Peugeot 306 Estate (97-02) - Review

Review by Parkers on
The 306 estate makes a good case for itself as a cost-effective and practical solution to everyday family motoring. The load area is a decent size and there's a wide range of engines and trim levels. And as it was launched in 1997, there's a wide range of plates, too, making it affordable to most budgets.
2.5 out of 5

Safety

Three-star Euro NCAP rating and ABS was optional on most early cars. Standard across the range from 1999. Passenger airbags standard from around the same time. Effective immobiliser and alarm, but locks can be relatively easily beaten.

NCAP Test

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  • Adult Occupant Rating

    3 out of 5
  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    1 out of 5
3 out of 5

Reliability

Generally good, apart from some niggling faults. Some cars are now 11 years old. Service history is essential on diesels, desirable on petrol engines.

Car check problem points

Body

Check for badly resprayed accident damage.

Engine/Gearbox

Noisy or smoky diesels probably have very high mileages; oil and coolant leaks; can be a bit noisy when cold; defective accelerator linkage gives jerky throttle response. Check for a smooth gearbox, too.

Other

Minor electrical problems, especially electric window lifts; check for unevenly worn front tyres.

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