Peugeot 308SW

I have never owned a French car before.

I don't particularly dislike French cars, and in fact, the old Peugeot 306 Cabriolet, designed and produced by Pininfarina, was one of the cars I wanted very much from that time on, because I fell in love with its beauty so much.

Peugeot 306 Cabriolet. This blue body color with tan interior was so beautiful. When I was young, I dreamed that one day I would have a son and I would like to drive with him in a convertible.

This time, I had the opportunity to test drive the SW (station wagon) of the 308, a descendant of the 306, and I would like to review it. I would like to mention in advance that this was a short notice interview, so I had absolutely no prior knowledge of the car.

exterior

This unit will be the first lot imported into Japan.That's right. So, it is still a valuable individual that can hardly be seen in the city at the time of the interview.

From a distance, the fashionable atmosphere is indeed as you would expect from a French car, even if you don't like it. The character design is sharp in some places, but not so much in the quality and solidity of a German car, but somewhat in the sense of gentleness.

The front emblem seems to be of a new design and is completely flat. When viewed closely and carefully, it looks very uneven, but from a distance, it does not look strange at all; in fact, it even looks three-dimensional.

The lights are also very elaborately designed and are not inexpensive at all.

The wheels are 225/40 18-inch wheels. The spokes themselves are very thick and seem to be designed with aerodynamics in mind, but the coloring makes the spokes look longer, giving the impression that the wheels are larger in diameter than 18-inch wheels.

Interior and infotainment

The first surprise is the futuristic look of the infotainment system.To be clear, domestic manufacturers are completely outclassed in this field.The fonts used for the text are very beautiful, and the resolution of the monitor is very high, giving it the clarity of a modern smartphone or tablet.

And then...It is hard to tell from the photo, but the speed and RPMs appear to float on the panel, giving it a very futuristic look.

And what is unique about this car is that the gauges are driven from above the steering wheel. At first, theWouldn't that make the steering wheel too low and uncomfortable? I thought so, but when I actually drove it, it was not so.The meters were not difficult to read or the steering wheel was not difficult to operate.

The center console monitor is also very sophisticated, and the panel switches can be assigned to frequently used functions, offering a great deal of personalization.

The seats are very comfortable.The core is firm yet comfortable, and I don't think this will tire me out over long distances.I personally quite like these seats. Moreover, they have a kind of massage function that works by pressurizing air, which I think is very rare for a car in this price range to have such a function.

Ample luggage space

Impressions of ride and handling

This car is equipped with a 1.5L diesel turbo engine. Since this is my first experience with a Peugeot diesel engine, I sharpen my senses and start the engine. Then, the engine wakes up very quietly. This isAt a notable level, the starting sound and the absence of idling noise and vibration are excellent.

I thought it was quieter than Mercedes and BMW diesels. I thought it was quieter than Mercedes or BMW diesel engines. First of all, it would be difficult for anyone to tell that it was a diesel engine just by looking at the idling state of the engine.

Put the car in D range and start driving. Step on the accelerator pedal and drive at speeds of 20 km/h and 30 km/h. The engine, which had been quiet until then, begins to produce a distinctly diesel sound. The engine, which had been quiet until then, begins to make a distinct diesel engine sound. This sound becomes louder as the car accelerates and a certain amount of load is placed on the engine.

This sound on its own is not that loud or obnoxious.It is so quiet when idling that the reaction makes it feel louder.The first is the "I" in "I".

Then, once cruising speed is reached, the engine turns around again and becomes very quiet and smooth. Comfort at this time is adequate and very high quality.

In terms of ride quality, I felt a slight bumpy feeling. It is a little short of the "cat's paw" image of Peugeot. In particular, the rear of the car feels a little bouncy. When we test-drove the car, we pointed out to the owner that the air pressure might be too high. The owner later contacted me and said, "The air pressure is too high.The air pressure was about 0.2-0.3 higher than standard, so I lowered the air pressure and the ride became milder.He contacted me and said, "I'm sorry.

Perhaps with a little more distance, I think the reluctance of the suspension movement will be removed and it will become even milder.

The engine has a perfect sense of power. Four adult male passengers drove it on a winding road, and it ran well for 130 hp. The maximum torque is 300 Nm at 1750 rpm, so there is no need to step on the accelerator pedal too hard to accelerate even on a slope, which is sufficient for practical use.

It's not a sports car, so I don't think it's a car to talk about handling.My impression is that it has very straightforward handling characteristics.The steering response is not particularly good or loose, and the setting is honest and suitable for everyone.

It has a slightly weak understeer characteristic and remains flat through curves up to a certain speed. Surprisingly, it also shows a sporty side of driving. There is no sense of uneasiness at normal speeds.

Next, he dares to enter a corner at a little more speed. The roll angle becomes a little deeper when a certain amount of lateral G is applied, but the tires continue to firmly grip the road surface. The tires continue to grip the road firmly.You can still run, but stop around here.It was as if the car was telling the driver the sweet spot speed range where he could drive comfortably.

Sohyo (General Council of Trade Unions of Japan)

This 308 SW GT BlueHDi is aAt the time of writing the blog, prices range from 4,587,000 yen.In the rivals, it would be a higher grade of Golf Valiant, for example.

In this light, the quality of the interior, equipment, and comfort are very high, making it a very cost-effective car. In particular, the infotainment system is very well equipped and sophisticated, the seats are well made, and the comfort level is very high, and I think it is comparable to cars of a higher rank.

The handling and driving are not particularly sporty or surprisingly comfortable, but I have no complaints at all. Considering it as a car to be shared in daily life, such as commuting, shopping, and family trips, it is a very well-made partner.

If you are looking for a stiff ride, it might be a German car, but if you are looking for a somewhat gentler ride, it would be a French car. However, if you are looking for aThe same gentle driving style, but without the unreliability of a Japanese family car, and with a core of gentleness.It is a very good car. After test-driving the car this time, I wondered if the exquisite ride quality is the charm of French cars and Peugeot.