Ten Second Review

The Peugeot 308 improves again, this time getting cleaner styling and cleaner engines to boot. Otherwise the formula is much the same - plenty of space, a well-styled cabin and road manners that are perfectly acceptable for all but the most demanding.

Background

The development of Peugeot's family hatches has quite a common bond with spinning plates. Just as it gets one thing right, another facet to the car drops away. Think back to the 306. This was a car that looked good, drove brilliantly but was offered sub-standard quality and practicality. Its replacement, the 307 was the polar opposite, Peugeot devoting so much resource to creating plenty of space and improving the finish that it was deathly dull to drive and its bottom-feeder face was hard to warm to. With the 308, Peugeot tried to bring all the elements together and nearly succeeded. Despite being built on the same platform as the 307 it was better to drive and had more efficient engines. Thing is, it was hardly much better looking. Until now that is. Peugeot has given the 308's styling a thorough reworking and the look is far more successful. Has the French company finally cracked it?

Driving Experience

The problem with fixing one issue is that it can merely serve to bring another into sharper focus. The Peugeot 308's styling was so contentious that it dominated discussion. Now that it's been tidied up, the car's ride and handling will come under more intense scrutiny. Driven at 7/10ths, the 308 feels decently composed, but push any harder and the limitations of its torsion beam rear suspension make themselves felt, not least by letting mid-corner bumps be felt through the cabin. It's a more supple car than the old 307 and there's far less kickback through the steering, but the 308 has never been the most invigorating drive. But if you're not interested in hustling it along, there's not too much to offend. The controls are well weighted and the brakes excellent, but the windscreen pillars are a bit chunkier than is ideal, something you'll notice on very twisty roads or at roundabouts. Peugeot has also optimised the 308 to return decent economy and emissions and as a result the upper gears are usually very long, diluting the engine's flexibility with the smaller-engined models. But the crisp and eager-to-rev 120bhp 1.6 VTi motor has enough go not to leave you wishing you'd bought the next model up.

Design and Build

The gaping mouth school of design has thankfully been consigned to history and the latest 308 is a far cleaner looking vehicle than its predecessor. Gone is the proboscis nose of the old 308 too, replaced by a less ostentatious bonnet. Also ditched is the incongruous plastic bar that ran across the grille. LED headlights and running lights feature for the first time in a look that's more minimalist but still clearly Peugeot. The basic dimensions remain largely unchanged, with the high-rise roof line creating a roomy and airy interior. The long front overhang of the 308 helps hide the impression of a short, tall car, creating a wedge-shaped profile that brings a sportier element to the car's shape. 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. If you need more room, there's an SW estate version with up to 2,149 litres of space. Build quality is better than many give it credit for and the design effort that's gone into making the interior look interesting is a welcome relief from the usual black and grey treatments favoured by German manufacturers.

Market and Model

There's a huge range of engines, trims and body styles to choose from. As well as the familiar hatchback body, there's also an SW estate and a CC coupe convertible. Peugeot's jaw-dropping RCZ coupe was also spawned from the 308 floorpan and that drives extremely well, demonstrating that if Peugeot had a mind to, it could make the hatchback a bit naughtier. Prices start at just over £15,000 (or just under £17,000 for this 1.6) and there are four diesel and three other petrol engines to choose from, ranging from a 92bhp diesel right up to the 200bhp petrol unit. Equipment levels are strong across a completely revised trim structure with Access, SR, Active and Allure and GT levels. All models feature air conditioning, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), anti lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, emergency brake assist, front and rear electric windows with child security, remote control central door locking with deadlocks and six airbags.

Cost of Ownership

As you'd hope from a 1.6, economy and emissions are more than reasonable. The 120bhp unit returns a combined consumption of 43.5mpg and should get close to 50mpg with a light right foot on a long run. CO2 emissions with manual transmission are rated at 147g/km. Adding to the cost effectiveness, insurance premiums shouldn't scare potential suitors too much, as the 1.6 VTi is rated at just group 14. Measures aimed at improving efficiency include a mean weight reduction of 25 kg across the range, the fitment of 16" ultra low rolling resistance tyres , Euro V certification for all petrol and diesel engines and a drag coefficient of just 0.28 for the low consumption models, again a record for the class. Depreciation is about average for a mainstream family hatch as is insurance, so there are no really big surprises to dent the monthly budget.

If you’re looking for a new Peugeot 308 1.6 Vti Allure 5Dr Petrol Hatchback for sale, you’ve come to the right place. At Bristol Street Motors we don’t just have the best Peugeot 308 1.6 Vti Allure 5Dr Petrol Hatchback deals, we also offer friendly advice and help with all your enquiries to ensure your buying experience is a happy experience.

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