ABM_1 - Flipbook - Page 28
REVIEW
PEUGEOT 308SW
disguise the fact that 130 to 145 PS is not
that much in a car that weighs around
1.5 tonnes.
Sport mode is best avoided, as it takes
this problem to the extreme, turning the
accelerator pedal into an on-off switch.
Allure models feature 17-inch wheels,
while GT models get 18s as standard.
Regardless of wheel size, the 308SW
feels slightly too firm on the road – not
uncomfortable, but cars that ride like
this typically come with some sporting
chops, which the 308SW certainly does
not possess.
Long journeys
So far, it might sound like this is a
downer on diesel. But on motorway
journeys, the benefits are as clear as
ever. With eight ratios, the automatic
gearbox does a good job of keeping the
diesel clatter to a minimum at higher
speeds. The torque makes overtakes
smooth and drama free.
With a stab of the throttle, the hybrid is
not afraid to use the lower gears, which
gives the impression that it is struggling
somewhat. It is not unpleasant by any
means, but it is easy to see why diesel
has been the favourite of the milemuncher for decades.
Tyre and wind noise are well-controlled
and the 308SW lends itself well to
extended road trips.
Peugeot claims an mpg figure
somewhere in the mid-50s for both cars
on the WLTP combined cycle. For the
hybrid, this is optimistic, but the diesel is
quite the overperformer.
Mpg figures in the mid-60s are quite
easily accessible, whereas the hybrid
will struggle to get beyond 50 on a
motorway run.
Not only does this drive down per-mile
costs, it makes for a luxuriously long
cruising range. The diesel will return over
600 miles to a tank without much of a
fuss, enabling it to drive from London
to Geneva without a fill-up, or driving
behind a lorry at 56mph the whole time.
After a fill-up and a particularly
sedate drive, it will even display a range
prediction beginning with a seven.
The hybrid does not suffer from the
abysmally short combustion engine
range of some PHEVs, which often
sacrifice fuel capacity for batteries, but
it will return around 450 miles to a tank.
Not unacceptable by any means, but
drivers who frequently do long journeys
will prefer the longer legs of the diesel.
At first, the 308’s seats feel great, with
a pleasant sinking when sitting down.
But after an hour and a half or so, some
more support and little less absorption
would be nice.
Living with it
As with the seats, the interior impresses
at first glance. Especially in GT
specification, it has nicer materials than
would be expected in a Peugeot, which
are matched by a premium look. It is no
Bentley, but it feels well put-together and
is reassuringly free of creaks and rattles.
This does come with drawbacks. It
does not have physical climate controls,
which is not a problem in itself, but
the integration is lacking. It is just
unacceptable to need to navigate
to a separate menu to increase the
temperature by one degree.
8.
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AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS Q4 2025
