I drove the Peugeot 508 SW with its sleek space-age feel and scrumptious looks

IN this age of SUV saturation, it’s a wonder anyone buys an estate car.

Why bother when there are so many more spacious rides on the market that will get you, your family, and two weeks’ worth of gear in without a roof rack?

Matt Howell

Matt Howell

Matt Howell

The curved dash has a sleek space-age feel and while all the buttons feel a bit fiddly at first, they soon make sense[/caption]

I was of this opinion. I like the size of the SUV, the driving position, the get-out-the-way stature of the bigger ones.

But I was missing out on a world of whips that are far more exhilarating.

Like the Peugeot 508 SW, which looks scrumptious.

First thing you notice is how, unlike with your typical SUV, you’re not stepping up to get in, you’re stooping down.

This is the car for you if you don’t want to give up on that coupe driving experience but know you need to drag half your house with you these days.

It’s business in the front and leisure in the boot – 530 litres of it to be precise (1,780 if you pop the back seats down).

First thing you notice is how, unlike with your typical SUV, you’re not stepping up to get in, you’re stooping down.

It’s quite a squeeze getting into the cab – even for your 5ft 8in author – but once you’re in, you know you’re in something that is going to perform.

The curved dash has a sleek space-age feel and while all the buttons feel a bit fiddly at first, they soon make sense.

It is by no means the most powerful estate car you will find for just shy of £50k – eg the Audi Avant A6 is quicker.

The car that you want

Officially 0-62mph in eight seconds but it feels faster, partly thanks to the low driving position. And it feels muscular – even with three passengers and a boot stuffed to the brim with holiday clobber.

The one I tested had a 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid, a not unimpressive 225hp and 360Nm torque, which presses you firmly into the seat when you put your foot down.

You can easily forget that you’re in a two-tonne vehicle that’s nearly five metres long.

The electric motor keeps it nippy but I didn’t get anywhere near the 34.2 to 42.3 miles range it says on the spec sheet.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox won’t beat the hot hatches off the lights, but you can easily forget that you’re in a two-tonne vehicle that’s nearly five metres long.

Despite a tiny steering wheel, it handles well but because you’re so near the road you can pretty much feel every bump. It’s also a touch noisier than I was expecting and the rear window is a postbox.

But, when it’s just you, it is a different experience.

You can forget you’re driving an estate and feel like you’re back in the car you actually wanted.