Our fleet: Peugeot 308SW 1.6 HDI 120 Allure - Dec 2014

I am renaming our long-term Peugeot 308 SW ‘the black hole’ because of its ability to consume anything that comes near it.

The rear of our estate has an extra 22cm of rear overhang and more space thanks to a longer wheelbase compared to the hatchback. This gives it a really useful 660-litres of space, when measured to the rear parcel shelf with the rear seats in place.

 It can even swallow up more than the larger 508SW, which offers 512 litres with the seats in place, up to its parcel shelf.

Our 308 practically generates its own gravitational pull and there is easily enough to consume a sales rep’s entire supply of samples without troubling the split-fold rear seats or the useful load-through hatch in the middle of the rear seat back.

Should you feel the need to transport a small planet, then a quick pull on the seat latches creates a completely flat load space that offers more than 1,500-litres of space.

Holding everything in place are a pair of very neat rail-mounted lashing points so any precious items don’t float around the rear void like an extra in Gravity.

It’s an impressive package, although the suitably space-like paint job isn’t my favourite. The choice of Nera Black paintwork tends to mask the more subtle styling cues of our Peugeot’s beautifully sculpted exterior.

A quick look into the local Peugeot dealership suggested that, in my view, Rioja Red is a more complimentary colour, or Aluminium if you want to be subtle.

John Maslen