Peugeot 308 SW

Mid-sized compact Peugeots with a '3' designation actually go all the way back to the 301 of 1932, progressing through the pre-war 302 and the post-war 304 to the 305 and 306 models of the Eighties and Nineties.

At the turn of the century, volume sales continued to be chased with the forgettable 307 of 2001, the underpinnings of which also formed the basis for its less popular successor, the first generation 308 of 2007, which was replaced by the MK2 308 in 2014. That second generation 308 wasn't really a car many customers would have chosen in preference to a Golf, let alone anything premium, but this MK3 version, launched in 2021 wanted to be.

Everything was different - even the front Peugeot grille badge.

And, whether you choose the hatch body shape or the alternative SW estate version, the sharky looks clothe a cabin that was the segment's most sophisticated in its era. Peugeot expanded the powertrain line-up considerably after launch, in 2023 introducing a petrol Hybrid 136hp model - and the all-electric E-308.

In 2025, the Hybrid was uprated to 145hp and the flagship PHEV powertrain got re-engineered, gaining a new gearbox and a larger battery.

Late 2025 brought a mid-term facelift, but it's the pre-facelift 2021-2025-period versions of this P5-era 308 that we look at here.

By 2021, Peugeot's designers were reinterpreting what compact hatchbacks could look like.

With its second generation 208, the company had redefined modern supermini styling and much the same was achieved here with this third generation 308 family hatch, that model's larger showroom stablemate.

It's perhaps not quite as visually appealing, but it certainly makes a pavement statement.

As usual with a 308, there are hatch and SW estate body styles, both of which have plenty of overtaking presence. This P5 MK3 design gained a longer-looking bonnet than before with a prominent bulge and a lower-looking nose bearing a rather different Peugeot badge on its grille, which reinterpreted the company's 1960s iconography and was large enough to cover the radar needed for the autonomous driving aids.

In profile, owners of the previous generation model might notice the extra 11mm of length of this P5 design; and the prominent creases that appeared over the wheel arches, which sat below a stronger shoulder line.

At the rear, the LED tail lamps seem almost impossibly thin, decorated on the 'GT' models with a distinctive 'three claw' lighting signature and above base trim linked by a glossy centre strip. At the wheel, everything's very in-your-face and angular.

Virtually everything you touch feels tactile and of high quality.

And, as with this model's direct predecessor, the first thing you're going to have to decide is whether you can get on with the distinctive 'i-Cockpit' dash design with its tiny steering wheel, above which (rather than through which) you're supposed to view the instruments.

The little gauges you view, of the virtual variety displayed on a 10-inch screen, are unusual too, but all the information shown is clear and easy to assimilate and the screen layout gets clever 3D graphics.

The central monitor is also 10-inches in size, but is deeper and more informative, underscored by a row of 'i-toggle' switches which usually operate the climate features but can be re-programmed for other functions if you wish. Normally, you'd expect the central screen layout to flow down into the lower part of the centre stack, but the designers clearly felt more storage space could be freed up by separating out the angular lower console with its diminutive little 'impulse selector' gear shifting switch.

Lumbar adjustment was standard for the beautifully-upholstered seats and, with the exception of restricted rear three-quarter vision, the ergonomics are fine and build quality from the French Mulhouse factory was difficult to fault. In the rear, it's certainly not what you'd call spacious - or at least it won't be if you've front seat folk of at least average height sitting ahead of you - but with the exception of Skoda's Octavia, no obvious rival in this class from this era does much better.

As at the front though, classy finishing makes up for much: the way the interior part of the centre armrest is trimmed for instance, is a far cry from the mediocre class norm. Conventionally-engined 308s offer a 412-litre boot.

That falls to 361-litres with the PHEV and the all-electric E-308.

Obviously, because of its slightly higher roof line, the SW estate version has a larger boot, 608-litres in size in conventional variants or 548-litres if you opt for the PHEV or the E-308. Fold everything flat and a conventional 308 hatch will offer you 1,323-litres of capacity (1,271-litres in the PHEV or the E-308).

For the SW estate, the seats-folded figures are 1,634-litres with a conventional model or 1,574-litres with the PHEV or the E-308.

We'll quote prices based on the hatchback body style.

The SW estate is worth a premium of around £1,500.

Prices for the earliest 2021 1.2-litre PureTech petrol version start from around £13,900 (around £16,100 retail), which gets you 'Allure' trim.

