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Peugeot 508 SW

Classy estate comes up trumps with a massive carrying capacity

Peugeot 508 SW

Text: Luke Madden / Photos: Julian Mackie

January 2011

It's the 508 that’s loading up on style! If practicality is key for you, Peugeot offers this SW estate model, which boasts 660 litres of boot space – but thanks to one-touch controls mounted in the boot, the rear seats can be folded down to create a load area of 1,865 litres. That’s a massive 224 litres more than the new VW Passat Estate and 132 litres over the Ford Mondeo Estate. 

There’s a host of clever touches elsewhere, too, including an optional motorised tailgate, one-touch tonneau cover, a hidden compartment underneath the boot floor and a huge panoramic sunroof.

 

Space for passengers is the same as in the saloon, but the sunroof creates the illusion of a far more airy cabin for both front and rear passengers. 

From the front, the estate looks like its saloon counterpart, but a swooping roofline gives the SW a ‘shooting brake’ appearance, while new rear lights further differentiate the load carrier. 

The design is so successful that we think the estate is the better looking of the two models.

The SW weighs 1,780kg – which is 44kg more than the saloon – and, on the road, there are a few subtle differences in the two driving experiences. The GT model, fitted with the same 2.2-litre diesel engine as the saloon, feels marginally slower to respond, but still posts an impressive 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds – a mere 0.2 seconds down on the saloon.

The extra weight makes the SW less efficient too, with CO2 emissions of 154g/km. 

That moves this version into a higher tax bracket costing a total of £155 a year – an extra £30 over the saloon. Fuel economy has also worsened slightly by 1.8mpg at 47.8mpg.

In corners, the SW rolls more than the saloon, but the steering is just as direct and responsive, and there’s a healthy amount of feedback from the front wheels. It still feels agile, but it’s not quite as sharp.

The extra weight does mean there is a slight harshness to the ride that you don’t get with the saloon, but it’s still a very capable and comfortable cruiser. 

The SW is a highly capable all-rounder that boasts a huge boot, comfortable ride and impressive refinement. But, as with the saloon, it comes at a price – top-spec GT models cost £29,975. 

For an alternative review of the latest Peugeot 508 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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8 Comments

Make sure you buy recovery as well as normal breakdown cover to make sure that you and your load get to your destination.

In our last Pug we used the convenient storage bins to hold all the bits of plastic trim that fell off. Handy.

By IronChicken on 20 January, 2011, 9:16am

IronChicken, Liked your comments. Very good.

This is a classy looking estate. Nice cockpit too. Not sure the bonnet bulge and grill is quite right, but apart from that all very conservative and classy. Just a shame all French cars never can get the quality right though. I've had two Pug estates and both had electrical problems which caused me to sell them on.

By mpwox11 on 20 January, 2011, 11:02am

I can report that Renault at least may be making strides towards improving reliability and build quality issues. I've had my Grand Scenic for six months now and nothing has fallen off, it hasn't broken down and doesn't appear to be showing any signs of doing so. At this moment in time I can honestly say it's one of the best cars I've owned (runs around house touching every bit of wood he can find)... :D

By sgtgrash on 20 January, 2011, 5:28pm

This is a joke right? £30k? I think I'll take the year old 520d Touring thanks.

By kcaj20 on 24 January, 2011, 2:53pm

The first Peugeot for years that I can look at and they price it in the BMW Merc and Audi area, daft. Like the styling except for that dip in the top centre of the grille.
Why would the heavier SW be harsher?

By hedgehopper on 25 January, 2011, 7:21am

Good Looking Peugeot Shock!

At last, a Peugeot that doesn't look too big for it's wheelbase - no rediculously long front overhangs. With the stunning RC-Z and now the 508, the company are definitely returning to form.

By erly5 on 6 February, 2011, 10:19pm

A not-ugly Peugeot? Wow

Well it is certainly an improvement, looks-wise!

I still find the grille too large, however. Just when we had got cars to work fine without garish, horrible grilles, they suddenly came back into fashion! I hate them.

But at this price, it doesn't matter WHAT it looks like, I am still not going to buy one!

By pajbse on 17 February, 2011, 6:05pm

My dad is getting one of these when it comes out in april. It really annoys me that peugeot have given you a top-spec 508 because it gives the wrong price impression. The lower end models like the SR and active have a great specification for a much lower price, and one of these is much cheaper than, say, a less specced Skoda Superb Estate!

By YoungCarNut97 on 20 March, 2011, 3:08pm

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FIRST OPINION

    As with its saloon stablemate, the SW excels for comfort, refinement and road manners. And most importantly for an estate, it delivers on practicality, too. It has most rivals beaten for space, and there are plenty of clever touches to make loading easy. Not only is it one of the most practical estates on the road, the Peugeot is one of the most stylish, too. The downside? The flagship is extremely expensive.  
 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £29,975
    Engine: 2.2-litre turbodiesel
    Transmission: Six-speed automatic 
    Power/torque: 204bhp/450Nm
    0-62mph: 8.4 seconds
    Top speed: 144mph
    Economy/CO2: 47.8mpg/ 154g/km
    Equipment: Cruise control, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, sat-nav, Bluetooth, auto lights/wipers
    On sale: April
     
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