Whichever way you look at it, 2.30am is not an opportune time to be getting up in the morning. The dark streets are empty save for the few gloomy, shambling figures plotting their semi-inebriated way home from local nightspots but the roads are similarly clear. Which was good because our 307 SW had a ferry to catch. Weeks before, it seemed a first class way to test a small estate car's mettle - a brief blast down to Dover then 500 miles of French motorway and a week touring some winding Alpine roads before the return journey. Loading the car on that dank morning, it just seemed very, very early. At least, there'd be the chance to partake of a little skiing into the bargain.

Our destination was Les Deux Alpes, one of the highest ski resorts in France with its glacier extending up to 3,568m above sea level. It lies some 580 miles from Calais and we were still a good few miles shy of Dover, so the 307 SW had some work to do. From the outset, our Peugeot 307 SW seemed well equipped for the journey. It was the Range-topping SE model, which meant figure-hugging leather sports seats, a 5-disc dash-mounted CD changer, cruise and climate control. Powering the whole thing was Peugeot's always-impressive 136bhp 2.0-litre HDi common-rail diesel engine and that was mated to a pleasantly pliable six-speed manual gearbox. Being an SW, it offered a large load area out back, which easily consumed our luggage without the need for any overspill onto the rear seats. We booked a chalet through Peak Retreats ( www.peakretreats.co.uk ), a leading ski holiday company with various types of accommodation at resorts across the French Alps, and they arRanged everything from ferry crossings with P&O, to lift passes and ski hire. That lot sorted, all we needed to worry about was getting there.

With a few welcome Zs caught on the ferry and a few cans of Red Bull downed while waiting on the car deck, things were looking up as the 307 rolled onto home soil. A few kilometres from the port and we were on the Autoroute heading south through the mist and the gathering dawn. The 307's HDi diesel engine is one of the best units of its type and on the flawless surfaces of the French motorway network, the car cruised quietly at 130kmph (81mph) displaying composure you'd more readily associate with far larger vehicles.

"Whether you're off skiing or traveling closer to home, the 307 SW XSi HDi is a highly competent family vehicle."

The cruise control came into its own on this leg. Mounted on a steering column stalk, the controls fell easily to hand and, once engaged, the system provided welcome respite for a weary right foot. Although not really in keeping with the 307 SW's family friendly character, the leather sports seating proved comfortable for long trips with the pronounced side bolsters giving good support and a central armrest folding down to give the old elbow a break. The actual driving position could have been better with the angles of seat back and steering wheel proving difficult to tally. The dash-mounted CD auto-changer was a welcome feature: traditional boot-housed set-ups are next to useless on such trips because simply changing CDs becomes a 'luggage out' job.

Reims. Dijon. Lyon. Grenoble. eventually each one came and went. Then it was time to leave the eerily quiet French toll roads for the drive into the mountains and to the chalet for a long sleep. After arriving in darkness, the mountain vista around Les Deux Alpes came as a striking morning surprise. The sun played across the snowbound peaks as we headed into town. Picking up our skis at La Skirie in Les Deux Alpes, the 307 SW was equal to the task once again. It may only be a small estate based on a family hatchback but the load area proved almost as accommodating as Thierry the shop manager. Each of the rear seats slides forward individually and with just one of these in its furthest forward position, two sets of skis and poles can be laid diagonally across the load bay floor. Another option would be to remove the middle seat entirely, sticking the skis through the resulting gap and there will doubtless be plenty of others too, hidden within the 307's contortionist interior. A load net is provided to restrain items in the rear and a roller blind cover can be extended to shield the boot's contents from prying eyes.

On the mountain roads around Les Deux Alpes, the 307 SW was less at home than on the vast expanses of motorway. The suspension is definitely biased towards comfort rather than sharp handling so the car can feel a little ungainly when pushed but grip never seemed in short supply. Sportiness, of course, is not this vehicle's purpose in life and it remained a pleasant, comfortable drive even through the most extravagant bends. The steering was well weighted, although lacking in sharpness and feedback, while the abundant torque from the HDi engine made short work of steep inclines. The 307's thick 'A' pillars don't help visibility in tight corners, so much head swaying was called for through the 21 hairpins on the road up to Alpe d'Huez but the panoramic glass roof was handy for making the most of the scenery.

The week completed and all things considered, our Peugeot 307 SW made an impressive showing of itself. Its best asset has to be the engine, which, while smooth and inconspicuous on a long motorway stretch, feels muscular at low speeds and is well able to pour on the acceleration when required. The return journey (during which we averaged just over 40mpg) wouldn't have been complete without a stop off at the Calais hypermarkets and even the additional weight of some cut-price booze on the back seat left the power plant unperturbed. The cabin had a spacious big car ambience and was well constructed with simple controls for the various systems. The tailgate seemed to attract an inordinate amount of grime on the trip and, when folded down, the centre armrest can obstruct gear changes but these are minor quibbles. Whether you're off skiing or travelling closer to home, the 307 SW XSi HDi is a highly competent family vehicle.

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