Comfort cruiser
Despite its SUV range being its biggest cash cow, and a surge in its all-electric 208e supermini, Peugeot has still decided to give its 308 mid-sized hatch a make-over. Ben Selby reports.
Its new lease on life includes new looks, new tech and new power units.
The range consists of two petrol variants, a plug-in hybrid and from next year, a BEV version.
My test car was the petrol powered 308 GT, which qualifies for a government clean car rebate. The fresh modern design makes for one handsome hatchback.
Its Full Matrix LED headlights, and revised grill sporting a new Peugeot Lion embossed logo, give it a clean cut face, while its 18-inch alloys look great. Plus, that Olivine Green paint scheme is stunning.
Inside you feel cocooned by funky touch buttons and other quality materials. The small heated leather wrapped steering wheel, unique to Peugeot, still has to be moved down to prevent the rim from blocking the instrument cluster, but after a while you get used to this.
Centre stage is a new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Here you can operate many of the on-board gizmos, and can even add shortcut icons for regularly used features on the centre console, much like a smartphone.
The 308 GT gets ambient lighting, parking sensors fore and aft, USB-C ports, tinted glass, autonomous engine braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise and lane departure warning. Also featured is an optional Premium Pack, with niceties such as a 10-speaker FOCAL premium sound system, and heated nappa leather front seats with built-in massage function.
The driver’s seat is electric with two-position memory function. Practicality is also half decent. The 308 GT has a deep boot floor and can hold 417L to 1323L if you drop the second row of seats.
The Pug’s turbo three pot emits a lovely mechanical burble, however, it is not what you would call quick. You won’t be setting any records when getting up to speed.
Regardless, while the 308 GT is no performance machine and on some less smooth tarmac roads there is a smidgen of tyre roar, it is sublime as a comfortable and quiet long-distance cruiser.
Thanks to a supple, comfortable ride, and a good dose of low-end torque, the motorway miles are easily dealt with.
In sport mode, you can also have a relatively entertaining jaunt around back roads, thanks to a well sorted chassis and underpinnings. It’s a bit pricey, but the funky petrol 308 GT still has plenty going for it.
