We’ve experienced a good few Peugeot products in recent months and have walked away from many feeling generally pleased by what the French manufacturer has put together. We were able to get a taste of the 308 hatchback not too long ago and this is what we thought.
Looks
The facelift that the Peugeot 308 hatchback received mid-2011 resulted in a cleaner overall look. The biggest change is at the front where a V-shaped bonnet, swept-back headlamps and large floating grille give the car a cleaner appearance than before. The standard foglamps and chrome-look accents add a classier feel to the overall appearance. At the rear, the small hatch lid makes the bumper look particularly large, while the narrow taillamps and chrome-trim on either side of the numberplate housing add a sporty feel.
Inside
The cabin is typically Peugeot in its layout. Audio controls on the facia are a bit small, but everything is logically placed and easy to get used to. The steering wheel feels on the thin side, and there’s a lot of plastic used in the trim. However, these feel durable and the silver highlights make it look upmarket. I noticed that when the car has been parked in the sun for a few hours, the part on top of the dashboard and just before the windscreen got quite sticky. This isn’t the first time that I’ve seen this happen in a Peugeot.
Rear headroom in the back is limited, as is kneeroom. Luggage space is 272 dm3 with the rear seat backs in place. Should more space be needed, the seatbacks can be folded flat to increase the space to 1 136 dm3.
On the road
Many CAR testers noted that, while the 308 isn’t a bad car, it also nothing special. It’s pleasant enough to drive with a good ride quality and soft gear changes. However, we found that mid-corner bumps unsettle the car slightly, it was easy to hit the gate between gear changes (something that plagues many Peugeot products) and the steering is too light and slow. Also, the clutch takes quite high up, so when you’re trying a clutch-control manoeuvre, it feels as though your left knee may hit your chin before the clutch is released and you can move off. The 1,6-litre engine pushes out 88 kW and 160 N.m of torque. This unit can get quite loud and revvy at highway speeds, but it’s a nippy engine and, mated with the five-speed manual transmission, was able to propel the 308 to 100 km/h from standstill 12,28 seconds when we tested it.
Range and kit
There are seven models in the 308 range.
308 1,6 VTi Access 5-dr – R207 100
308 1,6 VTi Active 5-dr – R228 900
308 1,6 VTi Active AT – R262 500
308 2,0 HDi Active 5-dr – R269 500
308 GTI 1,6 THP – R305 200
308 CC 1,6 THP – R354 500
308 CC 1,6 THP AT – R369 500
Standard across the range is an alarm system, cruise control, driver and passenger airbags, climate control, ABS with EBD, brake assist, audio controls on a stalk behind the steering wheel, electric mirrors, electric windows all-round, Isofix anchorages and a refrigerated glove box. Over and above this, this particular model, the 1,6 Active hatchback, comes with automatic wipers with rain sensor, curtain airbags, dual-zone climate control and cornering headlights.
Overall
On its own, the 308 makes sense. It has a high specification level and offers an acceptable driving experience. It even comes in at a reasonable price. But it competes in a tough segment of the local market and faces stiff competition from market favourites such as our Top 12 Best Buy winner Volkswagen Golf, as well as the Honda Civic and Opel Astra. It’ll be a tough sell despite its on-paper credentials.
Specifications:
Model: Peugeot 308 1,6 Active
Price: R228 900
Engine: 4/1 598 cm3
Power (kW@r/min): 88@6 000
Torque (N.m@r/min): 160@4 250
Top speed (km/h): 195
CAR fuel index: 7,68 litres/100 km
CAR fuel run: 7,5 litres/100 km
CO2: 147 g/km
Maintenance plan: 5 years/100 000 km
