The replacement for the Peugeot 308 was released in Europe last year and is also called the Peugeot 308.
This blatant break with naming tradition is all something to do with the French company’s new naming convention that is quite complicated and has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that Peugeot was running out of “numbers with 0 in the middle”. Not at all.
Anyway the new 308 is now heading to New Zealand with an exciting new engine and a shiny European Car of the Year award.
We headed across to France to try it out before the local launch. Which was last week. So we’re a bit slow to get this up? Give us a break…
Anyway, we had to write stuff about it for The NZ Herald first – check that out by clicking here! (It’s really good!)
What is it?
As mentioned above, the 308 is the replacement for the 308 and is also the current European Car of the Year. It also happens to be a small hatch and wagon, which puts it squarely up against the Volkswagen Golf. Coincidentally, this is exactly the car that Peugeot has in its sights as well.
The new 308 comes to New Zealand in three trim levels, with three engines and two transmissions to choose from (but not in all models).
First up is the 308 Access that comes with the new 96kW/230Nm PureTech 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine and a choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.
The Access comes standard with cruise control, manual air conditioning, LED daytime running lights and taillights, body-coloured door mirrors, 15-inch steel wheels, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a USB input.
The manual costs $30,990, while the auto is $32,990.
Next up is the 308 Active that also comes with the 1.2-litre PureTech engine, but only with the auto trans.
The Active adds a leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors, electric folding door mirrors, automatic headlights, front fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, an electrochrome rear view mirror, driver’s lumbar adjustment, 16-inch alloy wheels and a multifunction colour touchscreen for the infotainment system. The Active costs $34,990.
Lastly is the 308 Allure, that is available with a choice of either a 110kW/240Nm 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine or a 110kW/370Nm 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine, both hooked up to the six-speed automatic.
The Allure adds front parking sensors, a reversing camera, an electric handbrake, fully integrated LED DRLs, full LED headlights, sports seats, 17-inch alloy wheels and satellite navigation, and costs $38,990 for the petrol and $42,990 for the diesel.
The Active and Allure petrol models are also available as wagons for $2,000 more.
What’s it like?
Seriously good.
Now that is not something we would have said about the 308 previously, but this new one is, indeed, seriously good.
While it’s looks have taken a turn for the conservative, it is also now a far better looking car than its awkward predecessor that tried to be too many types of car. Now it just wants to look like a handsome, modern small hatch and wagon. And it has completely nailed that.
Inside the 308 takes cues from the 208 and 2008 in terms of its cockpit style layout, but adds a more mature, slick and stylish appearance that better suits the larger car.
While the lower-spec Access comes across a bit drab, the upper spec cars add enough shiny bits to be rather stylish indeed.
While all the engines are impressive, the two stars of the show are without doubt the brilliant new EAT-6 automatic transmission and the equally brilliant PureTech 1.2-litre turbo 3-cylinder engine. And they are even better when they are paired up.
The little 1.2 triple is a remarkably grunty unit that, aside from the distinctive 3-cylinder sound, gives no indication that it is a small engine.
It is smooth, powerful and loves to rev, but still boasts a big chunk of its impressively big torque down low.
The six-speed auto is brilliantly fast and responsive and – most impressively – doesn’t behave like French autos used to. That is; erratically. This one is very good at being in the right gear at the right time, rather than trying to second-guess you like French autos traditionally do.
What’s good about it?
Quality, looks, ride, engines and transmissions! That’s a pretty good line up of positives.
The pricing is right too, although…
What’s not so good?
While the prices are sharp, there are a number of areas where obvious steps have been made to achieve those prices, particularly in the entry-level Access.
The best engine isn’t available in to top-spec trim – that is, you can’t get an Allure with the 1.2-litre PureTech triple, which is a shame because at the European launch that was the best of the bunch.
First impressions?
The new Peugeot 308 is a very good car indeed.
Peugeot’s ambition to take on the VW Golf may have initially seemed to be aimed a bit high, but they certainly do have a car that is good enough to do it.
We will know more when we get to try the car on local roads, but the convincing way it dealt with the best and worst that France could throw at it was seriously impressive.
Models/prices
Peugeot 308 Access hatch manual – $30,990
Peugeot 308 Access hatch automatic – $32,990
Peugeot 308 Active hatch automatic – $34,990
Peugeot 308 Active wagon automatic – $36,990
Peugeot 308 Allure hatch automatic – $38,990
Peugeot 308 Allure wagon automatic – $40,990
Peugeot 308 Allure hatch diesel automatic – $42,990
Powertrain: 1.2-litre inline 3-cylinder petrol turbo producing 96kW/230Nm; 6-speed manual/6-speed automatic; front-wheel drive (Access),1.2-litre inline 3-cylinder petrol turbo producing 96kW/230Nm; 6-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive (Active), 1.6-litre inline 4-cylinder petrol turbo producing 110kW/240Nm; 6-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive (Allure), 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder diesel turbo producing 110kW/370Nm; 6-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive (Allure)
Fuel consumption: 4.8L/100km (Access manual), 5.2L/100km (Access auto, Active hatch and wagon auto), 6.5L/100km (Allure hatch and wagon auto petrol), 4.1L/100km (Allure hatch auto diesel)
CO2 emissions: 110g/km (Access manual), 119g/km (Access auto, Active hatch and wagon auto), 150g/km (Allure hatch and wagon auto petrol), 107g/km (Allure hatch auto diesel)
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: Five stars
Air bags: 6
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
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