Peugeot E-308 SW review: we like the bigger boot and we cannot lie

Peugeot E-308 verdict

The Peugeot E-308 SW builds on its hatchback sibling’s pretty solid foundation with a bigger boot and a similarly striking appearance. However, expected to cost from well over £40,000, it is rather expensive – especially given how several more practical and fashionable SUVs can go further on a charge. That being said, if you’re set on getting an electric estate, the E-308 SW is perhaps the most sensible choice on the market right now, marking a sweet spot between the very cheap or expensive plug-in wagons on sale.

This has been a long time coming. In the time between the Peugeot E-308 SW’s launch and our first drive in it, the UK has had two prime ministers, King Charles got crowned and a film about a plastic children’s toy outsold a beautifully-crafted epic about one of the most influential scientists of modern times.

It’s finally here, though, and after all this time, the Peugeot E-308 SW still remains one of the first electric estate cars to go on sale in the UK. Before its arrival, your only choice if you were after an electric ‘wagon’ was the cheap-as-chips MG5 EV and, at the other end of the scale, the scorchingly fast Porsche Taycan Sport/Cross Turismo.

So, what’s the key difference between the SW and the regular Peugeot E-308? Well, just like the soon-to-arrive Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer with which the E-308 shares almost all of its parts, the regular hatchback’s wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) by 55mm to create an estate version.

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The result of this is that, unlike with the regular E-308, there’s plenty of legroom in the back of the SW; the sloping roofline does mean it’s easy to bump your head when getting in and out, though. Boot space has also usefully increased to 548 litres – the same as the hybrid Peugeot 308 SW – and if you fold down the rear seats, this expands to 1,574 litres. In practice, this means there’s more than enough space for the weekly shop, or even a large suitcase if you’re going away on a family trip.

Elsewhere on the inside, it’s pretty much business as usual; the E-308 SW gets Peugeot’s futuristic-if-flawed i-Cockpit infotainment setup, which could be a dealbreaker for some. You see, unlike most cars where you have to peer through the gap in the steering wheel to look at the dials, Peugeot’s models of late get a much smaller, squared-off wheel and dials that sit slightly higher.

Okay, but what’s the issue? Well, the result of this is that you have to position the steering wheel uncomfortably low in order to peer over the top and view the dials. We found during our time with the E-308 that the steering wheel tended to bash into our knees each time we tried to turn it; this may not be a problem for some, but we insist that you try before you buy.

Ergonomics aside, we do actually quite like the E-308’s interior; everything feels pretty premium – as they should, given the SW’s lofty price – plus we like the sharp graphics and responsiveness of the touchscreen. Top models even get 3D effects for the dials which, if you’re able to see over the awkwardly-placed steering wheel, do look pretty snazzy, even if they are a bit of a gimmick.

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On the move, the Peugeot E-308 SW is much the same as its hatchback sibling. This means that it offers sufficient, if not exactly inspiring performance from its front-mounted 154bhp electric motor; 0-62mph takes just over nine seconds, with full power only being available when the car is switched into its ‘Sport’ setting.

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Ride quality is pretty good, with the E-308 only fidgeting over the largest of bumps and potholes. The small steering wheel does make the SW feel rather darty on a twisty road, though if you’re looking for driving engagement from your electric family car, a Cupra Born or even an MG4 EV are your best bets.

In terms of range, Peugeot is still crunching the numbers, but we estimate it’ll probably get an official WLTP range north of 240 miles. In our experience, it’s easy to return over 200 miles in the E-308 SW – helped in colder climates by its standard-fit heat pump – although similarly priced SUVs like the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV can go further on a charge, while offering similar levels of practicality.

At launch, two models will be offered: the Allure and GT. Standard kit on the Peugeot E-308 SW Allure is strong, with all cars getting 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, digital dials, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and a reversing camera. Stepping up to the GT model adds adaptive Matrix-LED lights, Alcantara sports seats, gloss black exterior accents and those aforementioned 3D-effect dials – we’re not sure it’s worth the extra cash, though.