Peugeot Launches New 308 | Industry News

Peugeot has worked hard to give the 308 a distinctive style that makes some of its competitors look dated. The low running costs offered by hybrid options are only part of the appeal of a hatchback. A premium look and feel with modern grille and those DRL fangs are what stand out on the 308.

The 308 engine range starts with a 1.2-litre petrol unit with 130bhp in Active trim which starts at €31,765. The standard 8 speed auto delivers smooth shifts and the 130 bhp 1.2 PureTech petrol engine gives a 0-100 km/h time of 9.7 seconds. There’s also a 1.5-litre diesel engine with 130 bhp and its fuel economy makes it a great option for high-mileage users.

There are two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions, the Hybrid 180 has a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 180 bhp – enough for 0-100 km/h in 7.6sec. The 12.4kWh battery pack offers a WLTP-certified electric-only range of more than 60 kilometres. The Hybrid 2 225, has the same engine but power is up to a combined 225 bhp using an 8 speed gearbox. The PHEVs take around seven hours to charge to 100% when using a three-pin plug. If you use a 3.4kW wall box charger it should take approx 1hr 40 minutes using the 308’s optional 7.4kW on-board charger (the standard model is 3.7kW). In the loaded top spec GT Line, Hybrids start at €46,190.

There’s a 10-inch digital dash and a 10.1-inch touchscreen, below which are Peugeot’s ‘i-Toggles’ to let you adjust the temperature and other settings without having to deep dive into the infotainment screen. If you choose Allure trim or above, you also get touch-sensitive buttons that you can set up to take you to commonly-used features, for example the sat-nav. You can use Peugeot’s in house system or Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And when you need to charge your devices you get two USB Type C ports in the front and two more in the rear. You can also use the newly developed voice recognition software. You can ask it to change the temperature, radio station or set a sat-nav destination.

It all works well, with decent graphics which could do with slightly increased colour contrast. The GT spec comes with a cool personalised colour theme for digital display with specific colouring for PHEV versions. There’s also the configurable 3D head-up display, heated steering wheel and a ‘Sport’ setting which adjusts the steering and acceleration responses. The 3D i-Cockpit set-up hasn’t changed and the driver must adjust the seat and height adjustment just so, so as to have a good view of the full drivers display. GT models also come with heated and electrically adjustable seats as standard. You also get Peugeot’s Drive Assist Pack Plus with lane assist and adaptive cruise control, along with a 360-degree parking camera and heated front seats with massaging function no less.

You’ll find lots of places to store keys, phones or whatever else you drag around with you on a daily basis. Cubbies range from a wide door bin (carpeting limits the rattles) to a deep cavernous space underneath the central arm rest. Your phone can slip neatly into a space under the centre console which also houses a wireless charging pad from Allure trim and above. While the CMP2 platform allows for multiple versions of cars to be built on it, in the 308 the rear legroom is a little tight. There’s more storage for oddments in the rear, with wide door bins and another cubby on the back of the centre console. Boot space shrinks if you choose the hybrid to accommodate the 12.4kWh battery pack, from a reasonable 412 litres to just 361 litres.

This new 308 hatch has more than enough to trouble the VW Golf and Ford Focus. The surfaces you’ll touch regularly in the 308 give it that premium feel and are covered with soft touch plastics and overall pleasant materials. Peugeot has given it a dash of sportiness with a comfortable drive and its relatively quiet both around town and at motorway speeds. There’s plenty of grip, very little body roll, and it handles well on rough roads.