Peugeot 308 SW Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space
Written by Lawrence Allan
Quick overview
Pros
- Distinctive design inside and out
- Plenty of kit and improved technology
- Comfortable and refined
Cons
- Boot space prioritised over passenger room
- Driving position won't suit everyone
- Hybrid could be smoother to drive
Verdict: Is the Peugeot 308 SW a good car?
"We like the new Peugeot 308 in hatchback form, so it shouldn't really be surprising the SW estate gets the thumbs up in this review. We've reservations about the rear seat room, the hybrid's gearbox and brake response, and whether tall drivers can make the driving position work, but overall it's a likeable family estate with more desirability than most. "
In the same way that pop artists have to reinvent themselves to stay cool as tastes change, estate cars have undergone an image revamp in the last few years as SUVs became the dominant choice for practical family transport.
That's why you'll find a large number of estates that don't actually have 'estate' in the name these days. Many now have different variations of 'Sports Tourer', 'Wagon' or other designations, while the term 'Shooting Brake' has made a return as car companies look to give their load-lugging models a more fashionable image. This explains the Peugeot 308 SW - short for 'Sports Wagon'.
Like the old 308 SW, it tries to blend practicality with a dose of style, with rivals such as the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports and the SEAT Leon Estate alongside more rational, traditional estate cars such as the Ford Focus Estate and VW Golf Estate.
We reckon the Peugeot 308 SW is the most overtly stylish and distinctive of the lot. Its complex shapes and surfaces might not be to all tastes, but it'll certainly stand out in the office car park, particularly if you're willing to be brave with the colour choice. In fact, the pert rear-end, chiseled tailgate and intricate tail-lights might make it prettier than the new 308 hatchback.
The interior, too, is an interesting place to sit with its angular shapes and varied surfaces. The new Peugeot 308 is closely related to the latest Vauxhall Astra, along with the more SUV-like Citroen C4, but it definitely has a more lavishly trimmed and elegant dash layout than either. Peugeot's i-Cockpit driving position certainly gives it a unique selling point - although it still won't suit drivers of all shapes and sizes. Quality is largely very good, too, with some posh materials even on lower-end trims.
Perhaps the biggest improvement over the old 308 SW, however, is the tech. Peugeot has introduced totally new, much improved infotainment with dual screens and novel customisation to allow easy access to commonly-used features. Indeed, the main downside of the cabin is now the mediocre rear seat space, which is only a little better than the old car and a fair way behind the class best. This matters more in an estate, although the boot is still a competitive size.
Still, the 308 SW redeems itself when it comes to the driving experience. Purists may lament the lack of any manual offering - Peugeot's manual 'boxes were never brilliant, but it's nice to have the choice - although the standard eight-speed automatic does a respectable job. However, there's no doubting the wide choice of engines for new and used buyers.
Given so many Peugeot 308 SWs are shifted to fleet buyers, we expect the two new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models will be popular. With 180 or 195PS they're not short of power, but the real draw is low emissions, low company car tax and (officially at least) the ability to travel up to 40 miles on a charge in electric mode. There is also a fully electric Peugeot e-308 SW, which we've reviewed separately.
On the road, the new 308 SW offers a pleasant and composed driving experience, managing to be fairly enjoyable to steer around a twisty road while still offering good ride comfort and refinement. Granted, a Focus estate is sharper and more engaging, while a Golf estate is slightly better at isolating you from the sharpest bumps, but the Peugeot strikes a decent balance.
There are more affordable estate cars around if what matters to you is outright space and value. But the Peugeot 308 SW caters to a more style-conscious audience that is happy to pay a bit more for a striking design, a higher quality cabin and plenty of gadgets. If family buyers eventually decide that SUVs are no longer cool, expect the 308 to be towards the front of the prospective queue.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Peugeot Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Peugeot 308 SWs for sale. If you're looking for the previous version, you need our used Peugeot 308 SW (2014-2021) review.
Is the Peugeot 308 SW right for you?
The Peugeot 308 SW is a good choice for family buyers who want something with a bit of pizazz rather than an anonymous-looking alternative. Those who appreciate technology, an upmarket cabin feel and comfort will be willing to spend a bit more over something like a Skoda Octavia, too.
