Peugeot 308 review

That looks... familiar.

After many millions of euros in investment, 116 patents filed during development and more than two million miles of road testing, are you really saying it simply looks generic?

Yes.

We will admit there is an element of truth in that, yet we still think the new 308 is far from unattractive. It is a handsome, smart-looking car and a vast improvement on the old, bug-eyed 308.

Wait, why is this new model also called the 308? Surely it ought to be the...

309, naturally. Peugeot did, however, already build a 309 in 1985, selling 222,783 examples in the UK. More importantly, Peugeot has now decreed that “All Models Shall End With ‘08'”, while emerging markets will use the ‘01' naming convention. The idea is to create recognition around an individual model number, meaning every replacement will continue to be called the 308. It is rather like a new Golf: VW does not name its successor the Golf-ier, does it?

Peugeot 308 platform and engines

So it really is entirely new?

Yes. The 308 uses a completely fresh platform, previously seen only beneath the new Citroen C4 Picasso. Known as EMP2, or efficient modular platform, it makes the new 308 140kg lighter than its predecessor. It is also lower and wider, while its wheelbase is longer; the reduced overhangs consequently give it a more planted stance. Even the tailgate contributes to the weight reduction, as it is plastic.

And the engines?

The line-up includes a 1.6-litre diesel producing either 92bhp or 115bhp, plus a 1.6-litre petrol with 125bhp or 155bhp. Next year will bring a range of turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines, which should make easy work of the lightweight body. Indeed, a new 308 fitted with the 92bhp 1.6-litre diesel weighs 1,090kg - only a few bags of sugar heavier than a VW Polo, a car from the class below.

Peugeot 308 ride and performance

How does it drive, then?

Very well in certain respects. Its ride is excellent and impressively composed, while cabin refinement is first-rate. The difficulty comes when you ask more of the car. Present it with a mixture of long, flowing corners and tight hairpins and the 308 seems to shrug its Gallic shoulders before reluctantly getting on with it. There is clear body roll in bends, and the steering offers less communication than you would want. It feels slightly vague, and it does not alert you quickly enough to the onset of understeer. That removes much of the incentive to press on. Ease back, though, and it is a pleasant cruiser - just not a Focus or a Golf.

The 1.6-litre 155bhp petrol is a lively little engine, although the 125bhp version feels as though it struggles slightly, as does the less powerful diesel. The 115bhp diesel is genuinely refined, but it too requires a firm workout before it accelerates with any real urgency. The three-cylinder engines due next year should be interesting to try...

Peugeot 308 interior and value

What is it like inside?

It feels more upmarket than the previous 308. There are now genuinely no buttons on the centre of the dashboard; instead, every control is housed in a 9.7in touchscreen managing the climate control, sat-nav, media and more. Initially, it is fiddly and distracting - hardly ideal while driving - although familiarity makes the system quicker to use. The fit and finish in this section of the dashboard is excellent, with soft-touch plastics and a classy atmosphere. The section immediately beneath it is rather hard and scratchy, which undermines Peugeot’s attempted premium feel. Rear legroom is not especially generous either, although the boot is enormous and, overall, the package is respectable.

So, should I buy one?

Consider the competition: with the Golf, Focus and Astra in the mix, this C-segment is brutally competitive. Make one small mistake and you are shark food. The competence of those cars gives this 308 a difficult task. It is pleasant to drive, but it may be best suited to buyers who value refinement and ride comfort over driving dynamics. Prices are expected to begin at £14,500, while our 1.6-litre 155bhp petrol test car cost approximately £20,000.