Peugeot's third generation 308 is much improved. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

Peugeot's 308 family hatch gets far more polish in this third generation guise, with smarter packaging, extra engineering options and a bit more useful technology. The result is a more desirable product than you might expect from this familiar Gallic brand. You might be surprised at how much you'd like it.

Background

You might not have ever thought of the Peugeot 308 family hatch as being truly aspirational but maybe it's time to start. Peugeot's been making Focus-class models for half a century and we're already on the third generation of the one badged '308'. This is the most up-market version yet, in keeping with the Peugeot brand's more premium positioning within the Stellantis Group. The last 308 wasn't really a car many customers would have chosen in preference to a Golf, let alone anything premium, but this MK3 version might be. Everything's different - even the front Peugeot grille badge. And the sharky looks clothe a cabin that could just be the segment's most sophisticated. Premium values with mainstream value? Is that what we've got here? Let's find out.

Driving Experience

All combustion models come only with 8-speed EAT8 auto transmission and under the bonnet, there's a mix of something old and something new. Surprisingly, Peugeot is still offering its usual 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel in 130hp form. The mainstream alternative is a Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 petrol variant that uses a 1.2-litre three cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a dual-clutch 6-speed auto with an electric motor built into the transmission casing. On the move, the Hybrid system's 136bhp 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine and the electric motor can operate together - or separately. And, unlike with a mild hybrid system like that fitted to say, a Golf eTSI, here the car can be driven for short urban distances (under 18mph) on electric power alone. The motor also assists the engine under acceleration. Want to be able to plug your 308 in? Well for this, your starting point lies with the petrol Plug-in Hybrid unit. The Plug-in Hybrid 195 e-DSC7 model combines a 1.6-litre PureTech petrol engine with a 109hp electric motor and a 17.2kWh battery now large enough to take this 195hp 308 up to 49 miles between charges. The last powertrain option is the full-electric E-308 variant. This uses a 54kWh battery incorporating a sophisticated chemical composition which makes possible a 248 mile range figure. This battery powers a front axle-mounted 156bhp motor which will get you to 62mph from rest in about 8 seconds. What about autonomous drive technology? After all, a car of this kind these days isn't quite complete without it. To satisfy this need, the French maker is offering its 'Peugeot Drive Assist 2.0' set-up. Previously, Stellantis Group tech relied on stop-and-go cruise control and lane-keep assist, but this evolved set-up can now automatically adapt the speed of the car around corners, operating at speeds up to 112mph.

Design and Build

This third generation 308 certainly makes a pavement statement. As usual, there are hatch and estate body styles, both of which have plenty of overtaking presence. This MK3 design introduced a longer-looking bonnet and a lower-looking nose bearing the latest, rather different Peugeot badge on its grille. Flanking this are slim LED headlights complemented by Peugeot's fang-like LED daytime running lights. In profile, owners of the previous generation model might notice the extra 11mm of length and the prominent creases that have appeared over the wheel arches, which sit below a stronger shoulder line. At the rear, there are tail lights with three 'claw' style lighting elements.  And inside? Well if you thought the exterior was different, take a look in the cabin. Yes, there's still Peugeot's i-Cockpit layout with its small steering wheel, but that now sits beneath a very avant garde digital instrument panel, with clever 3D image tech borrowed from the brand's smaller 208 supermini. The tall, sloping dashboard features a sharp-looking 10-inch touchscreen display which has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and is available in two forms - basic 'i-Connect' and more sophisticated 'i-Connect plus', which offers widescreen navigation from TomTom. Beneath this monitor is a row of freely configurable touch-sensitive controls, called 'i-Toggles'. Each one offers a shortcut to a major function, such as radio, climate control or 'phone. Out back, a 55mm wheelbase increase makes the rear cabin noticeably more spacious than before. And boot space for the hatch is rated at 412-litres, better than most class rivals. If you want more, you'll need the alternative SW estate, which offers 608-litres before you start folding seats. Those figures apply to the conventionally-engined and E-308 variants. For the Plug-in Hybrid, you're looking at 361-litres for the hatch and 548-litres for the SW.