It'll also be great for long journeys thanks to good comfort and refinement, yet its relatively compact size for an estate means it's easy to park and manoeuvre around town.
What's more, a big boot means those looking to carry lots of stuff are well catered for. However, that boot comes at the expense of rear seat space, which if fine if you're intending on carrying kids or average-sized adults but not ideal if you're regularly loading the back up with six-plus footers. Something like a SEAT Leon Estate or Skoda Octavia Estate would be much better in that respect.
What’s the best Peugeot 308 SW model/engine to choose?
For most people's needs, we reckon the entry-level HYBRID 136 e-DSC6 model with petrol-electric hybrid power is the best choice in Allure trim. It might be the most modestt engine but it doesn't need to be worked that hard to get you about, while it'll also be reasonably efficient. Even with the extra 50kg or so the 308 SW is carrying over the hatchback, it'll rarely feel underpowered.
If efficiency matters above all else, though, we'd be looking at one of the plug-in hybrid models. They're more expensive to buy or lease, but may make sense for private buyers because of the potential fuel savings on offer. It's worth doing the sums, though the extra power may be enough to justify it. Of course, fleet buyers will flock to the hybrids in their droves.
What other cars are similar to the Peugeot 308 SW?
Not every rival to the Peugeot 308 hatchback is available as an estate version, so for that reason the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 are out. As are premium rivals such as the BMW 1 Series, although Mercedes will sell you the style-focused CLA Shooting Brake.
Really, though, the 308 SW's key rivals are the estate versions of the Ford Focus, VW Golf and SEAT Leon, along with the Skoda Octavia Estate and Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. There's also the Hyundai i30 Tourer which isn't as style-led but is more affordable, while the Kia Proceed is definitely style-led and offers more space than you might expect. The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer (which is closely related to the 308) should also be on your list of candidates.
Comfort and design: Peugeot 308 SW interior
"With a shapely dashboard and classy materials, the new Peugeot 308 SW feels a cut above cheaper rivals. There's also clever, easily usable technology."
Step inside the 308 SW and you'll see why Peugeot wants to be considered as an 'upmarket mainstream' Stellantis brand. It all looks and feels a bit more Audi than Skoda inside, that's for sure.
The dash design is far from plain, with angular shape and a pleasing mixture of mostly soft-touch materials. Peugeot has avoided the now typical mass of gloss black plastic which shows up dust and fingerprints, although there is some on the wheel and the glossy surface of the touchscreens will still do this. All versions except the cheapest model get multi-colour ambient lighting, too.
Peugeot is continuing to use its 'i-Cockpit' driving position, which gives you a small steering wheel and high-mounted digital dial display that you view by looking over the wheel, rather than through it as in most cars. Most drivers of average size will get on with it just fine, but one of our testers who is 6ft 3in found you still have to compromise between seeing the bottom section of the dials without leaning forward or having the wheel set low enough to be obstructed by your knees. It's worth trying it before you buy.
The little steering wheel itself is nice to hold, however, with the same quality feel as the rest of the 308 SW's cabin. Peugeot has avoided saddling drivers with fiddle touch sensitive wheel buttons, too, while you'll now find some easy to prod piano key physical shortcut switches at the bottom of the centre infotainment stack.
The touchscreen is noticeably larger than that of the old 308, with a more responsive and crisper-looking display along with menus that aren't too much of a minefield. In an effort the enhance usability Peugeot has also installed a second touchscreen panel below that display (standard on Allure trim and above) which features six shortcut widgets. You can change these to items you select most often, such as your favourite radio station or even your partner's number. The big icons are pretty easy to stab on the move, too.
Storage is decent on the Peugeot 308 SW, but not remarkable. The lack of a manual gearbox helps here. We do wish there was more outright space in the rear, however.
Quality and finish
Peugeot has spent several years trying to convince us it's a semi-premium brand, sitting a class above its Citroen and Vauxhall stablemates. Recent products have done a good job of doing so, and the Peugeot 308 SW continues that trend.
