Like the 308 hatchback, Peugeot 308 SW safety has been awarded five stars by Euro NCAP.

Driver, passenger and side airbags are standard as is electronic stability control to help prevent the car getting out of shape if you enter a corner too quickly.

The optional Driver Assistance Pack includes Dynamic Cruise Control, which automatically regulates the car’s speed to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, and Emergency Collision Alert which sounds an alarm and displays a warning if it senses a potential collision. The third system included in the package is Emergency Collision Braking, which can bring the car to an emergency stop automatically if the driver does not react to either avoid or reduce an impact.

Arguably the touch screen can be a slight distraction on the move as you’re switching between menus and functions, but it becomes easier as you get used to it.

This is really what the car is all about, and it ticks plenty of boxes. First of all, boot volume is very good indeed. In fact, it’s larger than the already huge Peugeot 508 SW estate.

With the rear seats up there is 660 litres of space to the parcel shelf, or 810 litres to the roof. Fold the rear seats down and there’s 1,515 litres to the window line or 1,775 to the roof.

The rear seats go completely flat, thanks to a design which moves the seat base forwards and downwards when the backrest is released. You can trigger the seats to fold via quick-release levers in the boot or release controls on the seats themselves.

Helpfully, a load-through hatch in the centre of the rear seat backs is standard across the range and there’s space to stow the parcel shelf diagonally below the boot floor over the spare wheel well.

There’s less underfloor space than many of the 308 SW’s rivals, however, and the floor itself could be more flexible. The parcel shelf itself is a retractable tonneau cover, like many other cars of this type, and it’s sometimes reluctant to retract smoothly. It’s usefully small when it is retracted, though.

Rails either side of the boot floor with sliding and removable tie-down hooks are another useful feature and the plastic pockets at the sides of the boots can be removed to make it easier to load wide objects. There are also hooks inside the cabin to fit an optional full length dog net.

Compared with the hatchback, Peugeot 308 SW practicality has been enhanced by a 9cm longer wheelbase for improved rear passenger knee room and a 22cm longer rear overhang to create the big boot.

As a result the rear doors open wider and the seats are positioned 29mm further back than the hatchback so it’s easier to access child seats and so on. Roof rails are standard on all models.