Peugeot has been having fun with a design renaissance of late, not that it desperately wanted one. In any case, the previous-generation 308 was a good-looking factor, and positively extra enticing than its fish-mouthed predecessor.

However the brand new Peugeot 308 debuts the most recent evolution of the model’s design language that began with the 2008, 3008, 5008 and 508, with a mixture of mild curves and sharp creases.

It’s not as stunning because the 508 or as good-looking because the 3008 – it’s a bit chunky-looking, with a excessive belt line and a pinched rear – however it actually captures your consideration.

Highlights embrace the plunging daytime operating lights up entrance and the lovable unlocking animations of the tail lights.

The inside is especially interesting, placing some luxury-brand rivals to disgrace within the design stakes. Extra on that later.

Peugeot isn’t the quantity participant right here that it’s in Europe and the small automotive section continues to say no, so the 308 received’t be a giant vendor right here.

Nonetheless, with a small, centered vary of extremely specified variants and a method like nothing else in its section, the 308 ought to have the ability to carve out a small area of interest for itself.

How a lot does the Peugeot 308 GT value?

The GT hatchback represents the entry level to the Peugeot 308 vary, and is priced at $43,990 earlier than on-road prices. Primarily based on a New South Wales postcode, that’s a drive-away worth of $48,254.

Olivine Inexperienced metallic paint is normal, with Artense Gray and Nera Black costing an additional $690 and Vertigo Blue, Pearl White, and the featured Elixir Purple every costing an additional $1050.

The inexperienced is just not solely probably the most gorgeous color within the palette, it’s one of the stunning finishes available on the market. That it’s the usual paint makes it a no brainer, except you actually hate inexperienced.

The 308 is priced nicely above top-spec variations of the Kia Cerato, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 – except you go for the spicy N model of the latter – however undercuts even probably the most reasonably priced luxury-brand rivals by a number of thousand {dollars}. The Audi A3 vary, for instance, opens at $47,700 earlier than on-roads.

Equally priced rivals for the 308 embrace:

Mazda not too long ago confirmed it’s reshuffling its 3 line-up, with the up to date vary due in July. Within the meantime, it tops out at $43,310 earlier than on-roads for the soon-to-be axed X20 Astina.

Peugeot could also be a mass-market model in Europe however it has a quasi-premium positioning in Australia, which explains the pricing in addition to the absence of any variants under the well-specified GT.

What’s the Peugeot 308 GT like on the within?

The 308 is a direct rival to the Golf, which makes it all of the extra shocking simply how a lot classier its inside is.

Severely, the Peugeot’s inside appears extra on the stage of luxury-brand small vehicles just like the Audi A3. As an alternative of a practical however austere cabin like within the Golf, there’s a particular structure and excellent materials decisions.

It’s not simply type over substance, both. The 308 has arguably class-leading storage within the entrance of the cabin. The centre console bin, which has a sublime two-piece lid, is a cavernous pit very similar to that within the bigger 3008. It’s illuminated, and the storage cavity extends beneath the cupholders.

There’s a wi-fi charging pad on the centre stack and cupholders on the centre console, however you’ll additionally discover one other nook in between them which you’ll stick your entire hand into. The glove compartment is spacious, and the bottle holders within the doorways can simply swallow 1L bottles – and so they’re carpeted, too.

Gloss black trim has been saved to a minimal, although you’ll discover some on the steering wheel the place it’s sure to draw smudges. There’s gray metal-look trim operating throughout the sprint which appears to be like higher than gloss black however may end up in glare on the windscreen.

These trim items apart, materials decisions are top-notch. Comfortable-touch plastic is used throughout the highest and entrance of the dashboard, in addition to the highest of the entrance door playing cards. Alcantara can be swathed throughout the dashboard and doorways, whereas every door has a leatherette-trimmed armrest. Leatherette wrapping can be discovered alongside the edges of the centre console.

It’s all completed off with lime inexperienced stitching particulars. Sure, there’s fairly a bit happening visually, however we expect it’s a cultured cabin total.

The seats additionally function Alcantara trim, and people up entrance are splendidly grippy with good bolstering. It did take some time to discover a appropriate seating place, nevertheless; it’s not as simple to get an ideal vantage level of the high-mounted devices as within the bigger 3008.

After some changes I discovered a snug seating place that afforded sufficient clearance between the wheel and my thighs.

Peugeot appears to have made neon inexperienced its signature color, and also you’ll discover it on the screens and the ambient lighting. Don’t like inexperienced? That’s simply fastened, as you may alter the color theme of the screens and toggle between a number of ambient lighting colors.

Surprisingly, there are a handful extra colors with the latter.

The brand new-generation infotainment system is a step up on the previous system, with a extra intuitive menu construction and crisp graphics together with enticing transitions. We may do with out the guidelines pop-up each time we began the automotive, nevertheless.