Fit and finish throughout the cabin is on a par with the latest VW Golf estate, which some materials actually feeling more plus than the German rival. The door grab handles feel solid, there's very few scratchy plastics and lots of squidgy trim, along with posh suede-effect and leather elements on the dash and doors. It certainly feels that bit more high-end than the class average.
Granted, poke around lower reaches of the cabin (such as the door pockets and glovebox lid) and you will find harder, less tactile plastics. But accepting what the Peugeot 308 costs, this really isn't a big deal.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Peugeot 308 SW
Whichever version of the Peugeot 308 SW you go for you'll find a bright 10-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash. Paired with an identically-sized digital dial display on all versions, you also get a simple voice control system on base models.
There are only two trims to pick from with a new Peugeot 308 SW and the entry-point Allure has pretty much everything you want or need. If a 3D effect for the main digital dials is important to you, the GT will be your choice.
Space and practicality: Peugeot 308 SW boot space
In terms of exterior dimensions - for those that aren't over-endowed with parking space - the Peugeot 308 SW is 4636mm long, 1852mm wide excluding mirrors and 1450mm tall. That's around 270mm longer than the 308 hatch, but a little shorter than a Ford Focus estate.
We'll start with boot space first given that's kind of what estate cars are about, and there's bad news on this front: the new 308 SW's boot is actually smaller than the model it replaces, in capacity terms at least. It's down to 608-litres, from an unusually generous 660-litres of the old car - although with the plug-in hybrid models sapping the underfloor storage due to their battery packs that figure drops further to 548-litres.
Regardless, the fact that the standard 308 SW's boot capacity figure begins with a six still means it's among the roomier cars in this class - you'll have no trouble with three of those giant, multi-week holiday suitcases, while a trip to that well-known Swedish furniture store should be no sweat.
What's more, the capacity grows to 1634-litres when you fold the seats down, which is done easily via levers in the boot and allows a 40/20/40 split. With side hooks, nets and (on non-PHEVs) two separate underfloor storage compartments, it's all good back there. The hybrids have a maximum boot space of 1574-litres.
Up front, too, there's plenty of headroom and decent cabin width, meaning you won't need to have an elbow war to access the centre armrest. The i-Cockpit driving position isn't suitable for everyone, though - the very tall will find they have to fix the wheel unnaturally close to their legs to fully see the dial display. We wish Peugeot wouldn't mount the pedals so close to the driver, as it would allow long legs to stretch out better.
More grumbles begin when you jump in the back, though. The old 308 SW has a ludicrously large boot but barely any more rear seat space than a supermini. Peugeot has traded a bit of the former for the latter, but rear legroom still lags behind cars such as the Skoda Octavia estate.
Headroom is at least a bit better than the hatchback on account of the straighter roof line, but it's still not brilliant. The rear seats themselves are comfortable, though, so smaller adults and children will be fine, while there isn't a big lump in the floor so the middle seat is fairly usable. Of course there's ISOFIX points back there for mounting child seats, too.
There's good news when it comes to storage at least: the 308 is the first Peugeot of the 21st century where they've actually bothered to move the fuse box for right-hand drive cars, meaning it doesn't take up half the glovebox. There's decent door bins and a cubby below the opening centre armrest, too.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Peugeot 308 SW like to drive?
"The Peugeot 308 SW manages to nicely balance a comfortable ride with composed handling. Sure, it's not quite a class-leader in either respect, but as a compromise it's pretty good, while there's no weak link in the engine range."
If you could draw a line right between the lolloping softness of a Citroen and the tied-down firmness of, say, a SEAT Leon estate, that's where the Peugeot 308 SW would sit.
The small steering wheel helps heighten the 308 SW's sense of agility, meaning it feels more keen to change direction into a bend than some rials. Combine that with a decent turning circle and it's a pleasant thing to drive around town.
Visibility looking forwards is good, and rearwards the SW seems to have thinner pillars than the hatch, but the rear window isn't huge. Thankfully even the base trim gets rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, too.
