Should you buy one?

There are lots of things the Peugeot 308 SW does very well, but equally many things that could be cause for irritation for some buyers. The good bits are that it’s more comfortable than the hatchback and it’s a lot more practical, with that bigger rear end bringing extra headroom and a lot more boot space. It even handles and rides slightly better than the hatch.

We love the 308’s infotainment system, we’re huge fans of Peugeot’s new “i-Toggle” shortcut buttons and we’re pleased with the car’s overall build quality. But, despite all of this praise, we’re struggling to find a concrete reason to recommend one over the larger and similarly priced Skoda Octavia estate.

The seating position and driving experience are the real kickers for the 308. It doesn’t drive like a sporty car, but the chassis almost feels like it was designed for a hot hatchback. The estate’s longer wheelbase goes some way to remedying this foible, but we can’t help but think that the 308 would have been far better if Peugeot had simply softened off the suspension and turned the car into more of a comfortable cruiser.

If you have your heart set on owning a 308, (perhaps for those striking looks), make sure you have a go in the estate before you buy, as you might find it a little easier to live with. The extra space is also well worth the small uptick in price. We’d also recommend taking a long test drive to check whether the driving position suits your body shape. 

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