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By Jonathan Crouch

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 Reviewword count: 55

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.

Backgroundword count: 186

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 Specword count: 455

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.

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