On faster, twistier roads you'd be hard-pushed to tell the 308 SW apart from the 308 hatch. This means you get decent body control, plenty of grip and a car that, while not massively entertaining or sharp, inspires enough confidence to be fairly enjoyable. However it's worth bearing in mind the 300kg+ weight penalty that the plug-in hybrid models have over the standard versions - Peugeot has done a decent job of disguising it, but it's still evident.
Ride comfort is largely very good, too. Sure, find a really rough road and it'll thump around a little bit on the largest 18-inch wheel option, but it's a mature-riding car for the most part. Refinement is strong, too, - wind and road noise rarely intrude, making it an ideal motorway car in combination with its comfortable seats.
Overall, the 308 SW doesn't set new standards for comfort or fun in the family estate class, but it's a respectable offering nonetheless.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Peugeot 308 SW?
It's easier to ask what engines doesn't Peugeot offer in the 308 SW? The answer to that is perhaps lightning via a flux capacitor.
Peugeot offer the entry-level 1.2-litre turbo three-cylinder Puretech 136 petrol engine with 136PS and 230Nm of torque. It's used in a wide variety of Stellantis models, and those worried it's not up to the job of a family estate might be surprise to hear you can also get it in to 5008 seven-seat SUV.
The 1.5-litre BlueHDI diesel engine has 131PS and 300Nm of torque, and it's punchy enough and not overly noisy for a diesel. It's a shame, then, that so few people are expected to buy the diesel.
Then come the two plug-in models - the Hybrid 180 and Hybrid 195 - there was an earlier 225 version that's now dropped from the new line-up. The models remain front wheel drive and combine a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with an electric motor. All that changes between the two is the electric motor is more powerful in the 195 model.
Both offer the same 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds, so they are brick enough for almost every driving duty. The automatic gearbox makes them smooth and easy to use, while the EV driving range allows near silent running around town or even on longer trips so long as the battery has been charged up.
However it suffers from the same problem that inflicts many PHEVs, namely that when you clog the throttle to quickly gain speed you have to wait longer than the non-hybrid models before the gearbox, engine and electric motor have worked out what to do and deliver the goods. That crucial second or two can be the difference between a safe or nervy overtake, for example.
All 308s use the same eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddles behind the wheel for manual shifts. The changes are smooth, and while it's a bit slow to react in the hybrid it delivers fairly swift kickdown in the petrol and diesel models. The manual response is nowhere near as fast as a dual-clutch gearbox, however.
Refinement and noise levels
The Peugeot 308 SW is adept at keeping its occupants isolated from wind, road and engine noise, and while the suspension does get a little noisy on pothole-laden tarmac it's good for this size and price.
The three-cylinder Puretech 130 doesn't vibrate through the controls like similar engines of old, either. And while it can be heard when you start revving out, the thrummy little growl is actually quite appealing. Even the diesel doesn't clatter unduly unless you really rev it, which is rather pointless anyway.
The four-cylinder hybrids are, of course, the smoothest of the lot, particularly when in electric mode with no gearchanges or engine noise to worry about. Once the engine does kick in it's pretty quiet under normal throttle inputs, but keep your foot pinned into the top of the rev range and the hum becomes a touch boomy.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Peugeot 308 SW?
The 308 SW should be no less safe than the regular Peugeot 308 hatchback. When tested by Euro NCAP, the 308 scored a four-star rating, which is a bit disappointing. The dropped fifth star was due to the car's below par adult occupancy safety score.
There's safety aids aplenty in the Peugeot 308, with standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection now standard across both trim levels.
Also standard across the range is lane assist, driver drowsiness detection and cruise control with a speed limiter, plus speed limit recognition. Allure models powered by the diesel or hybrid options come with adaptive cruise control, but you need to pay for an option pack to have it with the lower trim level petrol model. It's standard on GT versions.
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Peugeot 308 SW cost to run?
"The fuel economy penalty for choosing the Peugeot 308 SW over the hatch is barely worth registering, with some engines not affected at all."
The Puretech 130 petrol engine is claimed to manage between 48.5mpg and 62.6mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, which is an identical lab-based figure to the hatchback. The extra 50kg or so added to the estate may be partially offset by better aerodynamics.
