• Peugeot 308 deserving of European crown

    by  • March 19, 2014 • Car Reviews, Test Drives

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    2014 Peugeot 308 exterior front right static

    The Peugeot 308 is an attractive looking hatchback

    Peugeot is making no secret of its plan to take the brand upmarket, and the new Peugeot 308 is a further step in that direction.

    It’s far more attractive and sophisticated looking than the outgoing model, and that’s both inside and out.

    Our test car was a stunning ruby red colour, which beautifully complemented the sleek and stylish exterior of the five-door hatchback. The LED daytime running lights were also striking.

    While from the outside the 308 looks quite dinky, it actually encapsulates a spacious interior.

    The Peugeot 308 would comfortably seat four adults, with great legroom in the front and adequate in the back.

    With rear legroom compromised by the transmission tunnel running through the centre of the car, the middle seat can be repurposed as a pull down arm rest with two cup holders. It also provides access to the boot via a ski hatch.

    The boot is quite impressive, and can be increased by lowering the rear seats – these don’t lie flat, however. It also houses a spare wheel.

    2014 Peugeot 308 interior cockpit

    The cockpit n the Peugeot 308 is minimalist

    Meanwhile, the leather and suede-like upholstery of the comfortable seats in the Allure trim we were driving fitted in perfectly with the modern minimalist interior.

    A large touch screen infotainment unit replaces centre console clutter in all but the Access entry model.

    It controls the dual zone air conditioning, radio selection, phone, car settings and shows visuals of the front and rear sensors in action.

    However, volume is controlled via an old style dial which sits beside the CD player. This was dropped in the new 208 but Peugeot decided the CD was a worthwhile feature for the bigger model.

    Volume can also be controlled via a roller on the steering wheel. I prefer Peugeot’s old style volume control stalk though.

    The USB and Aux ports, as well as the 12 volt are well placed at the bottom of the centre console.

    I found the infotainment unit, which is angled towards the driver, easy to use and Bluetooth phone and music streaming simple to set up.

    The instrument panel is of the marque’s new i-Cockpit style and sits so the driver views it above rather than through the small steering wheel. I managed to find my perfect driving position without too much trouble.

    2014 Peugeot 308 interior boot

    The boot in the Peugeot 308 is quite large and houses a spare wheel

    I liked the digital speed readout in the centre of the instrument panel. However, Peugeot has engaged in some brain teasing with the outer dials – transposing the speedometer and rev counter. The needle in the latter also swings anti-clockwise.

    While the cabin in the Peugeot 308 is excellent in many ways, it’s not perfect and one area it falls down in is storage.

    There are many cubbies but they’re all quite small and there’s only one cup holder in the front. I also found that bottles fall over in the door bin.

    The test car was a six-speed 1.6litre 115bhp diesel manual with electric parking brake and our route took us on city streets, motorway and through the mountains.

    I absolutely loved my time behind the wheel. There was a lovely growl from the engine and it sounded almost like a hot hatch.

    The small steering wheel, which had a flat sports-like base, made it very easy to manoeuver and it handled well on all routes.

    It was also fast at the lights, with smooth and precise gear changes as you accelerated. There is slight body roll on enthusiastically taken corners, but nothing major.

    My only issue with it was the cruise control. You have to be travelling at least 40kph to activated it so it’s of no help in a 30kph zone. The fuel efficient stop/start technology was handy in city traffic though.

    I have to declare that I am a repeat Peugeot customer. I have owned a Peugeot 206 and a Peugeot 307cc and I would be quite happy to part with my cash for the new Peugeot 308.

    Overall, I loved it. It looks well, it handles beautifully and it feels good. It’s not perfect but it’s quite deserving of the Car of the Year title recently awarded to it.

    The Peugeot 308 is available now with prices starting from €18,990 for the entry level petrol model. Prices for the top of the range diesel Allure model I was driving start from €25,890.

    Tech Spec
    Engine: 1.6 eHdi 115bhp (diesel)
    Acceleration: 0-100kph in 11.9seconds
    Maximum Speed: 178kph
    CO2 emissions: 100g/km
    Combined fuel economy: 3.8l/100km
    Annual road tax: €180

    Visit the Peugeot Ireland website or its Facebook page for further details.

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