Peugeot’s new pride
Are you green with envy? You should be. I’ve just been driving Peugeot’s new 308 hatchback — available for the first time as a plug-in hybrid. Order books open this month ahead of first deliveries in January and in a bold move, the standard launch colour is a striking metallic shade called Olivine Green.
You don’t pay extra either, while other shades will set you back £275.
Prices for the 308 hatchback range start at £24,000 for the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol Active Premium. But I was driving the most powerful and expensive version — the 225 hp petrolelectric plug-in hybrid GT Premium, costing £38,800.
Linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the car was powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine enhanced by an 81 kW electric motor and a 12.4 kWh battery which propels it from rest to 62mph in a feisty 7.5seconds, to a top speed of 146 mph.
It really is ‘green’ too. The car can travel for up to 37 miles in zero-emissions electric-only mode, with average CO2 emissions overall of just 26g/km — provided you do charge it up.
The less-powerful plug-in hybrid 180hp 308 in Allure trim starts at £33,000, rising to £37,400 for the GT Premium trim. For more space, there’s a 308 SW estate from £25,200.
The new generation has a sharper look to its bold exterior, and is the first model to wear the new Peugeot roaring lion’s head emblem. The shield-shaped logo also houses radar sensors used by the autonomous driving aids.
All plug-in hybrid variants come with a 3.7kW onboard charger which takes 3hrs 50min for a full battery.
Inside the smart cabin, what hits you is the 3D-effect i-Cockpit configuration, with a 10in HD capacitive colour touchscreen.
Latest safety features and advanced driver assist technologies include programmable cruise control; lane-keeping assist; speed limit and traffic sign recognition; driver attention warning; and a safety brake with pedestrian and cyclist detection.
A range of advanced petrol and diesel engines includes the 1.2litre 130hp PureTech 130 eAT8, and the 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 eAT8 diesel, delivering 130 hp.
Active Premium-level models are diesel or petrol only, above that are Allure, Allure Premium, GT and GT Premium trim levels.