LET'S get the obvious out of the way first - the Peugeot 508 SW is a very good-looking, stylish car. At least, I think it is. It's certainly much better looking than most estate cars out there, even if it's not the biggest.

At just 1.42m in height and 4.78m long, the Peugeot's new proportions give it an extremely sharp and dynamic body shape, stylised by smooth flowing lines and a sleek, low roof.

The striking design is further enhanced further by frameless doors - a unique estate car feature for a mainstream car maker - and the vertical visual signature of its opalescent LED daytime running lights.

And, although it isn't the largest estate on the roads, it is still a fantastically practical family motor with a plush, spacious, modern, high-quality interior kitted out with and of new technology. A good thing because the majority of 508 buyers choose the SW model.

It's available in Active, Allure, GT Line and GT trims and with a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The GT Line being the big seller.

Like the rest of the range, it features the latest generation of Peugeot's innovative i-Cockpit with its configurable 12.3-inch head-up digital instrument panel.

This means you can read all important information over the top of the multi-function steering wheel instead of having to peer through it.

The GT Line is actually equipped with Peugeot i-Cockpit Amplify, which allows its owners to change the interior lighting balance as well as the engine note (if they really find it necessary).

Infotainment and navigation is covered by a 10-inch dashboard touchscreen though there are some welcome piano-key shortcut buttons too. MirrorLink with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also included.

The stylish interior of the GT Line also features ultra-comfortable, electrically-adjustable, wraparound front seats with five-point massage programmes for those long journeys.

Others features include a 180-degree colour reversing camera, a panoramic opening glass sunroof and, a top of the range audio system from French sound specialists FOCAL.

Despite the low roofline, space in the rear is generous with plenty of leg and headroom for taller adults.

And, despite not being the largest estate in its class, there's plenty of loadspace too. A ‘Magic Flat' function allows the driver to fold back the two sides of the rear bench seat, so the 508 SW is never short of space. It boasts a total load capacity of 1,780 litres - or 530 litres in the boot with luggage cover closed.

Although the sporty, compact steering wheel feels a little on the tiddly side for such a large car, the 508 SW is a pleasure to drive. With its smooth, eight-speed automatic gearbox, (only the 1.5-litre diesel comes with a six-speed manual) it's easy and relaxing to drive with plenty of oomph available should you need it. That said, the cruise control controls are still hidden out of sight behind the steering wheel.

It's not really meant to be thrown through the corners on twisty B-roads but it handles well, feeling rapid and determined if you allow it to be, especially using its paddleshifts.

Officially it returns up to 52.9mpg though I managed 40.3mpg, even with judicious use of eco mode.

As a family vehicle, safety is paramount and as you would expect, it comes with a host of safety features, including Emergency Brake Assist and speed limit recognition and recommendation, adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function, lane keeping assist, and blind spot detection.