New Peugeot 308
FIRST DRIVE We see if update can bring hatch back into contention
Updated hatch boosts appeal with more tech, greater efficiency
WHEN a manufacturer launches a new car, it often draws attention away from its established siblings. That’s exactly what happened with Peugeot; the classy, hi-tech 3008 SUV was such a revelation that it was crowned our sister title Carbuyer’s Car of the Year for 2017. But it also made the Peugeot 308 look a little out of date.
To give the hatchback a fresh lease of life, and a chance against newer rivals like the Vauxhall Astra and Renault Mégane, Peugeot has carried out a round of mid-life revisions. Before the first cars arrive in the UK in September, we’ve sampled the new model in Germany to see if it can take the fight to the best small family cars on sale.
Exterior changes focus on the front end, with a more prominent grille, reshaped headlamps and standard-fit LED daytime running lights. There’s a new bumper, too, designed to bring the 308 into line with the French car maker’s successful SUV. The claweffect rear lights are now standard fit – and for safety’s sake they stay on at all times. New wheel designs complete the look.
Climb aboard and you’ll have to search to spot any changes. The 9.7-inch touchscreen gets fresh graphics, new fabrics feature on lower-spec cars while Tomtom Live and smartphone connectivity in the form of Apple Carplay and Android Auto have been added. But the design is identical; it’s still attractive and materials are plush, but it’s a shame it lacks the new 3008’s digital cockpit and intuitive toggle switchgear.
Ergonomics will still be an issue for some, too. Drivers of certain sizes and shapes will find it difficult to find a comfortable driving position where the small steering wheel doesn’t obscure the dials. And despite new pinch-to-zoom functionality for the sat-nav, the touchscreen still isn’t particularly easy to operate. Changing the temperature can be fiddly, too, due to the fact the buttons are hidden deep within the central display.
Still, there’s no arguing with the kit tally on our Gt-line model, which gets sporty styling and 18-inch alloys, a panoramic glass roof, full LED headlights and a reversing camera as standard. All that with prices broadly the same as before.
There are big advances on the safety front, too, albeit with most of the key systems only featuring on the optional equipment list. A more advanced autonomous braking set-up can operate
“Exterior changes focus on the front end, with a more prominent grille and reshaped headlamps”