The Peugeot 308 SW: Better than an SUV?

The new Peugeot 308 SW is a sensible family estate with plenty of charm thrown in.
Peugeot is a company that's very much been focusing on style and desirability in recent years, with most of its cars featuring a fair old dose of French chic. So, does the SW in the name of the new 308 SW stand for something Gallic and glamorous? Nope. It stands for 'Station Wagon', or 'Estate' to the rest of us.
However, just because there's not much glamour about the name, it doesn't mean the same follows with the car itself. If anything, we reckon it might even look better than the 308 hatchback on which it's based, which is already a very handsome thing, yet it also provides a much bigger boot and more interior space.
What's more, all those ingredients that buyers love about modern Peugeots are present and correct here, with an interior that's stylish and classy, lots of equipment and technology, and a powerful-yet-efficient plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Do all those ingredients mix together well enough to make the 308 SW a truly tasty dish? In this CarGurus UK video review, Rebecca Jackson answers that very question.
Written review: www.cargurus.co.uk/research/P...
Pros
Hi-tech interior
Wide engine range
Cost-effective to run
Cons
Rivals offer better practicality
Quirky driving position won't suit everybody
Choppy low speed ride
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▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 - Introducing the Peugeot 308 SW
00:25 - Styling
00:49 - Boot space
01:29 - The rear seats
02:18 - Interior and infotainment
04:40 - Driving impressions
06:03 - Verdict
06:42 - Let us know what you think
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#cargurusuk #peugeot308sw #peugeot308

[@keremyenn]

ok, can you guys please share your opinions on this car. if you are not after the gt trim lvl and gonna settle with allure/allure selection(or whatever mid trim is for you) would you really consider this over golf? we can also specify engines by saying 1.5tsi/1.0tsi vs 1.2 but i just want your point of view as in general. personally i dont think other car brands really edges ahead if they are not fully equipped over lets say style trimmed golf. for example i would prefer 1.2 gt/gt line 308 over golf style/r line any day but the moment it is allure 308 vs style golf i dont believe 308 wins when you consider it as an overall package when you add the drive train and ride quality to the equation too.

[@neilrr1000]

Its more so a question of infotainment and what you get for the price. The golf in no-frills driving but the infotainment system is dire and the golf itself in lacking in build and feel compared to how they used to me. The 1.2 isn't great on MPG compared to how refined the golf is but it mainly comes down to taste and if you want to go from A to B I think. The 308 looks and feels nicer with some extra trim but lacks in other areas same for the golf.

[@keremyenn]

@@neilrr1000 well, golf got new cpu upgrade for the second half of 2022 and so on. same UI but doesnt lag anymore. i agree with you in general.

[@neilrr1000]

@@keremyenn I guess that fixs that issue then! I looked at both this and the golf but the 308 trim and more spec for much the same money. Equally there is stock around for the 308 whereas the Golf is non existent. Car buying is no longer about what you'd like its more so a case of what's available. Part of me feels like that's why these reviews are becoming pointless. In this review they talked about the wireless charging which no 308's ship with as its been dropped from spec. Same goes for other manufacturers, the reviews should address this but don't.

[@keremyenn]

@@neilrr1000 can you elaborate the wireless charging situation, because it is still in the spec sheet and various configurators in uk. also dont forget these things change from country to country. As in recent example of some bmw models not everyone affected by the chip shortage and got the non touch screen base models(around europe). And to be fair most of these channels only review what they've got at that moment, they dont question it further if brand representative doesnt talk about it. I agree on digging deep but there is an annoying and delicate brand relationships balance that sometimes brands might act like offended little child and make it harder for you to play with their toys. to return the topic it will be always more equipment for the same amount of money when you compare anything with golf but the point is golf's standard package is enough for the most and it is about how willing one would be to sacrifice those extras and compensate with the difference in the refinement of the drive train and does that difference really exist anymore since 308 became really capable car. About the stock issue, it will change after july because around these 8 weeks most brands either stop or update factory production line and it becomes all about numbers sold hence the faster decreasing stock.

[@MrZaragon62]

I have the 508 sw (2021 model) and its fab as I have the 180bhp 1.6 petrol engine . You soon find a great driving position with the steering wheel ( I'm 6ft 1 inch) - is the 1.6 available on the 308? If it is i might consider this very good looking ever so slightly smaller version

[@ruicvt]

"Sluggish 9.7s" .... When I was younger, that was an hot hatch!

[@tanner1ie]

Indeed that's plenty quick for me and most people! 😀🤘

[@RobSinox]

lol so true anything below 10s to 60 was considered as fast car...

