On realising that this roadtest deals with the Peugeot 307 SW 2.0-litre HDi, your first question might be to establish what exactly the 'SW' stands for? With a raft of hatchbacks available as well as estate versions, it is hard to see where the SW fits in the line-up. Many hacks assumed that SW meant 'Station Wagon' but Peugeot soon discounted this, as it was too reminiscent of an estate.

So what is an SW? It is not an acronym certainly but it is an attempt by Peugeot to offer customers the benefits of a mini-MPV without actually calling it an MPV. Their subterfuge is revealed, however, by the option of a third row of seats that allows the 307 SW to compete with cars like the Vauxhall Zafira and the Toyota Corolla Verso - at least in theory.

Without the additional seats, the 307 SW proves a spacious family-friendly vehicle with a capacious rear luggage area. The addition of the Euro IV compliant 2.0-litre HDi diesel engine significantly increases the power output from the 110bhp 1.6-litre unit that represents the next step down the SW ladder. With an aluminium 16-valve cylinder head, a second-generation high-pressure Siemens injection system and a variable geometry turbocharger, this is an advanced unit and there's also abundant low down torque, allowing a lot of flexibility when pulling away in a higher gear. A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard.

On the road, the 307 SW 2.0-litre HDi is extremely agile and easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces despite it's larger size. The extra bulk does little to alter the 307's fundamentally excellent balance, if anything lending a slightly suppler feel to proceedings. The vehicle is priced at £18,300 in SE trim. The 2.0-litre 16-valve HDi unit gives the 307 SW a useful turn of foot, sprinting to 60mph in 10.8 seconds and reaching an admirable 123mph where driving conditions allow. Fuel economy comes in at a very respectable 50.4 on the combined cycle and emissions won't do the taxman any favours either at only 148g/km.

"When configured in standard five-seat mode, the 307 SW is basically just the standard 307 Estate with a few clever lifestyle gizmos."

The large load-lugging area comes courtesy of the 100mm grafted into the 307 hatch's wheelbase and has given the car a much more elegant look, the elongated rear balancing the 307's lofty roofline quite superbly. When configured in standard five-seat mode, the 307 SW is basically just the standard 307 Estate with a few clever lifestyle gizmos. What makes things interesting is when it's specified in seven-seat guise. Then it plays the mini-MPV role. Yes, space for all seven passengers is admirable but, like all such cars, you will have nowhere to put the passenger's luggage when they are all seated inside. Having said that, if you need a mini-MPV and don't like the genre's traditionally anorak image, this car could make a lot of sense.

In common with other MPV-like vehicles, the 307 SW does well in the versatility stakes. Each of the rear seats are interchangeable which means that there are a suitably vast number of seating permutations. For additional legroom, simply remove the middle row of seats or, if you've bought the five-door version, shift the three rear seats back a row. Alternatively you can take all the seats out to liberate 2,082 litres of space.

The 307 SW 2.0-litre HDi 136 incorporates a number of MPV-style features and these include cavernous front door bins to carry a 1.5-litre bottle and sliding underseat storage trays. Fold down tables figure on the front seat backs and there are auxiliary 12v power sockets so that the young ones can be rendered silent by means of the Nintendo Cosh. As well as the 307's trademark huge windscreen, the SW also adds a panoramic glass roof that arcs back over the driver and first row of seats. With such an enormous glazed area, it's easy to imagine what it feels like to be a microwaved turkey but fortunately the standard air-conditioning system is well up to par. The 307 SW even features an air-conditioned glove box to prevent Mars Bars turning into reminders of your first trip to India and cargo nets in the hatch to stop luggage from looking like it's been on a spin cycle after spirited driving.

Today's 307 shares the distinctive front end that we first saw pop-up on the 407 and the 1007. The gaping air-intake in the front bumper, huge headlamps and shortened bonnet with pronounced side ridges all mark the car out. The rear light clusters get a 'Chrome Red' finish as well. Inside there's, a revised instrument panel with new graphics and chrome surrounds for all the dials, aluminium detailing on the centre console and revised controls for the air-con system and the stereo.

As would befit a family-oriented car, the 307 SW 2.0-litre HDi offers impeccable safety provision, being one of the few cars at this price point to feature six airbags as standard. In addition to the familiar twin front and side bags, curtain airbags protect both front and rear passengers from flying glass and side impact in the event of an accident. Active head restraints, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, automatic hazard light deployment under heavy braking and fuel supply cut-offs combine to make the 307 an impressively safe environment for the family.

So, the Peugeot 307 SW 2.0-litre HDi 136 offers a roomy and versatile family car that does everything you would want from such a vehicle. The admirable 2.0-litre diesel engine certainly enhances the driving qualities of the car but family buyers may be more interested in the impressive fuel economy figure.

TOP 1 307 DEALS

The results below show the top 307 deals on buyacar

	Peugeot 307 2.0 HDi SE 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £280	Saving £4,476	Price £14,564

typical 12.07% APR

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