Peugeot's cute and cool wagon

All photos courtesy of quickpic.co.za

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Once the preferred mode of transport for rural folk, happy families, dog lovers and travelling reps, they are now perceived by new-age car buyers in this country to be in the same one-foot-in-the-grave category as pipe-smokers, real ale drinkers and Elvis Presley fans.

Which is silly, really, considering station wagons are still hugely popular in Europe where they are bought for their versatility, looks and car-like ride.

South Africans, however, tend to pull up their noses at these longer, generally heavy-bummed vehicles and opt instead for SUVs, which doesn't really make sense because an SUV is just a station wagon on stilts and in fancy dress in any case...

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And in their hurry to brush aside station wagons, many don't even consider seriously sexy wagons such as the Audi Avant, Hemi Touring, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, Honda's newly unveiled Accord Tourer and the rest....

Not to be outdone, Peugeot has now also joined the club of cute country cars with a 308 SW - and what a sleek and pretty creation from fashion-land it is.

Stylish and oozing French flair with its slit-eyed, feline headlights and bold silver Peugeot badge on the tip of its coiffured bonnet, this little newcomer boasts a long list of interesting features.

Top of the list is a huge glass roof that extends from the top of the A-pillars all the way back beyond the heads of those in the second row.

Unlike a sunroof it doesn't open, but an interior slide can let in the sunlight in or shut it out. The amazing thing is that with this glass top, and a tailgate glass window which can be opened separately, the vehicle's total glazed area exceeds 5.5 square metres!

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OK, so in summer it's a bit like a fish-bowl sauna, but it's great for cooler days and starry evenings and it gives a very pleasant light and airy feel to the living quarters.

Speaking of which, in addition to comfortable seating for five adults (with acres of leg, shoulder and head space) the 308 also offers a sixth and seventh seat as optional extras. Light and compact, they are easily removed or reinstalled.

As is the trend today, the SW's seating is extremely flexible and can be reconfigured to offer a multitude of combinations.

And there is literally an empty warehouse in cargo space. With the middle row of seats in place and the retractable luggage extended, the new SW can stow a volume of 573 dm3, according to the VDA method.

With the seats and the luggage cover removed it increases to 1 736 dm3, or translated into easier to understand wine language - 2,159 litres of the Cape's finest!

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What is impressive about the new vehicle is its exceptionally high specification level with standard kit that includes sporty alloys wrapped in 205/55R16 rubber, heated side mirrors, foglights, ABS with EBD and EBA, automatic lights, front and side airbags, follow me home lights, dual zone climate control, cruise control, fully adjustable steering wheel, radio/CD/MP3 player, electric windows and mirrors, and a lot more.

Out on the road the 1.6-litre engine sounds gutsy and feels a little livelier than the 88kW and 160Nm kicked out by its normally-aspirated 1,6-litre powerplant.

The gear shift is stiffish but smooth and the perky station wagon feels nice and solid on the road and well-balanced around the corners.

And talk about brakes! The first time I thought I was gently squeezing the pedal I nearly went through the front window. And this wasn't a once-off, because that's the way the brakes bit throughout the week I drove the car.

It certainly will take some getting used to if this is the Peugeot's normal braking mode.

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Thanks to a fully adjustable steering wheel, finding a comfortable driving position is quick and easy.

The controls are clear and quite logical (considering that is a French car, after all), except for the sound system which stubbornly refused to make a sound, no matter which buttons I prodded, pushed and twisted.

But minor hiccups aside, the SW is the sort of car that one quickly feels comfortable in... a bit like slipping on an old well-worn jacket.

If you drive the SW sensibly you should use just over 7 litres per 100 km - and that's with five pairs of legs and a couple of boxes of wine aboard.

Overall its a wagon that appeals with its looks, ease of driving, comfortable seats and incredibly spacious interior. As a total package it makes more sense to me than just another dime-a-dozen SUV.

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“Modern families are looking for lifestyle vehicles that offer more than a traditional station wagon,” says Mike Wilson, General Manager - Marketing of Peugeot Motors South Africa. “But there is also a significant number who specifically don't want a multi-purpose vehicle, which all too often provides little extra practicality yet requires sacrifices both in terms of aesthetics and dynamic ability due to the high centre of gravity.”

The 308 SW only needs servicing every 20,000 kilometres and with its price of R229,500 comes a three-year/100,000km manufacturer's warranty.

Tell you what, I really wouldn't mind owning a 308 SW, because I will park it in my driveway and admire it every evening when I stoke up my trusty old Petersons briar pipe, pour myself an Old Peculiar ale and tap my feet to Elvis belting out Blue Suede Shoes....