It wasn't so long ago that people had a very definite idea of what an MPV was. It was a big vehicle shaped like a van with lots of space, storage and seats inside. Today, however, the market is littered with cars claiming MPV status that don't conform to these preconceptions. We have small MPVs based on superminis or vans, MPVs that only have 5 seats, even 4x4 MPVs. It's safe to say that the genre has taken-off big time with the MPV classification being applied to any vehicle displaying a mildly family-orientated outlook. Whether or not Peugeot's 307 SW is an MPV is an interesting point. It certainly displays some of the attributes but it looks and drives like a conventional estate. We've been testing a 307 SW HDI 136 to try and pin it down.

Whether or not the recently facelifted 307 SW is an MPV is less of an issue with buyers than whether or not the vehicle's particular characteristics meet the needs of their family. So far, our model has revealed itself to be a versatile car but when compared to real compact MPVs it's less impressive in terms of space, function and practicality. The real strength of the 307 SW HDI 136 is the way it blends some MPV features with the looks and driving dynamics of an estate car.

In standard form, the 307 SW offers just the five passenger positions although a further one or two seats can be specified and fitted into the boot. Our test vehicle came minus this extra rear seating so the layout was essentially that of a normal estate car. The boot space is extremely large without the third row of seats clogging it up - 54.3cu.ft compared to a measly 4.8cu.ft in a model with them fitted. More space is available too because the rear bench splits into three separate seats, these can then be individually removed to create various cabin configurations. Take everything out and you're left with a van-style load bay boasting an enormous capacity. Actually manipulating the seats to your will is reasonably straightforward but lifting them out might be a two-person job - they are quite heavy.

Whilst recognising that some families will need the capability to accommodate six passengers and a driver in their 307 SW, the vehicle is definitely at its best without the third row fitted. You'll pay nearly £350 for the two seats in the boot, they're difficult to access and the lack of legroom means they're really only suitable for smaller children anyway. There are better products out there with six, seven or eight usable seats and in standard form the SW's big boot is a real Plus. It comes with a retractable cover that stretches from the seatbacks to the just below the rear window to shield contents from prying eyes and cargo nets are provided to help keep wayward items in place.

"The real strength of the 307 SW XSi HDI 136 is the way it blends some MPV features with the looks and driving dynamics of an estate car..."

As you'd expect from a car that in this guise costs over £18K, this flagship 307 SW comes well equipped. What you get are front sports seats, fog lamps at the front and alloy wheels to enhance the 307's well-sculpted profile. Inside the cabin, there's a 6 CD autochanger mounted in the dash, a climate control system, and cruise control with a speed limiter. The headlamps and wipers switch themselves on automatically and the wing mirrors fold themselves in when you park so as not to get knocked off by passing traffic. It's a veritable treasure trove of gadgets but the SW's real crowd pleaser is the full-length panoramic glass roof. Assemble a car load of kids, depress the switch to the rear of the handbrake and watch their little faces light up in wonderment as the cover slides back to reveal an unlikely view of the heavens. In truth, the view is hardly panoramic but all that glass up there does plenty to lighten the car's interior. It's a great way to get a few minutes stunned silence out of your warring offspring - at least until a passing bird leaves its 'calling card' on the glass: after that you'll never shut them up.

The 136bhp HDi diesel engine in our 307 SW is a real cracker. It's not particularly fast in terms of 0-60mph acceleration but a big surge of torque is unleashed around the 2,000rpm mark to add a bit of interest to those dull everyday journeys. The engine note lets you know there's a diesel under the bonnet but the noise isn't intrusive and the car is a relaxed drive both on the motorway and around town. We have failed to match the official average fuel consumption on our test but then 50mpg from a car of this size would have been mildly astonishing. The car has returned around 40mpg, which is still very impressive and perhaps we'll do better when the novelty of that mid-Range acceleration subsides.

The driving position in the SW could be better, there's a good degree of adjustment potential in the seat and the steering column but it's still a struggle to get comfortable. The armrests are a particular bugbear. These flimsy appendages on the sides of the front seats have a tendency to flop down when your driving along and when they're in the down position, it's virtually impossible to change gear! The sports seats are very supportive when cornering but the 307's chassis is not the most involving so you probably won't find yourself compelled to take that long route home too often.

There are a lot of things to recommend about the 307 SW HDI 136, even if a snappy title isn't one of them. The engine is a nice compromise between power and economy for a car like this, the adaptable rear-seating layout gives it an edge over more conventional estates and the estate car styling means it's less frumpy in appearance than most compact MPVs. If you need in excess of five seats, a proper MPV would be more practical and there are plenty of estates out there that will prove better to drive but this car's particular mix of qualities will find favour with more than a few buyers.

TOP 5 307 DEALS

The results below show the top 307 deals on buyacar

	Peugeot 307 1.6 SE 5dr Auto SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £259	Saving £3,996	Price £13,444
	Peugeot 307 1.6 HDi 90 SE 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £249	Saving £3,958	Price £13,182
	Peugeot 307 1.6 HDi 110 SE 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £263	Saving £4,203	Price £13,837
	Peugeot 307 2.0 HDi SE 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £280	Saving £4,476	Price £14,564
	Peugeot 307 1.6 SE 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £243	Saving £3,735	Price £12,705

typical 12.31% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000