Why Lease The 308 SW?
by: Donna KellyDonna Kelly has over 14 years of experience in the motoring industry, writing, test driving and tweeting about cars. Her weekends are spent trackside, covering racing events.
Peugeot 308 SW Review 2022
The Peugeot 308 SW is a well-rounded family car, offering a good balance of practicality, style, and fun.
Standout features include its premium interior and optional plug-in hybrid engines, which offer a touch of class, as well as low running costs.
Rivals to the 308 SW include the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Seat Leon, and Toyota Corolla Touring Sport.
Our Peugeot 308 SW review covers:
Peugeot 308 SW Key Features
- Slick design with a prominent front grille
- Premium interior with i-Cockpit infotainment system
- 608-litre boot that extends to 1,634 litres with rear seats folded
- Petrol and diesel engines accompanied by two hybrid options
- Four trim levels, including Active Premium, Allure, Allure Premium, and GT
Design, Practicality and Boot Space
As with most Peugeots, the 308 SW appeals to the eye. It has a large front grille that tapers around the headlights and features creases in the side profile. Compared to the 308 Hatchback, the 308 SW is square at the back to appeal more to family-oriented customers.
The 308 SW provides enough space for anyone above six foot in the front, but the same can’t be said for those in the back. Taller folk will have their head pushing against the roof lining, and their knees will be pressed against the seat in front. This may be okay for short journeys, but longer trips may need to be reconsidered.
The boot holds an impressive 608 litres and can extend to 1,634 litres with the rear seats folded. It can also hold items up to 1.85 metres long, making it suitable for family days out. If you go for the hybrid option, your boot space is decreased to make room for the battery.
Interior and Trims
The interior of the 308 SW has a touch of class. Everything is put together well and has been built to last. You’ll find premium materials on the dashboard, a squishy steering wheel, and comfortable seats. If you have a young family, this will be to your liking.
On the dashboard, you’ll find the i-Cockpit infotainment system featuring a 10-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth technology. The 308 SW also has voice command technology where the driver can change temperature, set directions, and change the radio station by saying “Okay Peugeot”.
Four trim levels are available including Active Premium, Allure, Allure Premium, and GT.
The entry-level Active Premium is well equipped with standard features including 16-inch alloy wheels, lane keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and automatic air conditioning.
The Allure comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, a reversing camera, front parking sensors and power-folding mirrors.
Allure Premium adds 17-inch Halong diamond cut alloy wheels, part-leatherette seats, sat-nav, and front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera.
The top-of-the-range GT comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, sporty exterior styling, keyless entry and start, cruise control, sport suspension, and a sports leather steering wheel.
Power and Performance
The Peugeot 308 SW comes with four engines, one petrol, one diesel, and two plug-in hybrids.
The petrol engine is an excellent 1.2-litre unit with 129bhp, reaching a top speed of 130mph. It’s smooth and efficient and is suited to both the motorway and busy city traffic. If long-haul travel is required, the 1.5-litre diesel would be the better option.
Both the 180bhp and the 225bhp hybrid engines have the same set-up with a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. There’s not much difference in power, so a sensible decision would be to settle for the cheaper engine.
Once on the road, the Peugeot 308 SW is a solid drive. It offers plenty of grip and rides well over most surfaces whilst also doing a reasonable job of keeping the driver comfortable. A drive around town will be stress-free, with the small steering wheel making the car easy to manoeuvre.
Don’t expect much fun on country roads through. All trims come with an eight-speed gearbox which can be sluggish and sometimes unpredictable. If driving one of the automatic hybrids, you can override the gearbox using paddles on the steering wheel.
The 308 SW doesn’t compare to the Ford Focus and Seat Leon if you’re after a more interactive and exciting drive.
Leasing vs Buying
Prices for the new Peugeot 308 SW start from £27,325.00 OTR* or to lease from £311.14 per month.
If you’re thinking of getting behind the wheel of a new Peugeot 308 SW, car leasing may be less expensive than buying outright thanks to fixed monthly rentals, a low initial rental variable mileage, and contract terms.
*‘On the road’ price correct at time of publication and includes one year’s road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change, always check with your nearest retailer.