[@alanwayte432]

The Ford Model T was a heck of a car 😂

[@memduherdogar150]

Now fast hot hatch has to do 60 mph under 4 seconds, back then even super cars couldn’t do that, it’s mad isn’t it? Also current car prices, the money this car cost now, back then you could get an bmw m3 for the same money! now m3 cost almost 100k which is unreal.

[@marky147]

Think that's about what my first calibra was in 2002... Anything under 10 was good 20 years ago🤣

[@fairybuddy-angel2035]

Saw one pass me the other day. It looked excellent and really stood out from the usual black Audi, white BMW, silver Range Rover fleets that crowd our roads like expensive sheep.

[@rasherbasher8203]

"Life is full of disappointments and I just added you to the list."

[@Ben-bs4od]

Wish we had this and the hatchback in the USA. Such an amazing car.

[@macdonaldall]

We've had a Allure Premium Hybrid 180 for the last month and really please with it so far. We're able to plug in easily so getting amazing MPG (doing about 800 miles a month and putting less than 50 litres of fuel into it a month). For other Peugeot models I would have gone for the GT trim but Allure Premium has all I really need. Performance from the hybrid is decent, electric only it has decent zip off the line and never tries to flip to petrol when pushed (and will join a motorway with ease) - I had a Kia Ceed PHEV recently that was no where near as good. Combined performance with the engine running is strong. Extremely quiet on cruise but the engine can be a bit rough if thrashed. The cabin is extremely quiet - much better than our Mercedes GLA and a Volvo V60 which it replaced. Tech and space are both excellent. Far more boot space than any mid-sized SUV PHEV so great for our family.

[@stevenmcfarlane8831]

Interesting. I am looking for something to replace my v60. Which I love but needs replaced. New v60 are so expensive

[@TuomioK]

Thanks for sharing. Im still waiting mine with I think is equivalent to premium allure trim. Mine was launch edition allure with basically all options available. I also noted it was quiet but I dont have own comparable car to this, only an old 206. So it is going to be quite an upgrade! Caant waiiiit!

[@klausschelling8159]

Stunningly beautiful car. Best in its category , in all Europe. Better than any Skoda, VW, etc....

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

No

[@klausschelling8159]

@@louisbeerreviews8964 Yes. It is.

[@F1Kamel_1992]

She's an absolute looker, the car that is. 🤩

[@jamiep61]

I enjoyed watching the Video Review. I like the styling the best particularly the Interior

[@CarGurusUK]

Glad you liked it!

[@Aphorism89]

SUVs are a marketing stunt: inneficient and smaller cars that simply look bigger, but are really not. Most have the boot size of a Fiesta. You sit higher and you carry a heavier, less aerodynamic ugly car. (Of course, some SUVs are genuinely big and spacious, but not most. WOuld pick a beautiful wagon any day over a bulky, slow and heavy SUV

[@ingopaul67]

That look over the steering wheel dash would do my head in, sure to put as many potential buyers off as it will attract. Exterior design I have to admit is very striking

[@dancooper2072]

Try it it's honestly fine. I'm never surr what car reviewers are talking about. It's fine if not better than looking through steering wheel. The view is always at eye level

[@davidhobson7851]

I’ve a 508 SW and the small wheel is brilliant! Drove a bmw the other day and the huge wheel felt like I was steering a barge!

[@Cous1nJack]

It’s de facto head up display.

[@davidharvey4059]

SW stands for Station Wagon I had one of the previous generation, a 1.2l petrol auto and it was a simply excellent car Huge boot, great interior and over 50 MPG on a long run

[@stephandolby]

Just thought I'd mention that this car doesn't have the fuse box within the glove box in RHD models anymore. British car reviewers love to bash the French for that (and, to some extent, VAG cars too), so the fact that the effort's gone in to move it should be applauded.

[@danielrussell446]

They are fabulous cars I sat in one the other day when my wife’s 108 was being serviced a true work of art inside and out one of the best cars out there

[@peppenino2077]

Honestly best car review videos I don’t know since when but always it better you in it . Others make a such fuss

[@anthonystevens8683]

A great review Rebecca, although no not the top of the popularity charts compared to the SUV there is still a lot to like about the estate cars of this class, they generally handle better and give better economy due to the aero from the smaller frontal area. Another plus is that you can park them in your garage of it's not already used as a storage room (mine is, I have an SUV) without lopping the aerial off the roof or scratching the top from the 'soap on a rope' on the garage door. I do like the different styling and the interior looks good as well. I like it. Thanks for sharing.

[@maxaudi2804]

I can’t even buy this car in the states but just love Rebecca’s reviews!

[@danmccarthy4700]

Same!

[@IwillBwaiting]

Cannot wait to go to Greece for the holidays. Nice Car!

[@allan4922]

They look great, seen a few of them out on the road this summer.

