In the US or Asia, classic station wagons do not get a bike on the ground, nobody wants it. Everyone is flying on trendy SUVs. Only the old continent is still fairly loyal to the otherwise dying autogue. While family fathers, once a regular customer of station wagons, now also increasingly move towards pseudo off-road vehicles, it is above all the company cars of the commercial travelers who do not want to give up their hatchet. Where the new Peugeot 32.350 SW available from 508 Euro, the comparison with a donkey now does not fit.

After all, he is closely related to one of the most successful creations of French automotive engineering in recent years. The four-door 508, which is also coming to dealerships in Germany these days, was highly praised on its appearance, scores with elegantly sporty design contemporary coupe sedans and also offers in the interior with a rare so far French brands rare noble ambience. All the advantages that the big five-door car with a big mouth naturally took on.

The "SW" (stands for "Station Wagon") transfers the coupé logic of the sister model to a classic station wagon. The tapered rear looks visually wider than it is thanks to the rather thick jaws around the rear wheels and the narrow tail lights. The lateral edge of the roof drops clearly towards the stern, finally ending in a spoiler protruding beyond the rear window. However, the design reveals a small disadvantage for the adult passengers who want to swing to the rear seats. To dive under the edge of the roof, the head must be retracted. Here would be the helpful hand in the manner of a police officer attached, who pushes the head of a newly convicted villain in each TV thriller when entering the rear of the patrol car down. If this cliff is overcome, but there is then plenty of air over the main hair.

The Peugeot offers everything that combisers have appreciated about this type of car for decades. The load compartment swallows even in the five-person operation 530 liters, the rear stalls are folded, there are even 1.780 liter. Depending on the version, up to half a ton of freight can be carried along. Good values, also in comparison with the direct competitors like VW Passat or the Renault Talisman. At an extra charge, the tailgate swings electrically driven upwards, also guide rails against slipping of the cargo are to have.

The 508 SW keeps everything else ready, which can already be found in the limousine. Three diesel variants, two petrol engines. In the test station wagon works the engine, which will probably decide the majority of future and rational customers. The two-liter diesel with 120 PS / 160 kW (from 39.550 Euro) convinced by smoothness, pulling power and spontaneous response. Since all engines comply with the EU 6d-Temp standard, all state-of-the-art cleaning systems on board and according to the WLTP standard are more practically tested for emissions and consumption than previously, no-go zones need not be an issue.

The long list of extras and assistance systems was also adopted for the five-door model. What's new is a night vision system that uses a 200 meter to look far ahead and detect animals or pedestrians in the dark before it reaches the headlight cone. In an emergency, braking is automatic. With 1.200 Euro, the "Night Vision" is still quite expensive, but still cheaper than the German premium manufacturers. As in the sedan, there is also an 10-Zoll-Motnitor in the cockpit, which shows a Tom-Tom-Navi and other functions like the picture of the rear-view camera. In some rivals, the screen is larger, has a better resolution and map display and is thus already visually present at the command post of the car. The digital i-cockpit from Peugeot, which can be designed by the driver according to his mood, does not change that much.

The bottom line, however, Peugeot has earned the merits of keeping an endangered car-type alive. The almost loving adaptation of the sedan to the Kombiform proves that the 508 SW for engineers and designers was anything but a compulsory task. The French, but still many Germans, love their station wagons. 60 percent of all 508 sold by us will have the fifth door at the rear. Finally, Peugeot also requires only moderate 730 Euro extra charge to make the four-door a nice practitioner.