Autoblog

Click the image above for hi-res shots of the Peugeot 308SW

The Peugeot 308SW (for SportWagon), on the show floor, does not look like a big car. It certainly doesn't look big enough to swallow seven full-sized people. On the rotating podium, however, the car looked almost monstrous. Get inside, and the car appears to be even larger. If you sit in the driver's seat in Geneva, the rear hatch lies somewhere around Lichtenstein. It's that capacious. As with so many French things, the pics don't do it justice, but have a look at the gallery of hi-res photos to see if you can see what we see.

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Peugeot 308 SW.

Peugeot has been bringing its 308 line-up into full focus, arriving in Geneva with both the 175-hp hot-hatch version as well as this, the new 308 SW. The wagon replaces the previous 307 SW and adds upgrades with a number of innovative and utile features.

Despite its compact size, the 308 SW can actually accommodate seven passengers, thanks to removable third-row seating. Without the third-row and with the modular second row in place, the 308 SW can accommodate an impressive 674 liters of cargo under the load-bay cover. Remove the second-row seats as well, and the spacious little sport-wagon can swallow a cavernous 2,149 liters all the way up to the roof. Compared to the 308 hatch, the sport-wagon had its wheelbase stretched 100mm and the rear overhangs by an additional 124mm. Other improvements include a larger glass panorama roof that extends beyond the second row (see right), and a liftgate with a separately accessible glass window. Combine that with the more aggressive styling of the new range and the 308 SW shapes up to be a compelling package for European buyers looking for some extra versatility without losing the driving dynamics and economy of a conventional small car.

[Source: Peugeot]