Peugeot 308 Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Peugeot 308 range
Prices: £14,895-£25,395 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-15
Emissions: 120-185g/km
Performance: [1.6 HDi 110] 0-60mph 11.3s/ Max Speed 119mph
Fuel Consumption: [1.6 HDi 110 SW] (urban) 44.1mpg / (extra urban) 70.6mpg / (combined) 57.7mpg
Safety: seven airbags / ABS & EBD
Dimensions: [5dr] Length/Width/Height mm 4276/1821/1519

LOVE AND 8

Our Rating: 7.6 / 10

306, 307 and now 308. Peugeot’s family hatch dynasty continues but has this model got enough to challenge the class leaders? Steve Walker reports…

What exactly are the average family hatchback buyer’s real priorities? With their 308, Peugeot reckon they’ve got them covered.

If you didn’t know what a Peugeot 308 looked like, you could probably make an educated guess, the Peugeot family face having spread to all corners of the model range with its elongated feline headlamps and that dentist’s chair gape. A surprise the 308 may not be but Peugeot is confident that it has a shock or two in store for its family hatch rivals.

There are numerous engine options for persons interested in a 308 to mull over. The entry-level petrol contingent employs Peugeot’s VTi technology using variable valve timing and lift to adapt the combustion process according to the demands being placed on the engine by the driver. The system gives optimum performance when you want it and improved economy when you don’t. The 1.4-litre unit produces 95bhp while the 1.6-litre alternative has 120bhp and is available with a four-speed automatic gearbox in lieu of the standard five-speed manual.

The next step up is the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine THP. In the 308, this powerplant develops 156bhp or 200bhp and even the less powerful model is capable of covering the 0-60mph sprint in 8.8s. The diesel range consists of Peugeot’s excellent HDi common-rail diesel engines. There’s a 1.6-litre unit offered in 90 or 110bhp form and a 2.0-litre 136bhp option topping the range that will get from a standstill to 60mph in 10.1s.

The 308 inherits the taller than average roofline that the 307 used to good effect in creating a roomy and airy interior but by shaving 12mm from its height while growing in terms of both length (by 74mm) and width (by 85mm), it achieves a far more dynamic stance than the old car. The long front overhang of the 308 adds to this impression, creating a wedge-shaped profile that brings a further sporty element to the car’s shape. If you need more room, there’s an SW estate version with up to 2,149 litres of space.

Those familiar with the Peugeot 207 supermini will find plenty they recognise in the 308 but the key differences on the larger car are the prominent V-shaped bonnet that extends down from the base of the A-pillars on a raised plain and the huge oblong foglights. The rear of the 308 has more of a bulbous look to it, helping to maximise luggage space that runs to 430 litres and can be extended to 1,398 litres by folding the rear seats.

The interior takes a sober but classy approach. It feels notably more upmarket than inside of the 307 and even more spacious. The higher specification models in the range are embellished with liberal use of chrome and all derivatives benefit from expensive looking plastics with the lighter colour options proving particularly eye-catching. The middle section of the dash slopes down into the centre console bringing its controls closer to the driver and creating a snug cockpit effect but you sit a long way back from the base of the steeply raked windscreen with a huge expanse of dashboard to look out across. This, combined with the 308’s long front overhang, may present problems when manoeuvring but the A-pillars, a constant impediment to the driver’s view in the 307, appear much thinner for improved visibility.

Most buyers choose between five-door hatch or SW estate bodystyles but there’s also an attractive CC metal folding roof coupe convertible to consider. A wide range of trim levels are available kicking off with the Urban