For a 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 model with the same 'Allure' trim on a '21-plate, you're looking at values starting from around £14,550 (around £16,750 retail).

If you want the petrol Hybrid, values start with an 'Active'-spec model on a '23-plate, which values from around £14,400 (around £16,600 retail).

We'd consider the Plug-in Hybrid, which values in 180hp form on a '21-plate with 'Allure' trim from around £13,500 (around £15,700 retail).

The all-electric E-308 values on a '23-plate with 'Allure' trim from around £14,000 (around £16,200 retail).

All quoted values are sourced through industry experts cap hpi.

Click here for a free valuation.

We've come across various issues with this MK3 P5-era 308.

If you're looking at the conventional 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine, look out for issues with this engine's 'wet timing belt', which can degrade prematurely, causing debris to clog up the oil strainer.

This restricts oil pressure and can cause major engine damage.

The only sure way to avoid this is with regular servicing using the correct specification oil, so inspect the service log carefully. We've heard of a number of issues with the infotainment screen (freezing, re-boots, software instability), so make sure everything works as it should.

We've also come across phantom battery charge warnings.

And on PHEVs, there have been for some owners traction motor errors preventing activation of the EV-only mode.

We've not come across any specific E-308 model problems, but do a full charge just in case and check the condition of the charging lead. Otherwise, it's just the usual things; check the interior for child scrapes - and the wheels and rear bumpers for parking scratches.

And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.

(approx based on a 2022 308 1.2 PureTech excl.

VAT - autodoc) Expect to pay around £5-£10 bracket for an oil filter, in the £9-£15 bracket for an air filter.

A set of front brake pads vary in price from £19-£65.

For a front brake disc, think in around the £23-£83 bracket.

A water pump costs in the £27-£85 bracket.

An alternator is in the £136-£300 bracket.

A radiator is in the £58-£153 bracket.

With this third generation 308, Peugeot sought a return to the reputation it had enjoyed forty years before when its humblest family hatches were marked by an engaging degree of handling excellence.

The unusual 'i-Cockpit' dash design that sees you peering above a small, low-set steering wheel at a slick-looking virtual dial pack suggests a welcome level of potential drive engagement which turns out to be largely realised thanks to well judging firm-style damping, plenty of cornering traction and decent body control.

All of this is best enjoyed at the wheel of the lightest model in the range, the 1.2-litre PureTech 130 petrol version which, like all the other variants, can only be had with automatic transmission and manages up to 52.1mpg on the combined cycle and up to 122g/km of CO2. There were various alternative conventional engines on offer.

The 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel has the same power output as the base petrol unit but carries a little more weight.

To join it, in 2023 Peugeot introduced a full-Hybrid variant with 136hp, which used a 1.2-litre petrol engine mated to a clever 6-speed gearbox.

There was also a Plug-in Hybrid powertrain, offered with a choice of 180hp or 225hp outputs and in both cases, a 1.6-litre petrol PureTech engine was mated to a 109hp electric motor, which was powered by a 12.4kWh battery capable of taking the car up to 37 miles between charges, which typically take around three and a half hours. In 2025, just before the facelift, the Hybrid was uprated to 145hp; and the PHEV powertrain offering was slimmed down to a single variant developing 195hp with a new 7-speed auto gearbox and a larger 17.2kWh battery offering an extended range of up to 53 miles. From 2023, there was also a full-electric variant, the E-308, which offers 154hp and has a battery of 50kWh usable capacity and can go around 250 miles each time you plug it in.

You might well decide though, that less is more when it comes to your choice of 308.

From a car small in steering wheel and entry-level kerb weight that was really able to reinvent itself here.

Peugeot wasn't just building a car with this third generation 308.

It was building a reputation.

For too long, this much-loved brand had rather lost sight of what made people want its products.

With this P5-era MK3 308 though, it was setting out to build desirable machines once more, models that weren't simply playing catch up or trying to copy the big sellers.

Sure enough, this is vehicle with a definite feel of its own.

It's not going to appeal to everybody but it is a contender good enough to worry the best in its class. Of course, you may not like the sharky looks.

And the unusual 'i-Cockpit' dash design is certainly divisive - try before you buy.

Overall though, what's on offer here is a car that certainly played its part in restoring Peugeot's reputation for building elegant, comfortable and understated vehicles.

A car that gave the brand a shot at making good on its upmarket aspirations.