Peugeot e-308 SW Review 2024

While plenty of people will sidestep the Peugeot e-308 SW in favour of a lofty SUV, there’s a lot to be said for owning an estate. You certainly get a decent driving experience with this car, thanks to its lower profile and great suspension setup. There’s some decent handling to be had, and performance isn’t bad either all things considered. The biggest appeal though is the space factor, which makes the Peugeot e-308 SW a family-friendly option, although its higher price tag might see some venturing towards the much more affordable MG5 if an electric estate car is in their sights.

One thing the transition to electric cars is doing is simplifying many model ranges and that’s no more so than with the Peugeot e-308 SW. The estate comes with a 54kWh battery pack, paired with an electric motor that offers 156PS. It’s not hugely powerful in that respect, but the Peugeot e-308 SW does everything you need it to do on most fronts.

Electric cars are invariably notable for their torque, much of which comes as an instant hit and that can be infectious when it comes to getting away at the lights or zipping out at roundabouts and junctions when the need arises. The Peugeot e-308 SW is less potent on that front, mainly because of the powertrain credentials shown above, but also because of the bulk added by being an estate.

The same goes for performance as a whole, with the 54kWh battery and motor only able to offer a 0-62mph time of 9.8 seconds. In electric car terms that’s quite sedate, but equally this is an estate car that isn’t going to be bought by people who expect lightning-fast performance. In fact, the genteel nature of the acceleration and a similarly comfortable top speed target of 106mph should be more than enough if you’re moving your offspring from A to B. Treat it gently and there’s the decent prospect of an official range of up to 254 miles as an added bonus.

Aside from one or two petrol-powered options out there, the chances are that if you’re interested in the Peugeot e-308 SW you’ll be looking at similar all-electric vehicles. Aside from the already mentioned Vauxhall Astra Sports Touring Electric though, the estate options are less than generous. The MG 5 EV has been a big hit for its Chinese owners, with many happy purchasers and indeed, quite a few minicab drivers clocking up big miles in those things. It’s infinitely more affordable than the Stellantis Group products too, though there are some compromises on trim levels as a result.

However, if you’re not obsessed with owning an all-electric estate car the options list does expand somewhat. Indeed, the Citroen e-C4 is an appealing prospect as you get more Stellantis group switchgear inside along with some other hints that the car comes from the same umbrella company. There’s space and lots of comfort too, which you’d expect from the brand. Also staying with vehicles from the same camp are the likes of the Jeep Avenger, which sports a genuine persona of its own but is less roomy. Let’s not forget the Vauxhall Mokka Electric too, which is dependable and not bad looking either.

As is the case with the majority of manufacturers, Peugeot has upped its game in terms of quality and finish in recent years. The overall feel of the e-308 SW is that it’s reasonably durable and is finished to a very good standard. It’s well attuned to its target market, with the car seeming like a perfectly solid proposition for a family consisting of two adults and two kids, with seat coverings and surfaces well-suited to the rigours of daily use that come with the latter.

Alongside the carefully crafted interior, the Peugeot e-308 SW boasts an impressive level of infotainment. This is centred around the 10-inch dashboard-mounted touchscreen, which has been sensibly angled towards the driver instead of being placed flat on the fascia. This works to great effect, while offering up capacitive tech controls that mix fingertip touch and good old physical buttons to make the perfect compromise.

You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which can be done using connected cable means or, in the case of the fancier GT trim, wirelessly thanks to a convenient panel located beneath the infotainment zone. The main screen is also supplemented by a secondary touchscreen, dubbed ‘i-Toggle’ that can be used for shortcuts to core tasks, which is particularly handy as you can tailor it to suit your own in-car preferences. There’s a head-up display too, which compensates somewhat if you’re having trouble seeing past the wheel.

While most of us still tend to head to our own devices when it comes to using satellite navigation, Peugeot has done a reasonable job with the version found in-car. It looks and works well enough and is nicely presented on the reasonably generous screen. Less successful is the 3D digital instrument display, which looks snazzy enough with more than a splash of colour in evidence. However, some of the graphical delivery is less clear than it could perhaps be. Something to tweak on future models maybe?

