Peugeot 308 CC HDi Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Peugeot 308CC HDi
Prices: £21,095 - £25,595 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 12-14
Emissions: 138-185g/km
Performance: [2.0 HDi 140] 0-60mph 11.1s/ Max Speed 129mph
Fuel Consumption: [2.0 HDi 140] (urban) 36.2mpg / (extra urban) 58.8mpg / (combined) 47.9mpg
Safety: six airbags / ABS & EBD / ESP
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height mm 4400/1817/1426

PREACHING TO THE CONVERTED

Our Rating: 7.6 / 10

The latest 308 CC proves Peugeot is really getting the hang of the folding hard-top lark. Steve Walker reports.

Peugeot is extremely proud of its long association with folding metal roofs. While there were those who questioned whether this particular addition to the field of automotive engineering is actually something of which to be proud, there can be no doubt that the French manufacturer has stuck firmly to its guns, playing the leading role in refining and popularising the technology. With the affordable folding hard-top car now commonplace, Peugeot is looking to reap the benefits of its longstanding commitment to the cause and with the 308 CC HDi diesel range, it’s perusing another sector of the market were manufacturers were once reluctant to tread.

It was the 206 CC that brought the folding hard-top to the masses in 2000 but Peugeot’s connection with removable overhead metalwork can be traced all the way back to 1934 and the 301 Eclipse. That the technology remained largely on the shelf for over 60 years says a lot about the cost and complexity associated with making it work in a mainstream car but having overcome that barrier, Peugeot has never looked back. In 2008, the 207 and 307 CC models accounted for over a quarter of the European folding hard-top market and hopes are high that the 308 CC can build on that performance.

The concept of the diesel convertible was once as under-used as that of the folding metal roof. The noise and emissions associated with the oil-burning engines of yesteryear meant they weren’t seen as ideal companions for cursing along the Riviera with the top down but that was then. Modern diesel engines like Peugeot’s HDi units are more than up to the task of powering an open-topped car in a refined manner without engulfing its occupants in smog. The 308 CC is available with a 1.6-litre HDi FAP engine as its entry-level option. It’s affordable but with 112bhp and that weighty roof to move about, performance isn’t spectacular. While that car manages a 12.2s sprint to 60mph, the 140bhp 2.0-litre HDi can do it in 11.1s and feels energetic through the gears thanks to 260Nm of torque. Refinement is also strong with the engine staying pleasantly hushed at cruising speed even with the roof down but there is quite a bit of wind and road noise booming around the cabin with the hood raised.

The 2.0-litre HDi diesel engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox which is more positive in its action than some of the marque’s previous efforts but still too long-throw. The alternative is the six speed automatic that suits the 308 CC and its engine extremely well but comes with a decrease in power to 136bhp. The 307 CC was fairly woeful from a keen driver’s perspective but the 308 CC feels a far more cohesive package on the road. The light steering doesn’t inspire confidence at speed but levels of body control and grip do impress as does the lack of vibration in the cabin. The heavily assisted steering comes into its own around town where parking manoeuvres are easy to execute.

The 308 CC can execute its switch from coupe to convertible in 20 seconds which is good going for a car of its size. The two piece roof concertinas into the boot area leaving 266 litres of the 465-litre capacity still available for luggage. The operation can take place at speeds of up to 7.5mph which will be handy if the heavens open while you’re stuck in traffic. Peugeot claims that the car is a full four-seater but with a couple of averagely proportioned occupants in the front, rear legroom is severely pinched and these seats would really only be suitable for children on a journey of any length.

Resolving the styling of a folding hard-top car is never straightforward with the need for a boot big enough to accommodate all that roof. Peugeot’s design team has made a reasonably successful stab at it, however, incorporating the Peugeot family front end with a rear deck that doesn’t look too bulbous from most angles. The car looks its best with the hood down but the sculpted flanks and front wheelarches add interest, as does a splitter cut into the rear bumper. The interior is a highpoint of the car displaying the robust build and classy materials that went down so well in the 308 hatch. The top spec models feature full leather trim which covers almost every available surface and adds