﻿- Can we all agree the French know how to do a makeover? This is the new Peugeot
308 hatch and it pushes into premium territory, both in terms of design and
price but is there substance to back up this newfound style? Let's check it out.
The new Peugeot 308 comes in three model grades, entry level GT hatch, mid spec GT premium hatches
tested here and top spec GT premium wagon. Price hikes see the 308 positioned well above
the 40K mark these days with higher spec GT premium variance topping out at around 50K.
Although not unheard of, that's a tough ask in the small car segment. For that level of investment,
you could get into a Volkswagen Golf GTI or entry level variance from Audi A3 to BMW 1
series or Mercedes-Benz A class. None of that changes the fact that this Peugeot is packed
full of kit as standard. And there's no denying the 308 GT in Olivin Green is a looker. We love
the shop styling. It's the first vehicle to wear the smart newly designed Peugeot logo too. It's
giving Porsche meets Ferrari meets Lamborghini vibes. The new Grille and LED lights are striking
and give this car quite a strong and chiseled front end. A panoramic glass roof and aiding inch
matte black alloys differentiate it from the entry level GT hatch. All Peugeot 308's are powered by
a carryover 1.2 liter three cylinder turbo petrol engine driving the front wheels via an eight speed
automatic transmission although there is a plug-in hybrid soon joining the ranks. It's got a top
speed of 209 kilometers per hour and will hit 100 kilometers per hour in 9.7 seconds. Those kind of
numbers and outputs lag behind segment rivals but the 308 is not a hot hatch, so let's keep it real.
I love the 308's exterior so I'm happy to see that the interior is just as swish and it's a
good step forward for Peugeot. It's also not a clone or a copycat of its rivals. This interior
and this car in fact really does stand on its own. The electric adjust heated driver's seat
with massage function and two positioned memory is comfortable and offers good adjustability,
this feels like a premium fit and finish. For a small vehicle, there's a decent level of in
cabins and storage including two cup holders, a litted armrest and inductive phone charging pad,
indoor storage for a drink bottle or similar and a glove box. The new multimedia interface
is really good. This screen looks great but it's also quick to respond to touch. You'll find here,
quick command buttons for Apple CarPlay or navigation, and then these shortcut buttons
here are for your climate control and drive assist technology and that premium focal 10
speaker sound system does a really good job of filling this little cabin with sound.
All the must have features are accounted for as well as wireless connection for Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto and sophisticated voice control thanks to Peugeot iConnect system,
as well as a three year subscription to internet connected 3D navigation system.
This digital instrumentation panel is really cool. It looks good. It's easy to scroll through
the information and it changes its look and feel depending on what drive mode you're in. It's clear
and easy to read but it's a fine art to get your seat and steering wheel in the right position. The
wheel often obstructs the screen in particular the Speedo. So your ideal driving position will
change depending on your height, your size, and your preferences but it really is worth noting.
Tell you what though, a head up display would fix some of this. At GT premium level, you also get
a 360 degree camera with front side and rear view plus an opening panoramic glass sunroof.
Safety tick is good on all 308's regardless of model grade. Active lane positioning assist the
only advanced driver assist feature missing from the entry level GT hatch. The second
row is pretty nice. These outboard seats are large and comfy so they're great for kids and
also fine for adults. This center seat is little compromised in terms of headroom and leg room,
but it's there if you need it. It's nice to see that the use of quality materials
also continues through here with really nice finishes. There are back of seat storage nets,
two directional air vents, two charge points and room for a bottle in the indoor storage. There are
two ice of expositions and three top tether anchor points. There's no armrest or cup holders though.
There's a hard cargo cover, four anchor points and a light, there's no spare tire though, just an
inflater kit. Nor is there an electric tailgate or any smart hands free opening but there's a decent
load space at hand and you've got 60-40 split fold seats for that extra flexibility. So far it's
ticked a lot of boxes but I bet you're all keen to see how this thing drives. So let's get to it.
When you first jump behind the wheel, there's this nice sort of sense of anticipation. It feels
fresh, modern and it feels sporty Cross-stitching here, nice squared off steering wheel. It's the
kind of interior that feels a little bit special and brings a smile to your face sort of every
time you get in the car. On the go, you realize that yes, it's modern, but no it's not terribly
sporty. This small capacity engine does a great job, but within its limits. Talk does
kick in pretty early in the rev range and on the go it's highly responsive to the throttle inputs,
breaks work well too. Drive modes of eco normal and sport change the feel and the focus.
It's a really fun drive. It's quite engaging. It's got crisp steering and nice feedback through the
wheel and it's small proportions. I mean, it feels pretty nimble per, you know it's great
for city-based commuting on that note. There is some lag from standstill however so that can leave
you wanting particularly when you're negotiating like a tight parking space or something like that,
you'll need a soft approach to the throttle and a little bit of patience, but I'm getting there.
Overall, ride comfort is very good. The suspension setup, McPherson strut in the front and torsion
beam in the rear it leans towards firm, but it's not overly harsh. This 308 is a step ahead in
terms of refinement in a very nice package. It's also pretty quiet in this cabin too. The turbo
petrol engine is pretty efficient with acclaimed combined use of 5.3 liters per 100 kilometers.
So Ford and Sideways vision is good, but that sloping roof line makes it a little tricky for
the quarters. The 308 GT is a great steer and a lot of fun behind the wheel. It is, however,
a drive that requires a measured throttle in some circumstances. Don't be fooled by
sleek looks and GT badge though it's not a sports car, it just looks like one. Warranty
periods apart for the course and 3 or 5-year cap price service plan brings peace of mind.
The new Peugeot 308 GT is good in GT premium guys even better, but the strong competition
significantly dampens the value equation. There's less quirkiness and more substance in this small
hatch and Peugeot unique style remains a point of difference and that in itself may make the
slightly too high price tag something you can justify. Putting aside a couple of minor
ergonomic niggles and a sensitive throttle, there's a lot that I like about this vehicle.
Considered against its rivals, the 308's good looks would probably almost get me over the line
to be honest and I know I'm not alone in that regard. And in every other respect the 308 GT
has gained ground on its segment leaders and in time it may well be one of them, just not yet.