When you think of a spacious and practical estate car, an image of something boring and box-shaped springs to mind.

With its dynamic-looking silhouette, the Peugeot 508 SW is out to shatter that stereotypical view.

The estate version of the French firm’s eye-catching 508 boasts a low roof and stunning flowing lines interspersed by stylish design flourishes, such as the nicely-integrated roof spoiler.

Meanwhile, the boot-lid proudly displays well-spaced Peugeot lettering, with the company's crest mounted centrally just below.

And frameless doors give this vehicle the type of aesthetics more commonly associated with premium manufacturers.

Plus there are full-LED headlights, weaved in nicely with the gorgeous grille and heavily-sculpted bonnet.

The vehicle's angular rear end couldn't be any further removed from the estate cars of yesteryear, which sometimes gave the impression of a large box bolted onto the back of a standard car.

So the days of the humble station wagon have gone, it would seem.

With the 508, Peugeot has successfully transferred the bold styling traits of the regular saloon to the estate stablemate - something many manufacturers have tried and failed to do over the years.

Once inside, you’re greeted with a cockpit that feels, well, very special indeed.

Immediately drawing the eye is the row of silver switches laid out beautifully just below the infotainment screen.

Only the most unimaginative of motorists could press one of these switches without picturing themselves as a pianist or pilot.

At the wheel, you find yourself positioned in front of a further enhanced version of Peugeot's i-Cockpit dashboard layout.

With the steering wheel being of the small and sporty variety, you end up looking over the top of the wheel to see the instrument dials, unlike many vehicles where you look through the wheel to see such information.

It all helps the 508 experience to feel unique, original and different.

The large 10-inch touchscreen and slightly larger head-up digital instrument panel are clear, crisp and easy to read.

It's only when you look lower down the car's doors and centre console that you start to find some cheaper, scratchier plastics, but they're hardly intrusive.

The driver and front seat passenger have bags of space to stretch out, although things get a bit tighter in the back, where a tall adult sat behind a six foot driver might find the journey somewhat cramped.

In terms of performance, the 508 estate behaves in much the same way as the saloon version - and that’s a good thing.

The steering is accurate, fast and weighty, while the car feels well-planted and nimble in the corners for what is, after all, a fairly bulky machine. A multi-link suspension system certainly enhances the driving experience.

The turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel motor feels plenty powerful enough, performing the sprint to 62mph in 8.4 seconds. And the eight-speed fully automatic box is a slick-shifter, feeling responsive to throttle inputs.

Higher-end models have adaptive damping, while all variants come with a drive mode system to change feel of the steering, throttle and gears to fit in with the driver’s mood.

Prices start a fair way under £30,000 but - as you work your way up the trim trail -the price can rocket above £40,000 depending on how many options you select.

For that price, it offers everything that many more premium rivals offer in this segment.

There are several estate cars that could claim to be slightly more practical, but there aren't any that match the 508 when it comes to style and panache.

In conclusion, it offers a flexible and eye-catching interior, decent levels of performance and a large amount of Gallic flair.

Peugeot 508 SW GT BlueHDi 180

PRICE: £38,245 on the road

CO2 EMISSIONS: 124g-125 g/km

ENGINE: 2.0-litre turbo diesel, in-line 4 cylinder transverse

TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed fully automatic

MAX SPEED: 144 mph

0-62MPH: 8.4 secs

ECONOMY: 47.1mpg combined