The BlueHDI 130 diesel does lose a tiny fraction of fuel efficiency in SW form though, oddly, This is claimed to manage between 50.1mpg and 59.6mpg - again, the same as the hatch's figures.
The plug-in hybrid models claim identical MPG figures as the hatch, with the Hybrid 180 managing between 199.4- and 242.7mpg and the 295 claiming 293.0- to 428.0mpg. Those figures are simply for comparison to other PHEVs, as you'll only get near those numbers on short journeys where you can use electric power the majority of the time. Do longer journeys with a depleted battery and they'll almost certainly be less efficient than the pure petrols and diesels.
It's also worth noting that the lesser-powered hybrid is rated for over 46 miles of electric range, whereas the more powerful manages 59 miles.
Peugeot 308 SW reliability and warranty
The Peugeot 308 SW's technology is used used elsewhere in Peugeot, Citroen, DS and Vauxhall models and seems to be holding up well.
Peugeot didn't finish all that highly in the most recent HonestJohn Satisfaction Index (24th out of 29 manufacturers). Having said that, modern cars don't generally cause as many issues as they used to, while the 308's engines are all well-proven by now.
Peugeot 308 SW insurance groups and costs
The 1.2 petrol and diesel models of Peugeot 308 SW both sit in group 19 for the Allure model and group 20 for the GT.
Move to the plug-in hybrid models and the 180 sits in group 28 as an Allure or group 29 for the GT version. Peugeot was yet to confirm the insurance groups for the 195 model at the time of writing, but we'd expect them to be much the same.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Peugeot 308 SW?
The Peugeot 308 SW's range of efficient engines mean it shouldn't break the bank when it comes to road tax. Of course the hybrids save you money in this respect, but that doesn't offset the higher purchase price.
For the first year of road tax that you pay when driving out of the showroom, the 1.2 petrol pays as little as £350 for that first 12 months of road tax.
The diesel model pays between £440 and £540 for the same period, while the plug-in hybrid versions are charged £110.
After the first year, all of the Peugeot 308 SW range will pay £195 per year for road tax. However, the plug-in hybrid models in GT trim will also have to pay the additional £425 applied to cars costing more than £40,000 when new and this remains in place until the car passes its fifth birthday.
Peugeot 308 SW price
"The Peugeot 308 SW costs from a shade less than £32,000 for the 1.2 petrol model, while the diesel goes from £32,400. Go for the plug-in models in Allure trim and you pay from around the £41,000 mark."
There might be cheaper family estates than the Peugeot 308 SW, but there's also pricier ones, and when you consider the amount of kit you get for the money even at the lower end of the line-up its reasonable value.
Used prices could see you into a three-year old 1.2 PureTech Allure 308 SW with 40,000 miles under its wheels from £16,000. Or, you could look to a pre-registered almost new model to save around £2000 on the same engine and trim.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Even the base model of the Peugeot 308 SW comes with a decent roster of kit. Opt for the lower of the two trim options, the Allure, and you get 17-inch alloy wheels, high beam assist, rrear privacy glass, reversing camera, and glass black exterior detailing. On this inside, there's air conditioning, a heated steering wheel and front seats, and the 10-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The GT version adds 18-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, Driver Sport Pack, full matric LED headlights, and Peugeot i-Connect voice commands for the infotainment.
Previously there was the base Active Premium trim with power-folding mirrors, 16-inch alloys, 'EcoLED' headlights and LED rear lights, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, the full infotainment suite and auto emergency braking.
Peugeot also offered the Allure Premium trim that added the Drive Assist Pack with adaptive cruise control, rear-cross traffic alert and blind spot detection, while keyless entry and start, wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also features. In the same vein was the GT Premium trim with Lane Positioning Assist, two-tone 18-inch alloys, a 360-degree parking camera and self-parking aid, an electric tailgate, upgraded front seats with electric adjustment on the driver's side and heating and massaging for both front seats, electric lumbar adjustment and a Focal Premium sound system.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
How big is the boot on a Peugeot 308 SW?
What does SW mean on the Peugeot 308 SW?
Is the Peugeot 308 SW reliable?
Peugeot 308 SW Alternatives
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