Peugeot 307 SW

28 July 2007

In true Peugeot style the 307 SW is a bit of a odd-ball to classify is it a hatchback or an MPV but as the former has morph's into stunted mini MPV’s, here comes its big brother the estate version.

The Peugeot 307 SW its makers claim, is neither a mini MPV nor a compact estate care, more a Station Wagon, but Peugeot claim this description is uncomfortably redolent of traditional estate cares. So an SW it is then.

The 100mm extra in the 307 hatch’s wheelbase has given the car far more elegant lines. The elongated rear balancing the 307.s lofty roofline quite superbly.

It can be specified in either five or seven seat guise and each of the rear seats are interchangeable with means that there are a suitably vast number of seating permutations.

For legroom that would shame a Bentley simply remove the middle row of seats or if you have bought the five door version shift the three rear seats back a row, or indeed you can take all the seats out to liberate 2.082 litres of cargo space.

Priced to start at £14,915 with four engines are on offer, a single petrol unit and three diesel powerplants. The 110bhp 1.6 litre petrol engine doesn’t seem to gel with the 307 SW package particularly well, which leave s the diesel units landing our vote, with all three outstanding .

The 90 bhp 1.6 litre will appeal to the more level headed SW buyer, although its difficult not to plump for the extra urge of the 110 bhp 1.6 litre 16 valve version, a car which can still return a credible 57 mpg.

Alternatively there is always the range topping 2.0 litre 16 valve HDi unit with its 136bhp output.

In striving to break out of the accepted norm, Peugeot have created an interesting if somewhat compromised family runabout. Through it may not be the mini MPV markets ultimate seven seater, as a standard issue compact estate, the 307SW is about as good as it gets.