Preview: Peugeot 307 SW
From: hugo_steincamp (norgo@cybertrails.com)
Date: Thu 28 Mar 2002 - 21:58:27 EST
>From Auto Express:
Peugeot 307 SW
Seven-seat estates are nothing new for Peugeot. The French firm
created one of the first true people carriers by putting an extra row
of seats in the 504 back in the Seventies. But now, 30 years on, it's
trying to cram as many people into an estate version of the much
smaller 307. So does the new SW work, or has the lion gone completely
mad?
Whatever SW stands for – and Peugeot is adamant it's not station
wagon, but won't offer an alternative explanation – the car is not so
much a new idea as a combination of several good ones. The cleverest
is the seating arrangement, which offers similar flexibility to a
full-size MPV. Five separate chairs in the back can be removed
individually, folded or slid forwards and backwards to increase or
decrease leg space.
It's an ingenious set-up and it works well, with any seating layout
possible in only a few minutes thanks to a straightforward latch and
release mechanism. What's more, each passenger enjoys the security of
a three-point seatbelt.
With seven on board, however, the SW is cramped. The rearmost seats
can each fit a grown adult, but definitely not in any comfort, while
legroom in the second row is at a premium if all seven seats are in
use. Then there's the small matter of luggage space. With a standard
five-seat layout, the SW offers plenty of useful boot area, but put
the extra seats in there and you'll only have room for a couple of
bags of shopping. All SWs get a three-quarter length glass roof,
which gives the cabin an airy atmosphere, while an electric blind can
be drawn across its full length should the sunlight get too intense.
Luggage nets, two fold-down tables, roof rails and an optional fridge
further add to its credentials as a leisure-oriented vehicle.
The new model is based on an extended 307 hatchback platform, with an
extra 100mm added to the wheelbase and a larger overhang at the rear.
That means the SW enjoys the 307's balanced handling, while the extra
weight and length give it a more supple ride than the standard car.
Four engines are available: 1.6 and 2.0-litre 16-valve petrol units
and two different versions of Peugeot's excellent 2.0 HDi diesel. We
tried the 2.0 petrol and the most powerful oil-burner, which produces
110bhp. The petrol unit is best for enthusiastic drivers and feels
the liveliest, with a punchy, free-revving nature and excellent high-
speed refinement. However, it's the diesel that probably makes the
most sense from a buyer's perspective, with plenty of low-down torque
and a combined fuel consumption figure of 52mpg, compared to the
petrol engine's 34mpg.
But where the Peugeot really scores, in any form, is its ability to
carry out the tasks of a compact MPV while still maintaining the
appearance of a sleek and stylish car. The 307 SW may have its flaws,
but it's a clever design. Craig Cheetham
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