The 308 additionally will get a slick new contact panel under the display containing shortcuts, along with a tier of bodily switchgear, which features a useful House shortcut. It does appeal to smudges, nevertheless.

As with different current Peugeots, there aren’t any bodily local weather controls however there are shortcuts on the display plus a local weather ‘residence’ button on the centre stack. You too can use “Hey Peugeot” voice prompts to regulate local weather settings.

The air-conditioning system itself is disappointing. The air appears to come back in matches and bursts, with no constant stream of chilly air. You may alter the temperature to as little as 15 levels, however it takes some time to chill the cabin.

The digital instrument cluster is mounted good and excessive, which permits Peugeot to get away with not providing a head-up show. It has a cool 3D impact however didn’t damage my eyes, and there’s additionally a map view although it’s nowhere close to as detailed as that of its Volkswagen rival’s Digital Cockpit.

The gear shifter is a stubby little factor, even smaller than that of the Golf. It sits on a raised part of the centre console, forward of the drive mode selector.

The pinched rear and excessive beltline have an effect on visibility, which isn’t nice out the again. The GT additionally has Peugeot’s disappointing 180-degree digicam, and also you’ll must step as much as the GT Premium to get a 360-degree unit.

The excessive beltline, together with a thick C-pillar, additionally means the again seat is a bit gloomy. It’s not as confining because the rear of the Mazda 3, however passengers commented it didn’t really feel all that ethereal and spacious. Nonetheless, I used to be in a position to sit behind my very own seating place with sufficient knee room and head room to be comfy and I’m 180cm tall.

Carry up the tailgate and also you’ll discover a aggressive 412L of cargo area, increasing to 1323L with the rear seats folded. Nonetheless, the 308 does with out even a space-saver spare, with Peugeot solely providing a tyre restore equipment.

There’s a stroll away perform for the proximity key, which works seamlessly. Merely stroll away with the important thing on you and the automotive will beep and lock.

One ultimate be aware: we recognize the 308 telling you what wiper setting you’ve put it on while you transfer the stalk.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

As with all 308s in Australia bar the range-topping plug-in hybrid, the bottom GT makes use of a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine producing 96kW of energy at 5500rpm and 230Nm of torque at 1750rpm.

These outputs are nothing particular at this worth level. The petrol Civic pumps out 131kW and 240Nm, the Golf 110TSI 110kW and 250Nm, and a Mazda 3 with the two.5-litre engine produces 138kW and 242Nm. The Cupra Leon V has all of them beat with 140kW and 320Nm.

The official mixed cycle gasoline economic system declare is 5.3L/100km, however we noticed 7.8L/100km on a loop consisting of inner-city, suburban and freeway driving, and ended up with an abysmal 10.2L/100km over the course of every week.

Whereas that did embrace inner-city commuting and a few spirited mountain driving, that’s virtually twice the official declare. It requires 95 RON premium unleaded gasoline, too.

How does the Peugeot 308 GT drive?

The Peugeot 308 has a genuinely proficient chassis and succesful dealing with, however it’s let down by a torpid powertrain.

The three-pot merely feels underdone on this 1258kg hatchback, and the transmission wants some finessing, too.

There’s an odd low-speed jerkiness to the 308, just like that which you’ll discover with much less refined dual-clutch transmissions. It’s significantly obvious while you’re creeping via visitors.

Alas, you get this related foible with out the snappy shifts of a DCT. The 308 merely doesn’t really feel all that zippy, even within the each day commute, with a noticeable delay off the road.

On one event, we have been travelling at 50km/h and, when encountered with solely the slightest of grades, the 308 needed to shuffle all the way in which again to second. The economy-minded transmission additionally could be very fast to shift as much as the best gear doable.

The three-pot’s gritty thrum has a attraction to it at first, however in additional adventurous driving one will get uninterested in the soundtrack. It may get vocal while you’re pushing it, and on some roads you’ll must.

Sport mode adjusts the shift factors however it holds onto gears till the automotive is screaming. We tried it as soon as and promptly turned it off. Credit score to Peugeot, nevertheless, for at all times displaying what gear you’re in no matter whether or not you’re manually shifting or not.

I took this to Mt Superb in Brisbane, as I are inclined to do, and located the dearth of punch from this powertrain irritating. In the meantime, I’ve tackled the identical roads in a Ford Puma, which has much less energy and torque however an virtually similar tare weight and a dual-clutch auto, and had an absolute blast. One thing’s not including up right here.

It’s not for lack of dealing with capability. The 308 can cling in there on tight turns, and stays good and flat with minimal understeer. Physique management is great, and the steering is a specific excessive level.

