Peugeot 206

Enter the 206 SW. Not quite an estate, not exactly an MPV and not really a small car ί¿½ more a blend of all three. The newcomer is a standard 206 from the windscreen forward, but look further back and it morphs into a stylish and unusual vehicle.

The door handles are incorporated into the C-pillars ί¿½ la Alfa 156, the rear lamp clusters sweep up the back like ticks, and a high roofline and squared-off rear end give it a practical, uncluttered stance. And practicality is the key to the SW's appeal. The rear window opens separately from the tailgate, while the boot has a 480-litre capacity with the rear seats up ί¿½ double that of the hatchback 206. In addition, the SW is infinitely more comfortable. Back seat passengers will enjoy increased legroom and the boxy bodywork gives masses of headroom.

On the road, the car has a supple ride and a sporty character, despite its estate car pretensions. Turn-in is quick, and the chassis remains neutral even when pushed. Pick of the range is the 2.0 HDi driven here. The free-revving diesel unit delivers plenty of low-down grunt, yet remains refined and smooth on motorways. Other engines include 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrols, plus a 1.4 HDi diesel. A hot S16 version, based on the 206 GTi, won't come here until at least 2003. Peugeot believes the UK-built SW will set a trend. Looking at its likely rivals, we think it already has...