Sorted Magazine

Tag: Tim Barnes-Clay

  • Motoring: The Peugeot 308 SW is a pleasantly surprising contender

    Motoring: The Peugeot 308 SW is a pleasantly surprising contender

    If you’re after an estate car, Peugeot might not be the first manufacturer you look towards.

    But the 308 SW (short for Sports Wagon) might be right up your street.

    With modern looks, an imposing front end and diagonal claw-like day-running lights, it’s something different and full of personality.

    It is the Allure Premium, on test here, with 17-inch alloys, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, voice control, LED headlights, leather steering wheel, 3D SatNav, and keyless entry/go.

    Power comes from a 130PS 1.2-litre petrol hooked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

    While a 1.2-litre three-cylinder doesn’t sound exciting, it’s excellent for its size. There is quite a bit of low-end grunt to get you off the line and a surprising amount of performance on offer.

    Granted, it won’t pin you back in your seat, but it’s more than capable and well-suited to all speeds.

    The ride comfort is up to the job, and the handling impresses. The 308 SW is adept at taking bends thanks to grippy tyres and a well-tuned chassis. However, the steering needs to weight up sufficiently in the corners to really push limits.

    Inside, the cabin is well-designed and futuristic, with a flat-bottomed, curiously flat-topped steering wheel. Then there’s the i-Cockpit display on the dashboard, which looks lovely and is angled towards the driver.

    The screen is clear, responsive, intuitive, and highly customisable. Meanwhile, the digital instrument screen is informative and pleasant to look at. That said, the flat-topped steering wheel can obstruct it.

    The cabin is reasonably spacious, too, although taller rear-seat passengers might feel a little cramped. Boot space is 608 litres, which expands to 1,634 litres if you fold the rear seats in a 60/40 split.

    In terms of running costs, you’ll get 52.1mpg from the PureTech 130 engine, producing 130g/km CO2 in the process.

    Peugeot’s reliability is average nowadays, but a three-year unlimited-mileage warranty is on hand.

    The 308 SW achieved a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Safety kit, such as automatic emergency braking, active safety brake, blind-spot assist, lane-keep assist, and traffic sign recognition, are included.

    The Peugeot 308 SW is a pleasantly surprising contender in the estate market, offering good looks, practicality, and generous equipment levels.

    The French family motor impresses, given the small engine, and its handling defies its large body.

    Furthermore, Peugeot hasn’t been greedy with the asking price.

    Fast Facts – Peugeot 308 SW (Allure Premium PureTech 130 Auto) as tested:

    • Max speed: 130 mph
    • 0-62 mph: 9.9 secs
    • Combined mpg: 52.1
    • Engine layout: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol with front-wheel drive
    • Max. power (PS): 130
    • CO2: 130 g/km
    • Price: £30,860

    All Photos: Courtesy of Peugeot 308 SW

  • Motoring: The Nissan Juke Hybrid blends performance and economy

    Motoring: The Nissan Juke Hybrid blends performance and economy

    Nissan has continued its plans to offer a hybrid version of all its petrol cars with its crossover SUV, the Juke, getting the electrifying treatment.

    The Juke’s also had some tweaks, with a revised front end, although it retains the same basic funky shape it’s known for.

    There are a bunch of trims, and the Tekna+ reviewed here gets aerodynamic alloys, exterior styling tweaks and two-tone metallic paint.

    The powertrain is a 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, producing 143PS.

    The battery is only 1.25kWh, providing an all-electric range of just two miles. But the Juke’s all about preserving fuel economy, rather than engineless driving.

    That said, the engine doesn’t start up until you hit third gear or 35mph, and you can override this to leave it in all-electric mode.

    The Juke Hybrid is keener to make progress than the pure petrol model. But the rate of acceleration dips as you approach 70mph.

    A Sport mode helps increase the accelerator response, although the Juke is anything but sporty in terms of handling. Why? Well, it’s not incredibly athletic in the bends, despite a firm ride.

    The Nissan is better suited to dual-carriageways and motorways, while the automatic gearbox is well-refined.

    Inside, the Juke is fashionable, with circular air vents adding personality. Additionally, the materials feel pretty nice, although there are cheaper plastics on show.

    The infotainment screen protrudes over the top of the dashboard and has been improved along with the car’s makeover. What’s more, the digital display gives valuable information about energy usage and battery statistics.

    The seats are comfortable, and forward visibility is okay but compromised at the rear. That said, the hybrid includes a camera, which helps.

    There is good space in the front and back, although not enough to comfortably fit three adults in the rear. Meanwhile, storage could be better, with small door bins and only one cupholder.

    Boot space is 354 litres, ballooning to 1,114 litres with the back seats folded, while the adjustable boot floor helps minimise the load lip.

    Nissan says you’ll get 56.5mpg, producing 114g/km CO2. But perhaps even more importantly, the Juke earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. The safety kit includes intelligent emergency braking, lane departure warning and intervention, traffic sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring. The Tekna+ adds lane-keep assist, a 360-degree camera, blind spot intervention and rear cross-traffic alert, amongst other technology.

    Overall, the Juke is improved on the previous model, and the hybrid offers a respectable blend of performance and good economy figures.

    Choosing the hybrid does push the price up, so other rivals that are even better to drive may appear on your radar.

    Fast Facts – Nissan Juke Hybrid (Tekna+ trim) as tested:

    • Max speed: 103 mph
    • 0-62 mph: 10.1 secs
    • Combined mpg: 56.5
    • Engine layout: 1.6-litre four-cylinder + electric motor
    • Max. power (PS): 143
    • CO2: 114 g/km
    • Price: £30,150

    All Photos: Courtesy of Nissan Juke Hybrid