The 308 is an important chapter in Peugeot history. At the start of the 2010s, the Sochaux builder was not in very good shape. At that time, the second generation of the 308 was in the making, and Peugeot then decided to change its mind. To put it bluntly, and even if it means disrespecting the brand's past, it was decided to make… a really good car. The recipe is simple: squint at the competition that has long set the standard in the C segment, namely VW. Quality down to the details is at the top of the priorities, and we do not look at the expense. Peugeot therefore adapts this recipe, and effectively gives birth to an excellent compact. Vincent Devos, project manager at the time, put it bluntly: "The Golf was our benchmark from the start of development. "Clearly, the sauce has taken on, especially since Peugeot has associated with this concern for quality a real sense of the pleasure of driving. Moreover, we can see the success met by the brand's SUVs, which have followed the same philosophy.

Golf?

What Golf?

The third generation of the 308 will hit the market at the end of this year, including a station wagon version, accounting for at least half of sales here.

Auto Trends has already met him, and heard the story from the current project manager.

Story in which we have not once heard the word "Golf".

So of course, the Golf is still the best-selling car in the category, but the 308 is just as much a benchmark today, especially with drivers who value pleasure.

At first glance, it is first the longer hood that we notice, whatever the variation of the bodywork. And no, there is no technical reason for it. This is a deliberate choice of the designers: a longer hood is synonymous with a more "premium" look, and this is the ambition that Stellantis has for Peugeot. And since we're talking about looks, yours truly still has a bit of trouble with the stern of the SW. Not that I find it a failure, but when I discovered the car at the Mulhouse plant, I looked in vain for typical Peugeot features. On the contrary, features are very present on the front. There, it is really a Peugeot.

This is also what we say to ourselves once seated on board, where the small steering wheel and the i-cockpit are now hallmarks of the brand.

We are of course talking about an improved version, since the screen gains in quality and responsiveness.

The interface has also been made more intuitive, its designers having worked with the idea that the use should be as close as possible to that of a smartphone.

No more getting lost in menus, and the Home button is very useful for this purpose.

Plug-in and convenient

We finally hit the road with a prototype of the station wagon, which we have tried both in city driving and on a secondary network that is fast and winding at will. On the approval side, the engineers have done their homework because if you drive blindfolded (do not try at home), it is impossible to say whether you are driving the sedan or the more imposing station wagon. Both versions offer a lot of driving pleasure, with a front axle that is both very light and very communicative, and especially very biting when sent at high speed in the bends. At Peugeot, it is expected that at least 25% of sales will go to plug-in versions, which announce 59 km of electric autonomy and 25 gCO2 / km. And precisely, as with every test of a plug-in hybrid, we were attentive:Would the additional weight represented by the electric motor and the batteries compromise the behavior?

Well no !

Even weighted down with all this, the 308 SW is a dynamic and incisive station wagon, cut to take pleasure on tortuous roads.

Nice work, especially since the transitions between gasoline and electricity are perfectly fluid.

Only the brakes perhaps lack a little progressiveness.

The transition from light braking to harder braking is indeed a bit rough, but the engineers know it and have promised that everything will be smoothed out on production cars.

In addition to the two 180 and 225 hp plug-in versions (26 gCO2 / km, 60 km electric), Peugeot will also offer three petrol versions from 110 to 130 hp, and a diesel from 130 hp.

In conclusion, if one is (finally) decided to buy a station wagon rather than an SUV, the choice of a 308 SW will be the guarantee of driving pleasure.

And this even in a plug-in hybrid version, whose overweight is not in the least annoying.

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The Peugeot 308 SW Hybrid 180 in a few figures

  • Engine: 4 cyl.

    gasoline, plug-in hybrid;

    1.598cc;

    180hp;

    360 Nm

  • Transmission: to the front wheels

  • Gearbox: 8-speed auto

  • L / w / h (mm): 4.636 / 1.852 / 1.444

  • Empty weight (kg): 1.659

  • Chest (l): 548-1574

  • Tank (l): 40

  • Electric autonomy

    (km): 59

  • 0-100 km / h (sec.): Nc

  • V-Max: nc

  • Mixed consumption: nc

  • CO2: 25 g / km

  • Peugeot

  • Hybrid cars

  • Automotive

  • Car