New Peugeot 308 SW Is A Sexy And Practical Alternative to Compact SUVs

Peugeot, one of the few manufacturers having faith in C-segment wagons, launched the new generation of the 308 SW as a more practical version of the 308 hatchback and a more stylish alternative to C-SUVs like the 3008. This is the second estate in the French company’s lineup, after the larger, mid-size 508 SW.

How different is the SW from the regular hatchback?

The redesigned tail matches the aggressive face and the muscular body. Featuring the same horizontally arranged slim LED taillights as the hatch, it does without the glossy black element between them but with a new integrated spoiler, second to that above the inclined rear windscreen. The boot reaches lower to the dynamic rear bumper with plastic cladding while the sleek roofline that’s emphasized by the dropping window line allows for an improved drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.277.

How much luggage can you fit back there?

There is nothing more important in a wagon than practicality and the 308 SW is doing great in this department. Under the electrically operated tailgate with a low loading area and a two-position boot floor, you can fit up to 608 lt of luggage in a 5-seat layout. This number can reach up to 1,634 lt if you fold the rear seats (40/20/40 split), and make enough room for transporting 1.85 cm long objects. Additionally, there are a few storage compartments throughout the cabin, like in the center console.

The futuristic iCockpit dashboard is shared with the hatchback combining an up to 10-inch 3D digital instrument cluster with a 10-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. There is also Peugeot’s signature small-diameter steering wheel, LED ambient lighting, and an optional Focal Premium Hi-Fi system with 10 speakers and a 12-way 690W amplifier.

The 308 SW also benefits from all the latest driving assistance systems from Peugeot and from mid-2022 it will support even more sophisticated semi-autonomous driving functions courtesy of the upcoming Drive Assist 2.0 pack.

What are the options under the bonnet?

Just like the 308 hatchback, the SW will be available with a choice of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The range starts with the 1.2-liter PureTech 130 and the 1.5-liter BlueHDi 130. Both engines produce 128 hp (96 kW / 130 PS) sent to the front wheels exclusively through the EAT8 automatic gearbox.

Moreover, there are two plug-in hybrid options, the Hybrid 180 and the Hybrid 225. Both combine a 1.6-liter PureTech engine producing 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS) or 177 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) with a single 109 hp (81 kW / 110 PS) electric motor. As you can guess from the names, the combined output is 177 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) and 222 hp (165 kW / 225 PS) respectively that’s transmitted to the front axle through the automatic e-EAT8 gearbox.

Both models feature a 12.4 kWh lithium-ion battery allowing for 59-60 km (37 miles) of electric range according to the WLTP protocol, that can be fully charged in 1 hour and 55 minutes with the optional 7.4 kW charger (up to 7.05 hours from a standard socket). In hybrid mode, the combined emissions start from 25-26 g/km C0₂.

The 308 SW will be manufactured in Peugeot’s Mulhouse factory in France, with the first deliveries expected just before the end of 2021 in Europe. There is no word yet on pricing yet, although we expect the new generation to be slightly more expensive compared to its predecessor.

Peugeot expects the market for the estate car segment in Europe to remain stable for the years to come. For the 308 SW, the customer group forecast foresees a 70 percent professional and 30 percent private sales ratio.