It feels good and meaty, with a chunky, tactile wheel – don’t fear, you get used to the small measurement. That the steering can even really feel gentle and direct while you’re puttering via parking heaps as an alternative of tearing up twisties makes the 308’s tiller a great all-rounder.

Oddly, the soundness management gentle was vulnerable to flashing, even when merely taking off from a cease, and that’s actually not as a result of there’s an excessive amount of energy on faucet. We’d counsel this method wants a bit of extra fine-tuning; a flickering ESC gentle is one thing we’ve noticed in different Peugeots just like the 2008 too.

What’s fantastically tuned is the suspension. Trip consolation is great: it’s agency however properly damped, and it’s by no means uncomfortable even on unsealed roads.

We didn’t really feel any crashes within the cabin, despite the fact that it makes use of a much less refined twist-beam rear axle.

Tyre noise might be a difficulty over coarse-chip roads, and the cabin will get fairly boomy.

The over-speed alert chime is refined: take be aware, Kia and Hyundai. However the lack of an auto maintain perform is irritating, given how frequent that is on this section.

There’s a normal automated cease/begin system and it’s nicely calibrated, seamlessly turning the engine on and off with out being overzealous about it.

We should additionally reward the usual Matrix LED headlights, which give excellent illumination and auto-dimming smarts.

What do you get?

308 GT highlights:

• Matrix LED headlights
• LED tail lights incl. 3D claw impact
• 18-inch Kamakura alloy wheels
• Peugeot 3D i-Cockpit
  • 10-inch 3D digital instrument cluster
  • 10-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system
  • Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
  • AM/FM/DAB radio
• Alcantara seats with leather-effect bolsters
• Adamite Inexperienced prime stitching
• Leather-based multifunction steering wheel
• 8-colour ambient lighting
• Frameless electrochromatic rear-view mirror
• Auto local weather management with clear air perform
• Electrical, heated, energy folding mirrors
• One-touch electrical home windows entrance, rear
• Acoustic tinted windscreen
• Keyless entry, push-button begin
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• 6-speaker audio
• 2 x USB entrance (1 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C)
• 2 x USB rear (1 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C)
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Visio Park 180-degree reversing digicam

308 GT Premium provides:

• 18-inch Portland matte black alloys
• Panoramic opening glass sunroof
• Fingers-free electrical tailgate (GT Premium Wagon)
• Nappa leather-based with charcoal gray prime sew
• Electrical driver’s seat
• Heated entrance seats
• Therapeutic massage perform for entrance seats
• 2-position adjustable boot flooring (GT Premium Wagon)
• Lively Lane Positioning Help (centring)
• 360-degree HD cameras (entrance, rear)
• Focal 10-speaker premium audio (GT Premium Hatch)

308 GT Sport Hatch Plug-In Hybrid provides:

• Acoustic car alert system
• Hybrid drive mode
• Mode 2 sort 2 cable

Is the Peugeot 308 protected?

The Peugeot 308 has a four-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing carried out by Euro NCAP.

It obtained a rating of 79 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 86 per cent for little one occupant safety, 68 per cent for weak street consumer safety, and 82 per cent for security help.

Normal security options embrace:

• 6 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Low-light Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
• Auto post-collision braking
• Adaptive cruise management incl. cease/go perform
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Driver consideration warning
• Lane hold help
• Reversing digicam
• Velocity signal recognition, suggestion
• Tyre stress monitoring

308 GT Premium provides:

• Lively Lane Positioning Help (centring)

How a lot does the Peugeot 308 GT value to run?

The 308 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, and Peugeot gives three- and five-year servicing plans priced at $1100 and $1900, respectively.

That’s in keeping with the Golf, although costlier than a Mazda 3 ($1700 over 5 years) or a Civic ($995).

CarExpert’s Tackle the Peugeot 308 GT

The Peugeot 308 is a stunning automotive crying out for extra energy.

There’s a gaping chasm between the three-cylinder GT and the flagship plug-in hybrid GT Sport, the place an engine extra aggressive with that of rivals just like the Cupra Leon and Honda Civic may sit.

In the event you’re in search of scorching and even heat hatch efficiency, you received’t discover it right here. Rivals are merely extra enjoyable to drive as, although the 308 has a stunning chassis, its powertrain feels underdone.

If what you’re after is a well-appointed, fashionable small hatch with no actual pretensions of efficiency, nevertheless, the 308 makes a robust case for itself.

Its inside is arguably probably the most enticing in its section and storage is great, although second-row area is mid-pack at greatest.

It’s not low cost, however it sits at an analogous worth level to a Civic or a Golf R-Line; if you need worth for cash, you’d be higher served by an i30 or Cerato, however they really feel a lot much less particular inside.

You possibly can spend extra and get a 308 GT Premium which incorporates some critical luxurious gear, however the base GT arguably strikes one of the best steadiness inside the 308 vary.

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