[@josephmarsh8235]

I really think Peugeot has done a brilliant job with their new design and badge brand! Yes, family estates are more economical, better to drive and ride and usually more practical, unless you need an SUV for off road or a 7 seater SUV for more people. Also, estates and saloons are better than SUVs and would bring our CO2 emissions down! Also, EVs are better as saloons ore estates!

[@alexandrucristian9960]

Can you tell me if because of the 3-cylinder engine, there is any vibration at idle?

[@hugovdhorst]

We just brought the electric version (e-308 GT); can't wait to ride it! It really is a great looking car. Very nice review too!

[@robertmessam103]

I really like the green colour

[@bobwalsh3751]

Ok why can't we get awesome cars like this in America?!

[@AKZORD]

Has anyone noticed the bad position that the steering wheel of the 308 has in relation to the screen in front of you? If we lift the steering wheel almost upwards (which is normal) it is impossible to have a full view of the screen as the steering wheel cuts right in the middle

[@fairybuddy-angel2035]

Where's Ben Lopez?

[@PbPomper]

I love Peugeot design.

[@WildReefer]

I find SUV's to be too tall and too much in general. I especially hate driving behind them when they are driving slowly in the overtaking lane and you can't see what's in front of them. Especially with the advent of electric cars, and the dramatic effect aerodynamics have on them, I'd expect estate cars to experience a bit of a renaissance in the near future, if people have to decide between a similarly priced and specced SUV and an estate, when the estate with the same battery capacity will get around 20% more range for example, I wouldn't be surprised if more people opted for it. Not saying the same isn't true for petrol. Just that on EV's the difference seems to be more dramatic in most cases.

[@reececollison5101]

The thing is though an SUV suits the setup for an electric car, I’m no fan of SUVs but in an electric car I think they make genuine sense. It’s generally bigger so you can fit more batteries in, and because they ride higher the batteries can be put in low and it doesn’t intrude into cabin space. If you look at the reviews of the MG5 SW EV, because estate cars are low the batteries really eat into rear passenger space and it’s like squatting because the floor is so high. Not a great setup if you ask me 🤫

[@WildReefer]

@@reececollison5101 thing is that I think you will find that the electric SUV's you are referring to are for the most part not bespoke EV's, but internal combustion designs originally, that were converted to be EV's, so they suffer from these layout issues you mentioned. Bespoke EV's however don't generally suffer from these issues. For example, we can take any bespoke EV saloon, or existing estate (which amounts to a longer version of the same thing basically), and those issues are often addressed. The actual bodies of estates can be as large or small as needed, and in many cases, such as this one for example, offer more space than many SUV's. In the end it comes down to many of the same arguments for or against petrol SUV's vs. estates I think - plus the dramatic effect a taller vehicle has on handling and efficiency, since in the end, the battery pack on an SUV is always going to be higher off the ground than it is in an estate car.

[@angela1984a]

It's a really, really great looking car. I haven't tried the 'instrument-binnacle-above-the-wheel-thingy', so I'll reserve judgement about that. But I guess I don't really like the esthetics of that kind of instrumentation... So that is probably one thing I wouldn't fancy. But the even greater problem - and it is the ultimate deal breaker: Why isn't it an EV?

[@caskraker]

A lot of porpoising going on these British roads.

[@tanner1ie]

Yes!! - Everything is better than an "SUV"!! 😯😂

[@athollmcnicoll1028]

Rebecka : I thought all cars fitted with reversing camera's do precisely what you showed and made a note of, rear camera movement. I know my Fiesta does it, so assume all cars are the same?

[@bikeman123]

Are you sure? Every reversing camera I've tried moves the coloured lines not the camera.

[@DashCamSerbia]

@@bikeman123 Yes, only the lines move in other cars.

[@Cous1nJack]

Mine moves nothing. Two parallel lines only. Luckily mirrors were no cost option.

[@Ambienfinity]

Certainly looks a hell of a lot better than an SUV.

[@DashCamSerbia]

The way those touch screens love finger marks is just... Cars should not have them at all...

[@rimmerblues1586]

SW = Station Wagon, or Sports Wagon?

[@MyNameSucksBad82]

Station

[@jvcex]

beautiful dress Rebecca

[@picardlouis2653]

i love this car and my dad has one LOL

[@tracer689]

❤️RJ

[@TheHutchRuns]

SW isn't Peogeot's way of saying estate, it stands for 'station wagon'...

[@williamegler8771]

Estate is the British way of saying STATION WAGON.

[@whiskeybluez]

big muscle woman

[@ralphdavidson9542]

That reversing camera doesn't "move" with the steering wheel! It's just those lines that estimate your direction, and it's nothing new. I've got a 2021 5008 with it. Guru's??

