Peugeot 308 SW review: what the car critics say
The third-generation 308 SW has petrol, diesel and two plug-in hybrid options
Sensible but not devoid of fun, the third-generation Peugeot 308 SW is available as a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel, both with 129bhp, said What Car?. And for the first time there are two plug-in hybrid options: either 178bhp or 222bhp. An all-electric version, the e-308 SW, is expected next year. All 308 SWs have an eight-speed automatic gearbox that you can override using paddles on the steering wheel.
A very respectable all-rounder and a terrific cruiser, the 308 SW has decent grip and smooth ride quality, said The Daily Telegraph. It smothers small bumps on the road and stays composed over larger ones, with good body control. The tyres, however, are noisy at all speeds, and steering is slow, and feels unnaturally heavy in Sport mode. The gearbox works well, shifting quickly to find the right ratio for the job.
A handsome, comfortable estate, the car is 6cm longer than before, giving an impressive 608-litre boot (or up to 1,634 litres with the rear seats folded; 548 litres/1,574 litres in the hybrid), said Top Gear Magazine. Peugeot’s i-Cockpit with compact steering wheel and crystal clear ten-inch touchscreen can take a bit of getting used to, but it’s worth the effort. Passenger space in the rear is a bit disappointing, though.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
UK price from £26,470; peugeot.co.uk
In pictures: Peugeot 308 SW
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
-
Codeword: December 6, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Sudoku hard: December 6, 2025The daily hard sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
Wake Up Dead Man: ‘arch and witty’ Knives Out sequelThe Week Recommends Daniel Craig returns for the ‘excellent’ third instalment of the murder mystery film series
-
Zootropolis 2: a ‘perky and amusing’ movieThe Week Recommends The talking animals return in a family-friendly sequel
-
Storyteller: a ‘fitting tribute’ to Robert Louis StevensonThe Week Recommends Leo Damrosch’s ‘valuable’ biography of the man behind Treasure Island
-
The rapid-fire brilliance of Tom StoppardIn the Spotlight The 88-year-old was a playwright of dazzling wit and complex ideas
-
‘Mexico: A 500-Year History’ by Paul Gillingham and ‘When Caesar Was King: How Sid Caesar Reinvented American Comedy’ by David Margolickfeature A chronicle of Mexico’s shifts in power and how Sid Caesar shaped the early days of television
-
Homes by renowned architectsFeature Featuring a Leonard Willeke Tudor Revival in Detroit and modern John Storyk design in Woodstock
-
Film reviews: ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ and ‘Eternity’Feature Grief inspires Shakespeare’s greatest play, a flamboyant sleuth heads to church and a long-married couple faces a postmortem quandary
-
We Did OK, Kid: Anthony Hopkins’ candid memoir is a ‘page-turner’The Week Recommends The 87-year-old recounts his journey from ‘hopeless’ student to Oscar-winning actor