Peugeot released further details on their all-new compact estate, the 308 SW. We are going to see a number of cars like this, because car makers believe a small, efficient, and practical estate car is what the modern families of today want, at least in Europe.
So lets’ get to it and see what makes the Peugeot 308 SW tick and whether or not you should consider it over something like the new Honda Civic Tourer. Of course, the first thing to address about every Peugeot is the styling. If you don’t like the feline styling then none of the car’s good features – such as LED headlights with 32 lamps in each unit – is going to impress you.
Size-wide, the 308 SW’s wheelbase and rear overhang are 11cm and 22cm longer respectively than the hatchback. The extra space is used to create a 660-litres boot, and a 70-liter cubbyhole under the floor. That is plenty enough to meet the needs of a small family. What’s more, the 308 SW is fitted as standard with ‘Magic Flat’ rear seats which increases the cargo volume to 1,660 litres.
Another highlight of the Peugeot 308 SW is the iCockpit. This system summarizes the whole of interior into four elements – a compact steering wheel for a dynamic driving experience, a head-up instrument panel so information can be read without the driver taking their eyes off the road, a tall centre console and a 9.7-inch touch-screen for intuitive access to infotainment functions. Peugeot says it is more intuitive to use than normal cockpits, but that remains to be seen. A lot people actually prefer traditional knobs and dials to touch buttons that aren’t really there.
In terms of technicalities, the Peugeot 308 SW is based on the same Efficient Modular Platform (EMP2) platform as the hatchback. But different packaging and weight has resulted in a different car to drive with a lower center of gravity. It is tailored to be more convenient, which is what you want for your family.
The 308 SW can be had with a new three-cylinder petrol engine with two 110 and 130 PS outputs, and a four-cylinder unit with 155 horsepower. The diesel lineup starts with a 100 PS 1.6 unit and goes up to the BlueHDi 1.6-litre 120 PS and a 2.0 liter with 155 PS. Depending on the model you get either a manual or an automatic, both with six gears in them.
Peugeot 308 SW will go on sale in Europe and UK in June 2014.