Market and Model

To reflect all the fresh technology, prices have risen a little. Expect a starting point for the hatch of just under £32,000, with the brand's usual 'Allure' and 'GT' trim levels. There are two body styles - hatch and SW estate (the latter starting from around £29,000). There are no plans to reprise the Cabriolet body shape that featured with the first generation 308. You'll need around £38,000 to get either the Plug-in Hybrid version or the E-308 model. 'Allure'-spec gets you 17-inch 'Halong' diamond cut alloy wheels, horizontal chrome stamping on the grille, chromed exhaust surrounds, signature LED daytime running lights and a gloss black connecting strip between the rear lamp clusters. Also added are front parking sensors and dark tinted rear side and tailgate windows. Inside at 'Allure' level, there's upholstery part-trimmed in 'Isabella' synthetic leather, ambient lighting for the door panels, an 'AQS 3' air quality system, a 'Visio Park 1' 180-degree colour reversing camera, a rear seat ski hatch and LED-lit sun visors with concealable mirrors. Plus the infotainment screen features 'OK Peugeot' voice recognition. There's also a 'Drive Assist Pack' with various camera safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control. Things start to get really luxurious at 'GT' level, marked out by 18-inch 'Kamakura' alloy wheels, a dark chrome chequered radiator grille, extended front and side lower body sills, Lion emblem badging on the front wings and, on the SW version, gloss black roof rails. The headlights gain intelligent 'Matrix' technology, which the tail lamps play a sequential 'welcome sequence' when you unlock the car. A 'Driver Sport Pack' adds a personalised colour theme to the digital instrument display and sport adjustment for the steering and accelerator pedal. The steering wheel gains heat, green stitching and full-grain leather, plus there's a 'Mistral' black roof liner and aluminium door sills.

Cost of Ownership

The BlueHDi diesel engine delivers up to 59.6mpg on the combined cycle and up to 124g/km of CO2. The alternative Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 petrol variant manages up to 62.6mpg and up to 102g/km. What about the Plug-in Hybrid variant? Well as we mentioned in our 'Driving Experience' section, up to 49 miles of WLTP-rated battery running is claimed from the 17.2kWh battery and the car is combined cycle fuel-rated at up to 242.7mpg; the BiK tax-beating CO2 reading is rated at up to 26g/km. A 3.7kW onboard charger is fitted as standard to this PHEV model, enabling a 0-100% charge in 4 hours and 20 minutes, reducing to just over 2 hours with the optional 7.4kW onboard charger. What about the E-308 full-electric model? That has a 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) which offers a 248 mile driving range. The brand claims a recharge rate from 20 to 80% in under 25 minutes using a 100kW charger. With 308 PHEV and E-308 models, using the MyPeugeot smartphone app or by using the vehicle's touchscreen, owners can schedule a wake-up time for the battery. This means that the cells can be at the optimal temperature for efficiency from the time you start up, plus of course the interior can also be pre-cooled or pre-heated too. 

Summary

Peugeot isn't just building a car with this third generation 308. It's building a reputation. For too long, this much-loved brand lost sight of what made people want its products. Now, it's setting out to build desirable machines once more, models that aren't simply playing catch up or trying to copy the big sellers. Sure enough, this is vehicle with a definite feel of its own. It's not going to appeal to everybody but it is now a car that the company can rightly feel proud of - a contender good enough to worry the best in the business. After all, it gets so many things so right. French family hatchbacks in this class haven't always been able to justify themselves, either in terms of quality or in the harder discipline of pounds and pence running costs, but this one performs beyond expectations in both these areas. Overall, what's on offer here is a car that's continuing to restore Peugeot's reputation for building elegant, comfortable and understated vehicles. A car that gives the brand a shot at making good on its upmarket aspirations. It's been a long time coming.

Body Glass

Front and rear electric windows with one touch/anti pinch

Tailgate with heated rear windscreen and wiper blade

Automatic triggered rear windscreen wiper in reverse gear

Dark tinted rear side and tailgate windows

Acoustic and tinted windscreen

Acoustic laminated front side windows

Brakes

Electronic Stability Programme

Front/rear disc brakes

Electronic parking brake

Hill start assist

Anti-lock Brake System + Electronic Brakeforce Distribution + Emergency Brake Assit

Automatic post collision braking

Communication

Bluetooth telephone facility

Driver Aids

Rear parking sensor

Lane keep assist

Programmable cruise control and speed limiter

Driver attention warning

Speed limit recognition and recommendation

Intelligent speed adaptation

Sport pedals with foot rest

Multi driving mode selector - Eco / Normal / Sport mode selector

Compact drive selector

180 degree HD colour reversing camera

Driver Convenience

Push button start

E-remote control

Driver Information

Service interval indicator

Multi function trip computer

Mirror screen with mirror link, apple carplay and android auto

Exterior temperature indicator with ice warning

Emergency call service

PEUGEOT i-Cockpit - compact steering wheel, 10" HD colour touchscreen and digital instrument panel display

