Peugeot 308 Touring petrol and diesel 2008 review

Despite a tidal wave of SUVs swamping family buyers, Peugeot says the latest 308 wagon -to be called Touring when it arrives in Australia in August will re-define the market. It has proven to be a success even before it goes on sale. So far Australians have pre-ordered almost the entire 308 Touring annual quota of 1150 units.

The wagon comes with a seven-seat option, tackling the bigger and more fuel-sapping SUVs with temporary room for two children.

There's also a full-length glass roof as standard and flexible concepts such as the three individual centre-row seats, which are removable and can even be repositioned as two seats. The 308 Touring's rear window is bigger and curved and flips up independently to the tailgate.

The wagon comes in small-bore diesel and petrol, turbocharged petrol and big-bore diesel, with transmission variants from four-speed and six-speed autos to the new, slick, six-speed manual. All this and a forecast $30,590 opening price for the automatic petrol XS version is intended to build on the tremendous success of the 308's predecessor, the 307. Peugeot Australia spokesman Mathew McAuley says the Touring is expected to account for 40 per cent of 308 sales.

A lion's share of the Touring sales will be diesel, though this won't be as high as the 75 per cent take-up witnessed in the 307. He expects 65 per cent of Touring buyers to take up the $1200 seven-seat option as an after-sales accessory.

Also on the option list is leather upholstery, including heated front seats, for $2900.

Pricing for the Touring starts at $30,590 and rises through the seven models to $38,390 for the two-litre XSE turbo-diesel automatic.

The wagon is $1600 more expensive than the hatch versions. But the new 308 Touring gets more features, including the panoramic glass roof that is normally a $1000 option.

Clearly, it is based on the 308 hatch and yet it has a long list of unique features.

The wheelbase is 100mm longer and the length is out by 224mm, so it has improved legroom in the centre and rear.

The centre seat is on rollers for a 90mm fore/aft adjustment that expands the third row's legroom. Peugeot correctly terms the third row as occasional and while an adult can squeeze in here, it's purely for smaller people.

The boot gets a roll-out cover blind, luggage net, carry hooks and a removable and rechargeable torch that doubles as the cargo light. A full-size spare wheel is located beneath the chassis. Now that the family is seated, Peugeot went for enhancing the wagon's ownership and started with economy.

The European-spec tyres are Michelin's new Energy Saver rubbers _ not yet specificed for Australia _ that claim a 13 per cent fuel saving on the previous 307 wagon. The new Touring is sleeker and its slippery aerodynamics will further trim fuel consumption while cruising.

Thankfully, the 308 Touring doesn't share the 207 Touring's awkward rear end. A long wheelbase, compliant suspension and the promise of a perky turbo-petrol engine make on paper at least the 308 Touring an appealing all-purpose machine.

That promise transfers neatly into the tangible, though the degree is dependent on the engine chosen. Australia will get four engines missing out on a gaspy 1.4-litre and the hot 128kW version starting with a pleasant 1.6-litre normally aspirated petrol.

Few should complain about this little motor that works a tight balance for economy and performance. Less can be said of the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. This economy-minded engine comes only as a manual transmission version and needs serious rowing. Then there's the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol with 110kW that combines frugal thirst and decent performance.

When pushed on the Sardinian test route, it was quite thirsty even in manual form.

Australia will get this engine only with an automatic gearbox and only in the top-line XSE trim, priced at $35,190. There's little to complain about in ride comfort and general handling, though the wagon becomes quite nose-heavy through fast, tight corners and will activate the standard ESC.

The standard glass roof with an electrically-operated fully-lined cover gives the unusual feeling of travelling in an aquarium. The triple-layer UV-protected glass may just be a bit too sun-friendly for some parts of Australia.

But full marks to Peugeot for the quick and easy ability to remove the centre-row seats, though they are heavy and will be awkward for mum to remove.

Still, it's an impressive machine and will certainly sway potential SUV buyers who don't really need an all-wheel-drive and big fuel bills.