Item: Used Peugeot 306 Estate 1997 - 2003
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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<p dir="ltr">Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.</p>

<p dir="ltr">That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.</p>


PEUGEOT

<p>The Peugeot 306 Estate is a practical and pleasant-to-drive workhorse, but it's far from fault-free</p>


Used Peugeot 306 Estate 1997 - 2003

<p>With the range stretching back to 1997, prices are rock-bottom, especially if you go for the 1.4-litre. A good one won't be too expensive to run. Economy is impressive for a petrol engine at 42mpg.</p>

<p>The 2.0-litre petrol is best avoided thanks to its fuel economy of 31mpg. The 70bhp 1.9-litre non-turbo diesel returns 45mpg, while the 92bhp turbo unit is one mpg more fuel efficient.</p>

<p>The 90bhp, 2.0-litre HDi turbodiesel is the most fuel efficient at 54mpg, and its insurance is very reasonable, too. All diesels need to have an annual oil change, though. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/peugeot">Peugeot</a> dealers charge slightly more than the class average for service/repairs, but rates for independent experts are lower than for most makes.</p>

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The Peugeot 306 Estate is a practical and pleasant-to-drive workhorse, but it's far from fault-free

<p>A diesel engine is the one to go for, although not the 1.9 diesel. It pulls reasonably well low down the rev range, but it struggles in fifth gear on motorway hills. The turbocharged version has a more lively nature, but the best of all is the smoother, faster, more refined 2.0 HDi, which is our pick of the range.</p>

<p>As for the petrol units, the entry-level 1.4-litre engine produces 75bhp, but we wouldn't recommend it. Drive it on your own, and the performance feels reasonable, but once you factor in four more occupants and their luggage, it's all a bit of a struggle.</p>

<p>The 1.6-litre petrol restores some semblance of acceleration, and there are also 1.8-litre and two 2.0-litre petrol engines, one with eight valves and the other with 16.</p>

<p>Safety is not impressive by today's standards, with a three-star Euro NCAP crash test rating. However, if you get a car built after June 1999, it will at least have anti-lock brakes and twin airbags. At the same time, the range also received a face-lift with new headlamps and a more modern interior.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

<p>If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.</p>

<p>Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.</p>

<p>There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.</p>

<p>Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.</p>

<p>An unreliable Peugeot 306 estate can be expensive to fix if it goes wrong, and unfortunately they do tend to do this all too often. The list of faults leading to recalls is hideously long, and includes horrors such as the possibility of the driveshaft detaching from the gearbox and the potential collapse of the front suspension. It's a depressing picture.</p>

<p>Loose trim and frequent electrical glitches can cause misery for owners of high-mileage cars, with alarms, remote control central locking and air-con units playing up. Faulty engine control units are common, and all too often the flimsy cabin trim fails to stand the test of time.</p>

<p>If you're buying a car that has a large number of miles on the clock, and intend to use it to carry heavy loads regularly, it's worth having an expert check out the suspension. Worn dampers and heavily laden cars are a dangerous combination.</p>

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<p>When the Peugeot 306 Estate appeared, it managed to retain the hatchback's pretty looks. Happily, the load-lugger also held onto the hatchback's fine driving abilities. Even in estate form, it has a lively, precise and involved feel to its steering and chassis.</p>

<p>The ride is comfortable, too, and the suspension is well set up to cope with heavy loads. However, you need to be careful on wet roundabouts because the car snap out of line if you corner too quickly and lift off the accelerator abruptly.</p>

<p>Carrying cargo is no problem thanks to the generous load area, and passengers are also reasonably well catered for. However, there's not much headroom for tall passengers in the back, and the cabin has a dated and rather cheap appearance.</p>

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Used Peugeot 306 Estate 1997 - 2003 review

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Used Peugeot 306 Estate 1997 - 2003 review

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