Peugeot connect advanced with connected 3D navigation

Driving Mirrors

Electric operated/heated door mirrors

Nera black door mirrors

Power folding door mirrors

Framed electrochromatic rear view mirror

Entertainment

DAB Digital radio

Voice recognition for radio, navigation and telephony features

6 speakers radio with mp3 compatible

Peugeot customisable iToggles

Exterior Body Features

Body colour door handles

Body colour rear roof spoiler

Gloss black finish B pillar

Gloss black rear cluster connecting strip

Model designation badges on front and rear

Rear lower bumper gloss black diffuser effect trim

Front grille with horizontal chrome stamping

Twin exhaust pipes with chrome surround

Rear side wing doors

E-308 badge

Exterior Lights

High beam assist

Automatic hazard light activation upon heavy brake application

LED side indicator lights integrated into door mirrors

Rear reversing lights

Rear full LED 3D peugeot signature claw effect lights with daylight function

LED 3rd brake light

EcoLED headlights

Peugeot signature LED daytime running lights

Manual headlight position correction/adjustment

2 X LED rear number plate lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Automatic air conditioning with AQS 3

Interior Features

Heated steering wheel

12V socket

Electric power steering with reach and rake adjustable steering column

Front central console with two cup holders

Roof lining - light grey

Twin USB charging ports in the rear (Type C)

Piano keys gloss black plated toggle switches to access main functions of the vehicle

Central front armrest with storage compartment

Multifunction split leather and gloss steering wheel

2 front USB socket including 1 USB type c

Falgo tri-material with isabella leather effect and cloth upholstery

Sunvisor with concealable mirrors and LED lighting

Packs

Visibility pack with automatic magic wash windscreen wipers - 308

Safety

Tyre pressure sensor

Front and rear curtain airbags

Driver/front passenger side airbags

Child locks on rear doors

Front three point retractable seatbelts with force limiters

Adaptive driver and front passenger airbags with passenger airbag deactivation function

2x Isofix child seat fitting on outer rear seats

3x Rear three-point retractable seatbelts with force limiters in the outer rear seats

Active safety brake with night function/cyclists/pedestrians

Front optimised safety headrests and rear retractable headrests (x3), height adjustable

Seats

Heated front seats

1/3 to 2/3 split folding rear seats

Driver seat lumbar adjustment

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Driver and front passenger seat height adjustment

Seatbelt unfastened on the move audible and visual alert for front and rear seats

Driver and front passenger seat manual adjustment in longitudinal and back rest angle

Dynamic front seats

Single front passenger seat

Security

Locking wheel nuts

Deadlocking system

Electronic code immobiliser

Automatic door locking when moving off

Acoustic vehicle alert system (AVAS)

Thatcham cat. 1 alarm with anti lift sensor

Vehicle Charging

Mode 3 type 2 cable for wallbox charging

11 KW triphase On board charger

Wheels - Alloy

18" Ottawa diamond cut alloy wheels

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 438

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 30

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-80

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): N

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: N

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: N

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 54

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - City - TEL: 549

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - City - TEH: 496

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 402

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEL: 429

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEH: 381

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 14.4

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 16.2

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 3.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 4.3

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - City - TEH: 308

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - City - TEL: 341

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 250

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEH: 237

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEL: 267

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Left Side Rear

Usable Battery Capacity: N

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 100

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: Allure

Coin Description: N

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 24E

Service Interval Mileage: 16000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Badge Power: 156

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 3

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 9.8

Top Speed: 106

Engine Power - BHP: 156

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 115

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 199

Engine Torque - NM: 270

Engine Torque - MKG: 27.5

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 215/45 R18

Tyre Size Rear: 215/45 R18

Tyre Size Spare: N

Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY

Wheel Style: OTTAWA

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4365

Width: 1850

Wheelbase: 2680

Width (including mirrors): 2062

Height: 1465

Height (including roof rails): N

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1684

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2190

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Loading Weight: 506

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 361

No. of Seats: 5

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1271

Exterior Body Features

Premium paint

Special metallic paint

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Heat pump

Packs

360 vision and drive assist pack - 308

Connectivity and access Pack - 308

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Obsession blue

Paint - Special

Special metallic - Cumulus grey

Special metallic - Nera black

Special Metallic - Selenium grey

Premium paint - Elixir red

Special metallic - Okenite white

Towing

Detachable towbar with 13 pin + Trailer Sway Mitigation

Trim - Cloth

Falgo tri-material with isabella leather effect and cloth - Black with mint top stitching

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit