Used Peugeot 308 SW for sale: everything you need to know

Peugeot has offered estate versions of its mainstream hatchbacks for decades now, and the 308 SW launched in 2022 is the latest in that line. It’s one of the most stylish cars in this class but also has one of the biggest boots - a rare combination, given you usually have to choose between looks and lugging.

It’s got a neat cabin too and gives buyers a mix of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid options. Only a slight lack of rear seat space and an occasional lack of smoothness from the hybrids lets it down.

There are still plenty of options when it comes to family estates, including the Volkswagen Golf Estate, Ford Focus Estate, Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer (similar to the Peugeot under the skin), Hyundai i30 Tourer, and sleeker options like the Kia Proceed and Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake.

Should you buy a Peugeot 308 SW?

If you want a practical family car but also don’t mind trading just a little space for sharp styling, then the Peugeot 308 SW could be the model for you. And when we say space, we don’t necessarily mean the boot, with a 608-litre capacity that’s the match of some of the most luggage-friendly cars in the class - it’s rear seat space you may have to compromise slightly on.

To liberate such a big boot (which does shrink slightly for the plug-in hybrid models), Peugeot has stolen some room from rear seat passengers. If you’re putting kids back there it won’t be a problem, and the sharp styling might justify the tradeoff for some buyers anyway, but it’s worth bearing in mind.

Things are better up front, provided you can get on with Peugeot’s ‘i-Cockpit’ layout with its high-set dials and small, low-set steering wheel, but for quality and design it’s up there with the best in class. If you’ve not driven a Peugeot for a while, it’s worth checking out, and could surprise you.

In true Peugeot style the 308 SW is good to drive too. It doesn’t ride or handle much differently from the 308 hatchback, and the cabin is well isolated whichever engine you opt for. The petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid units all perform well for their size and don’t use a great deal of fuel either, though the hybrids occasionally delay in juggling their power sources.

The 308 SW’s rivals are what you might call the usual suspects: the Volkswagen Golf Estate, Ford Focus Estate, Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, and Hyundai i30 Tourer. Given the 308 SW’s style, other sharply-designed alternatives include the Kia Proceed and, if you don’t mind spending a little more to get less boot space, the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake.

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What’s the best used Peugeot 308 SW model to buy?

If you tend to cover plenty of miles then provided you can find one, the diesel’s 65mpg economy potential is pretty tempting. For most people though, the 1.2 Puretech petrol should do the job, with a claimed economy figure of more than 50mpg and sprightly performance. The plug-in models made a lot of sense when new, and could work as used buys if you do most of your miles in town, but may take a while to offset their purchase price in fuel savings.

Allure trim is a good jumping-off point as far as equipment goes - parking sensors at both ends and a reversing camera help offset the small rear window. GT models are the pick of the range for styling, and surprisingly the larger 18-inch wheels don’t compromise the ride quality that badly either.

Used Peugeot 308 SW fuel economy and performance

• Peugeot 308 SW 1.2 Puretech 130: With a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, the 308 SW makes 129PS through a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. 0-62mph takes 9.9 seconds, and economy is up to 52.1mpg combined.
• Peugeot 308 SW 1.5 BlueHDi 130: The SW’s 1.5-litre turbodiesel also makes 129PS and uses the same eight-speed auto, for 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds. Economy is as high as 65mpg combined.
• Peugeot 308 SW Hybrid 180: The efforts of a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine and an electric motor result in 180PS combined. 0-62mph comes up in 7.7 seconds, and up to 44 miles of EV range contributes to a 281.1mpg combined economy figure.
• Peugeot 308 SW Hybrid 225: A more powerful version of the 1.6 petrol engine means the range-topping Hybrid manages 225PS combined, dropping the 0-62mph time slightly to 7.6 seconds. EV range is slightly shorter at 40 miles, and economy dips slightly to a 266.2mpg maximum.

What used Peugeot 308 SW trim levels are available?

Peugeot offers several trim levels on the 308 SW, all of which build on a basic level of specification that includes a 10-inch ‘i-Cockpit’ driver display, selectable driving modes, gearchange paddles, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and safety kit like lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and cruise control with a speed limiter.

• The Peugeot 308 SW Active Premium kicks off the range with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, auto lights and wipers, automatic air conditioning, heated and power folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors, and fabric seat trim.
• The Peugeot 308 SW Allure steps up to 17-inch alloys, plus chrome grille trim, chrome exhaust surrounds, built-in navigation, auto high beams, remote charging and heating control for hybrid models, privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, cloth and leather-effect seat trim, and ambient lighting.
• The Peugeot 308 SW Allure Premium adds a drive assist pack with rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise, and long-range blind spot detection, plus keyless go, a different 17-inch wheel design, and wireless smartphone charging and connection.
• The Peugeot 308 SW GT gets a 3D i-Cockpit instrument display, 18-inch alloy wheels, Peugeot lion emblems on the front wings, GT body styling, matrix LED headlights, Alcantara and leather-effect trim, and a heated steering wheel.
• The Peugeot 308 SW GT Premium has a different design for its 18-inch alloys, Focal premium audio, lane positioning assist, a 360-degree parking camera system, a foot-operated electric tailgate, and heated and massaging front sports seats.

Used Peugeot 308 SW dimensions and boot size

The Peugeot 308 SW’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4635mm 
• Width: 1850mm (without mirrors), 2062mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1475mm

The Peugeot 308 SW’s boot size is:

• 608 litres (Hybrid 548 litres)
• 1634 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof, Hybrid 1574 litres)

Used Peugeot 308 SW road tax

All 308 SWs are subject to a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’, which currently means a bill of £180 a year for the petrol and diesel versions, and £170 per year for the plug-in hybrids. Some plug-in models may just creep over the £40,000 mark though, which means a surcharge in the second to sixth years on the road, bringing the annual tax to £560.

How much is it to insure a Peugeot 308 SW?

Peugeot 308 SW insurance starts in group 19 for an Active Premium spec car with either petrol or diesel engine options. GT models creep up to group 20 for the same engines (and 21 for the diesel GT Premium), while the plug-in hybrids start from group 28 (the Hybrid 180 in Allure trim) and rise to group 30 (the Hybrid 225 in either GT or GT Premium trim).

Read our full Peugeot 308 SW review