[@naferemix]

Those black panels at the bottom of the ‘fangs’ are a funny shape. No manufacturer seems to be able to make those bits on the front and back look good, but I see why they don’t want just an expanse of metal. They need to complement the overall shape though and these ones are just like Doritos I don’t get it

[@caskraker]

After 6 weeks in a Tucson I will never want to go back to an SW. Apart from the higher fuel consumption there is no sane argument to go low.

[@djnigellove]

Load space, handling service costs, emissions, outward vision and purchase price... SUVs are for those who don't ask questions

[@caskraker]

@@djnigellove 😂😂 I provide answers. Handling is on par with an SW. Service costs too, even lower in my case. Outward vision is much better. Purchase price is comparable too. In my country you get a bonus for driving an HEV.

[@djnigellove]

@@caskraker you must have the model that the laws of physics don't apply to then.

[@caskraker]

@@djnigellove You must have the brain that only copies the same old BS from “others on the internet”.

[@mikealanzo]

I kid you not when I say: I'm not here for the car! Hi Rebecca :)

[@crismam1531]

would never consider a French car again .. after the disaster of a car I had with Citroen

[@djnigellove]

Cool story bro, ever heard of Mazda diesels, ford transmissions, Honda cars, Nissan variable valve timing...

[@joebloggs4191]

There are better looking estate cars around!

[@Fastwunz]

too much awful piano black plastic begging to be scratched.

[@catstronaut5248]

Hello

[@robcowdrey2611]

'....not all that long ago Peugeot's were rather boring to look at....'. Really ?? Tell me that you make that statement in light of the full range of German blandness that has filled UK roads over the last 10 years + . Which manufacturer provides you the most advertising revenue by the way ? Oh no, wait, let me guess....

[@Sanpedranoazul]

Hay una proyección que Europa será Musulmana, dentro de pronto y es lógico, ha habido mucha migración en los últimos años producto de las guerras, sumado que la tasa de natalidad de los Europeos así como los Japoneses, es muy baja; caso contrario a los Musulmanes y demás inmigrantes; Excelente reportaje como de costumbre!

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

English please and and Europe isn’t not going to be a. Muslim country and this channel is about cars not Europe troll bot

[@abelisraelcruzayuso4682]

The exterior seems aggressive enough but also ends up being tiresome. And the two-storey dash is a no-no…

[@djnigellove]

Maybe in your view, but progress requires change

[@abelisraelcruzayuso4682]

@@djnigellove It's not progress... Progress is about the engines and other tech aspects. This is, basically, a fashion/image choice...

[@djnigellove]

@@abelisraelcruzayuso4682 where they also make gains, their diesels chassis and turbo petrol all are strong as is their hybridized line up. The dash layout brings benefits, if you don't like it fine, but psa are no slouches in tech or reliability. It's not 2009 anymore

[@abelisraelcruzayuso4682]

@@djnigellove Not manu gains, if they use gimmicks to decrease consumption. It's not 2009,but it reslly looks like cars haven't evolved that much....

[@djnigellove]

@@abelisraelcruzayuso4682 overall no, but when you look at the hp and torque as well as efficiency of the 1.2 turbo triple it shows enough to give hope

[@jrs9264]

nobody across the pond in the states would buy an estate/ station wagon or a Peugeot , which was run out of the market 50 years ago for bad design and worse reliability. How or Why our british cousins would buy French cars eludes our understanding. nice to see and hear Rebecca, even if i disagree with her on this one. 🙄😇

[@DashCamSerbia]

Fench cars for European market have always been good. US market usually gets cars made outside Europe (Mexico or wherever) and subpar quality.

[@fairybuddy-angel2035]

50 years ago! You mean when the Ford Edsell was a huge hit or the Pinto? Come more up to date, Peugeot have received very high reliability ratings from owners for several years now and are considered more reliable than more expensive brands. They are one of the biggest selling global brands as a result. Design wise the last decade has seen them shoot up in critic and consumer regard. Still, you yourself can pop out any buy a Chevrolet or a Dodge or even Chrysler or a Jeep....all notoriously awful car brands...I drove a Jeep...once...once was enough.

[@djnigellove]

You mean before America ( bastion of good car design, hahaha) started cheating emission laws by selling everyone a truck? PSA are back and kicking arse while you guys salivate over retro Mustangs and small pee pee substitute utes.

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

@@DashCamSerbia Peugeot is in Mexico

[@RobertSmith-le8tg]

Gotta love those American built pieces of trash. Plastic, like most of your women.

[@gerrymac5865]

Not a good looking car 👎 nasty

[@artefaktrugs8041]

Not better than my 308sw 2013 with separate seats in second row.