Peugeot 308 Review

Performance4/5

There are plenty of Peugeot 308 performance options available with seven engines to choose from – four petrol and three diesels. The entry level 1.4 litre petrol would not be the preferred option, but the other three petrols, all 1.6 litre, are all worth considering. The most powerful of these, the 1.6 THP GT, can reach a top speed (should you need it) of 147 mph, sprints from 0-62 mph in 7.7 seconds and offers 200 bhp. Of the diesel choices, the 1.6 e-HDi 112bhp model is likely to be the winner. With a top speed of 118 mph and a sprint capability of 0-62 mph in 12.5 seconds, it is likely to tick most Peugeot 308 buyers’ boxes.

Handling3.5/5

You can be assured of a quiet ride in the Peugeot 308 – there’s little in the way of road, wind or engine noise – but not necessarily a smooth one. The suspension is just a little firm and you will be aware of all but the smallest lumps and bumps you pass over. The car takes well to motorways and the Peugeot 308’s handling holds its own on twisty roads too, although some may find it too heavy to be nippy. It does have good grip – but the 308 will be hard pushed to match up to rivals such as the Ford Focus in the handling department.

Exterior4/5

The Peugeot 308 has undergone a certain amount of cosmetic surgery, resulting in a sleeker, slimmer and more contemporary image. It features integrated LED lights in the bumper and wrap around headlights; all in all, a good looker.

Interior3/5

Driver comfort does not seem to have been at the top of Peugeot’s agenda – the steering wheel and pedals are offset too far to the left, fiddly dials and switches are not easy to manipulate and the rear view is hampered by large rear pillars. There has been an attempt to give a more upmarket feel to the Peugeot 308’s interior with new materials, but the makers have not gone quite far enough with this. Boot space is reasonably generous with a fairly average 348 litres expanding to 1398 litres with the back seats folded and front seats moved forward a tad. Either way, accessing the boot is made more of a pain because of the high sill restricting its entrance. The Peugeot 308’s legroom is a bit tight for rear passengers although headroom is more generous – two six footers may be comfortable enough; three may feel a little too cosy.

Equipment4/5

The Peugeot 308 comes in six trim levels – starting with the entry level Access and moving up through the Active, SR, Allure, Sportium and GT. The Access comes with a decent range of equipment, including power steering, reach and rake steering column, electric windows, remote control central locking, air conditioning, radio/cd player with MP3 playback, 6 SMART airbags, various safety systems, 15 inch wheels and a rear sports bumper. The more you fork out, obviously, the more Peugeot 308 equipment you will get so that, by the time you reach the Sportium, 17 inch Dark Stromboli alloys, dual zone climate control, alarm, red detailed trim seats, carpet mats and seatbelts, aluminium decor, white sports dials, sports front grille, LED day running lights, front fog lights auto rain sensing front wipers and other such niceties will have been thrown into the mix.

Safety4/5

The Peugeot 308 was awarded an overall five stars in the EuroNCAP ratings – five for adult occupant protection, four for child occupants and three for pedestrian protection. Six airbags come as standard as does electronic stability control. It has recently been rated higher in owners’ reliability surveys than in the past – all of which is rather reassuring.

Buying & Owning4/5

The Peugeot 308 compares well, price-wise, alongside other similar family hatchbacks and Peugeot dealers are often willing to offer discounts. Once the purchase has been made, the car is reasonably economical to run – the 112 bhp 1.6 e-HDi diesel, for instance, will deliver 70 mpg and emits a lowly 98g/km CO2; but all across the range are reasonably wallet-friendly to own. Things may not be quite so good when it comes to selling on though, as resale values are not good.

Reviewed by cars2buy