The obvious appeal of an estate or tourer car is the extra space you get. In the case of the 4635mm long, 2062mm wide (with the mirrors out) and 1475mm high Peugeot e-308 SW it’s everything you’d expect. The slight drawback due to it being an EV means the battery pack encroaches on storage slightly, so there’s 548 litres compared to the 608-litres found in the petrol edition. That’s a full 70-litres less found in the MG5 however. Nevertheless, there’s versatility to be found inside, with a 40/20/40 rear seat split option and boot levers that allow quick and instant dropping when needed. This lifts overall storage up to 1574 litres. Peugeot also supplements the boot with generous storage cubby holes through the main cabin.

The all-electric Peugeot e-308 SW features a brand-new electric powertrain, with a 115 kW (156 bhp) motor and 54 kWh high-voltage battery. We think the car works best in Sport mode if you’re looking to get any degree of excitement from the powertrain. Take it easy and drive the Peugeot e-308 SW in Normal mode though and you’ll get 136PS, while Eco mode sees the power output drop off even further. 

The Peugeot e-308 SW has an official range of up to 254 miles, according to official tests. Its real-world range figure is likely to be less than that, but it should comfortably manage more than 200 miles. That compares well against the MG 5 EV, which has a range figure of 250 miles.

Expect a quality ride with the Peugeot e-308 SW, which benefits from being screwed together very nicely and the all-electric powertrain. Like most electric cars, which don’t have the benefit of the engine to cover any tell-tale additional noise, the Peugeot e-308 SW suffers from some tyre and wind noise. However, it’s never enough to become annoying and, therefore, the estate comes with our seal of approval on that front.

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the Peugeot e-308 SW as yet, though it has tested the petrol hatchback version, which got a less than stellar four stars out of five. It’s worth noting that these tests have become more stringent over recent years. Nevertheless, it’s still disappointing that the standard car scored 76% for adult occupant safety, 84% for child occupant safety, 68% for pedestrian safety and 65% for safety tech.

On the upside, the Peugeot e-308 SW comes with a decent array of standard safety tech. This includes automatic post-collision braking, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, speed limit recognition and active safety brake (with both pedestrian and cyclist detection). Upgrade to the Peugeot e-308 SW in GT trim and you get rear cross traffic alert, long range blind spot detection and Peugeot SOS. 

The latest models in the Peugeot range come with all of the newest generation driver aids, which includes the likes of Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go function, long-range blind spot monitoring (75 metres) and Rear Traffic Alert, which warns of danger when reversing.

The Peugeot e-308 SW is a new to the market car, so it’s too early to say if there has been anything owners have been getting upset about. It goes without saying that due to the lower amount of parts contained in an electric vehicle the Peugeot e-308 SW should theoretically have less to go wrong. What’s more, Peugeot has done its best to improve the design and build of its cars in recent years, so we’re optimistic about the fortunes of the Peugeot e-308 SW.

Insurance groups for the Peugeot e-308 SW are yet to be confirmed.

VED or ‘road tax’ for zero-emission vehicles, including the Peugeot e-308 SW is currently free, which means there’s no up-front tax payment when buying new, nor any subsequent payment, for the time being at least. However, this is all set to change in April 2025 from which point all EVs registered since April 2017 will be taxed at £165 a year.

It’s pretty easy to get a quick overview of the trim levels and equipment on offer with the Peugeot e-308 SW because there are only three levels to choose from. First up is the Peugeot e-308 SW Allure grade, which sits at the entry-level end of the spectrum. This model features 18-inch Ottawa alloys, power folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, a drive mode selector, half faux leather trim, ambient lighting, LED running lights, EcoLED headlights, LED rear lights, heated front seats, climate control and remote pre-conditioning for the cabin as well.

From there, things step up a notch to the Peugeot e-308 SW GT edition. This is a little more premium in look and feel and comes with some additional goodies to try and justify its quite high price tag. There’s the likes of adaptive cruise control, rear-cross traffic alert and blind spot detection, along with keyless entry and start, wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additional touches like Alcantara trim, black headlining, aluminium door sills, matrix LED headlights, enhanced air quality control system, 3D digital instruments, Driver Sport Pack and a green-stitched leather wheel all add extra appeal.

Topping things off is a Peugeot e-308 SW First Edition, which is available in limited numbers and is essentially a slightly improved GT trim level car. Lookout for the Tri-Material interior, which adds a special touch while the exterior looks more distinctive thanks to three different metallic colours.