Earlier this year we drove the Peugeot 508 Fastback and we were very impressed.

So we were keen to see how its wagon sibling matched up.

If it’s possible to make an ‘estate’ – as they were once called – look better than a fastback, then Peugeot have tried very hard with the 508 SW.

We really like the look of it. It’s low slung and sleek.

In short, it’s a very sexy wagon.

Peugeot is very much in a sweet spot when it comes to making non-boring cars these days. There’s not a bad one among the range and the 508 SW really shows what it can do.

Standard spec is plentiful, with base Active getting lots of safety kit, as well as Bluetooth, USB, roof bars, climate control, rear parking sensors, navigation, digital radio, smartphone integration, 17in alloys, auto lights and auto wipers on the list.

Move up to Allure and you get the i-Cockpit, with 10in touchscreen, front parking sensors and rear camera, electric front seats and more.

GT Line gets plenty of interior and exterior detailing, wireless phone charging and bigger 18in alloys, while the GT spec we drove gets even more, including massage function on the front seats, leather trim, a premium hi-fi system and 19in alloys.

The diesel engine we tested, the 2.0 BlueHDI 180hp unit, packed plenty of punch, all delivered through the smooth eight-speed auto gearbox, while a six-speed manual is also available. It finds 62mph in 8.4 seconds and tops out at 144mph.

It’s an assured and sharp drive and a very comfortable cruiser.

We easily managed MPG in the mid 40s on the cruise, comparing favourable with on-paper figures of 45-50. That makes for at least 450 miles between fill-ups from its 55-litre tank.

At the top end of the engine range is the powerful 225hp petrol, which we tested in the fastback and even in eco mode is no slouch, but engage sport mode and it really wakes up and becomes a properly rapid car.

That’s reflected in the figures, with 62mph up in a not at all shabby 7.3 seconds.

But on the cruise back in eco mode it’s smooth and quiet and we managed 40mpg on the motorway, which compares favourably to its on-paper figures of 36-40.

The less powerful petrol is the 1.6, which still has 180hp and is nearly as rapid, making 62mph in 7.9 seconds. MPG is a little better, too, between 38 and 42.

Economy comes from the excellent diesels, with, aside from the one we drove, a 1.5 unit with 130hp or a 160hp version of the 2.0 lump.

MPG on the oil-burners is between 45 and 60 and CO2 gets as low as 99g/km.

On the inside you get a lovely interior with top materials and great angular design. It feels quality throughout. It’s all very cool.

There’s lots of room in the boot, with as much as 1,780 litres with the seats down.

Wagons don’t get much cooler than this, so if you want the extra space and practicality without compromising on style this is a great option.

Prices run from £27,160 to just shy of £41,000 for the First Edition – a few grand more than the fastback.