly select things like favourite phone numbers, radio stations or destinations on the nav.

Engine-wise there’s the option of a 1.2-litre PureTech petrol or 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel, plus plug-in hybrids with two levels of power output. Both of the latter offer sub-30g/km CO2 and the ability to do over 30 miles on pure electric power alone, which could slash your fuel costs if you’re able to charge at home each night and will be very attractive on Benefit In Kind for fleet users.
Peugeot dealers will start taking orders for the new 308 SW later this year, with the first deliveries expected in early 2022.