Warm hatch with a little edge
With an engine from the larger 508 GT, the new 308 GT fits the classic fast-hatch recipe.
Peugeot makes lots of SUVS these days, but historically it’s a fast-hatch company. And it still makes those too: the latest is the 308 GT 225.
Another crime against the GT badge?
Actually, no. Peugeot is indeed one of those carmakers that conspires to confuse with its use of the ‘‘GT’’ badge by having Gt-line models that are a lot more show than go.
But the company also retains a pure GT designation for cars that genuinely offer a lot more to the driver.
Yes, that can be quite confusing for us regular people and potentially undermines the value of the proper GT machines. But it’s a type of confusion that probably helps sell a lot of the cheaper cars as well.
Anyway, the new 308 GT definitely has a lot more performance and handling ability than your average 308 thanks to the ‘‘225’’ (that’s horsepower) version of the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine from the 508 GT, an eight-speed gearbox and lowered suspension.
You might remember Peugeot New Zealand used to have a brilliant 308 GT diesel and frankly sensational GTI. Both have been deleted from the local lineup: the former because it’s diesel and the latter because it’s manual. Kiwis don’t seem to have much of an appetite for either in their hatchbacks.
So the new GT 225 fills that gap – and at a price $3k cheaper than the GT diesel when it was launched back in 2016, or $13k under the GTI.
That’s at the full retail price, but Peugeot NZ has sweetened the pot even more with a special price of $41,990 for the first 45 cars.
OK, but is it exciting enough to be a GT?
It’s not a rip-snorter like the old GTI (which had 200kw), but as the petrol equivalent of the previous GT diesel it looks like an impressive package.
The 165kw version of Peugeot’s familiar 1.6-litre engine provides decent punch, with a lot of low-down pulling power and some smooth shifting thanks to that eight-speed gearbox.
The gearbox is a boon in the 308 world: lesser 308s stick with the sixspeeder and the same goes for the 3008 and 5008 SUVS, with the exception of the flagship 5008 GT diesel. It means you also get the sci-fi looking electronic gearlever, which
suits the 308’s i-cockpit interior ambience that little bit better.
In Sport mode it has some impressive punch and the transmission changes cogs with an aggressive kick. It’s fast yet fluid.
The GT wears 18-inch wheels of a unique design and the 10mm-lower suspension adds some dynamic ability without too much opportunity cost in terms of ride. You feel it fidgeting over bumpy urban roads, but the chassis still maintains the 308’s status as an everyday hatchback.
Could I do a track day?
That might be going too far. The 308 GT rises above being merely a ‘‘warm hatch’’, but it doesn’t cross over into the edgy territory of a fullblown hot hatch.
It’s definitely more a quick road car than circuit monster. Think of it as a warm hatch with chervil.
Does it feel special?
It’s an accomplished but very subtle car. Perhaps too subtle for some, in both appearance and dynamic character.
If you have an appreciation of these types of cars, the GT is still a satisfying experience – a great balance between swift performance and day-to-day driving pleasure.
Aside from the extra 68kw over the Gt-line, the GT has adaptive cruise control (not as fully featured as the 508’s though), Alcantara
upholstery, additional colour instrumentation and those larger 18-inch alloys.
It’s a nice package and any 308 always seems a little special with its idiosyncratic i-cockpit layout, with the tiny steering wheel set very low and the instrument binnacle up high.
It’s a polarising setup but we’re on the positive team. Once you get used to it, the controls feel quite intimate.
A seat upgrade would add to the sporty appeal.
You can go to Nappa Club leather (including power lumbar and massage) for $3500, but not a specifically sports seat like the 308 GTI.
Any other cars I should consider?
A family hatch that offers a sporting experience without overdoing it: the benchmark for most would be the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which is around the same power (169kw) as the 308 GT, quicker . . . but a lot more expensive at $56k.
Kia has similar issues to Peugeot with its GT-LINE/GT naming conventions, but at the more serious end is the 150kw Cerato GT at the same $42k.
Hyundai’s version of the same is the i30 N-line, which is a nondisappointing ‘‘Line’’ model because it also has the 150kw engine. Price: $46,990.
Or as a wild card, how about a Mini Cooper S five-door? It packs 141kw and starts at $45,600.