Universal-solarium / Peugeot test drives

Station wagons of late are increasingly surprising: they no longer look like boring workhorses, and sometimes even outshine the hatchbacks and sedans they are based on. Manufacturers clearly want to move away from the stereotype of "just haul cargo," but at the same time, one must not forget that the main advantage of such cars is still practicality. The key here is not to overdo it.

Take a look at the Peugeot 308 SW. There is nothing flashy or provocative about it — on the contrary, the cargo-passenger version looks even restrained. But does it bore you? Rather, it calms, gives a sense of stability, as if the owner has everything going according to plan. At the same time, the brand's signature style, which we already saw on the 308 hatchback, and the expressive rear end do not let the car get lost in the general flow.

SEVEN "I"S

As for practicality, the SW looks much more interesting than the donor hatchback. The wheelbase of the station wagon has become 100 mm longer, the roof has grown, and now three rows of seats fit in the cabin — a total of seven seats. And no "benches": each rider gets a separate seat, albeit not too wide. The backs of the front seats have folding tables, and passengers in the "gallery" have their own cup holders. True, the third row is an option, and you can order only one of the two seats.

If the seats are not needed, the second and third rows can be removed entirely, and then the trunk volume grows to an impressive two-plus cubic meters! Buying furniture will no longer be a problem — delivery won't be needed. And loading will be easy: the loading height here is low.

PULL FOR ECONOMY

The 308 SW is a couple of hundred kilograms heavier than the hatchback. That's a significant addition! Therefore, turbodiesel engines are ideal for the station wagon. After all, the naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol doesn't always give the hatchback enough torque at low revs. With turbocharging, this engine carries the car briskly, but fuel consumption is also biting.

But the 2.0 HDI turbodiesel is a model of rationality. It is more torquey than petrol units, and average consumption is lower: depending on the gearbox, 5.9 or 7.1 liters per hundred. Transmissions are offered six-speed: "manual" or a nimble and clear "automatic." For our market, there is also a smaller diesel — 1.6 L (110 hp, 240 Nm at 1750 rpm), which works with that same "manual." We haven't been able to test it yet, but judging by the stated characteristics, the younger one won't let you down either.

The SW is offered only in rich trim levels — even the panoramic roof is already included in the base equipment. But the price is corresponding. And choosing a diesel makes the car even more expensive. Petrol versions of the SW cost less.

So the question — whether to switch from the usual petrol to diesel — directly depends on how intensively you plan to use the 308 SW and how often you intend to travel long distances with a full load. For example, with seven people.

PLUS-MINUS

SIMILARITIES

The front part of the cabin completely repeats the hatchback.

The drawbacks are also the same: inconvenient backrest adjustment system, small buttons on the console, small side mirrors, strongly shifted back.

The pluses also coincide: pleasant trim materials, effective climate control, decent audio system.

At the same time, the characteristic diesel noise and vibrations do not particularly bother passengers of the diesel car.

PEOPLE AND THINGS

The trunk is one of the most spacious in its class.

But the third-row seats noticeably reduce the volume, so long trips with seven people and large suitcases will be problematic. You can find a compromise: leave the extra seats in the garage, travel with five, but take everything you need. And if you also remove the second row, the car can hold as much as two cubic meters of cargo!