Peugeot 206SW
2003-02-24 10:53
The 206 SW heralds the arrival of the fourth platform in the 206 stable, and represents another step towards providing the motoring public with the most comprehensive range of lifestyle vehicles available.
In creating the 206 SW, three primary characteristics were identified for the 206 SW: it had to retain the user-friendliness and compact size of the 206, it had to have the character and performance of a sports car, and finally it needed the functionality of a traditional estate.
Unlike the 307 SW, the 206 SW retains the 2.44 metre wheelbase of its hatchback cousin, but gets an extra 190mm of overall length, for a dimension of 4.03 metres from nose to tail.
The entire front structure is essentially unchanged but from the B-pillar rearwards the changes are more meaningful.
Both the B- and C-pillars have been straightened by one millimetre to adapt to the new body sides, and the rear wheel arches have been partly redesigned, while the roof and its lateral reinforcing are completely new.
Right at the back of the loading floor - which is now just 53cm above ground level - is another transverse box to add rigidity to the assembly, while the tailgate itself has an inner panel and stiffeners in key areas.
To stay in line with the vehicle's sleek appearance, the rear doorhandles are recessed into the trailing edges of the door pillars, in a grained black finish.
The smoked rear glass is opened separately by pressing a button on the key fob or by an electronic switch under the license plate trim, which lift the glass away from the tailgate frame slightly.
When viewed from behind, rear aesthetic appeal is maintained by the ruby-coloured taillight clusters, mounted high up for visibility and flanking the five milimetre thick glass.
The black rear spoiler links these lamp units, and incorporates a third LED brakelight.
Furthermore, the roof bars add another dimension to versatility. They're made of extruded aluminium with a black finish, measure approximately one metre in length, and can carry a load of 75 kilograms when fitted with the optional transverse bars.
Suspension and drivetrain
The SW uses the same basic suspension layout as the rest of the 206 range, and benefits from a recent round of upgrades and refinements to that car's underpinnings.
Front suspension is by pseudo McPherson struts, with a lower control arm and an anti-roll bar.
As part of the broader 206 upgrade, the mounting point between the lower control arm and the front subframe has been strengthened and the anti-roll bar diameter increased.
All 206s also have firmer front dampers and longer bump stops.
There is a unique layout for the rear suspension, specific to the SW's station wagon use, and features a body-mounted light alloy plate connected to the crosspiece of the trailing arm axle to prevent any changes in the vehicle track under a transverse load.
The suspension medium remains by torsion bars, with an anti-roll bar (now one mm thicker) and hydraulic dampers completing the picture.
Power in the 206 SW is derived from the same proven 1.6 litre power train used in five-door hatch and CC models, which means there is 80 kW available at 5 750 revs/min and 147 Nm at 4 000 revs/min. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
The car has an all-disc ABS system, ventilated and measuring 266 mm at the front, and solid ones of 247 mm diameter at the back.
Interior
The 206 SW's raison d'être is the versatility it brings to compact, stylish family motoring, and not only does useable volume below a retractable cover increase to 313 litres
The rear seatback and cushion are split 60/40, enabling the creation of a long, flat load, maximum loading length enhanced still further by a front seat that can fold forward.
The cabin architecture is the same as in the hatch, but there is a sensation of heightened spaciousness in the back of the SW. This is because the windows in the redesigned rear doors are slightly larger.
There is also a slight increase in rear headroom due to the new design of the roof.
All South African 206SWs are equipped to XS level. The front occupants get firm, sportily bolstered seats, and a leather-rimmed three-spoke wheel and gearshift gaiter heightens the atmosphere.
The car has a trip computer, radio/CD frontloader and climate control. Other standard features include electric windows front and rear, driver and passenger airbags, electrically adjusted mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and satellite controls on the steering column for the sound system.
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