C’est si bon

£33,900

FOR Striking looks, refined, well made, efficiency

AGAINST Chassis lacks sparkle, interior still polarises opinion

Peugeot is pushing upmarket and reasserting its commitment to la différence. The new 308’s dramatic aesthetic keeps the faith with the quasi-concept car look of its crossover siblings, and premieres a punchy new grille and logo.

Inside, the i-Cockpit has been reworked, while the standard 10in touchscreen is easier to use and newly available with a row of i-Toggle shortcut buttons. GT and GT Premium Lines get a cool but faddish 3D floating display, and the whole lot can be endlessly configured to suit personal preference. Eight drivers can set their profile, there’s wireless screen mirroring, and two phones can be connected to the Bluetooth simultaneously. The steering wheel still looks like a small spaceship, and it sits so low you could drive the 308 with your kneecaps. But the seats are superb, especially in top GT Line trim where they’ve won a certification of excellence from some German chiropractors.

We spent most time in the Hybrid 180 – from £33,900 in Allure Premium spec. It’s powered by a 1.6-litre PureTech petrol engine augmented by an 81kW (109bhp) electric motor and a 12kWh lithium-ion battery, hooked up to an 8spd auto.

The 308 uses an updated version of the EMP2 platform that underpinned the previous model and uses MacPherson struts upfront and a torsion beam rear. On paper it’s off the pace compared with the Ford Focus and pricier versions of the Merc A-Class, but in reality you barely notice. The Hybrid 180 majors on modish qualities like refinement and efficiency rather than handling smarts. The generous soundproofing helps and only a modest amount of kerfuffle around the A-pillars and door mirrors upsets the calm. Especially in full electric mode, in which the promised 37 miles of range seems realistic.

A little panel and raised controller on the driver’s side allows you to flick between reverse, neutral and drive. There’s also a ‘driving style selector’ that governs various modes: electric, hybrid, eco, normal and sport, depending on powertrain.

On a near 40-mile loop, we stayed in electric mode for about half the distance, resulting in fuel consumption equivalent to about 80mpg (note the claimed figure is 213mpg). Fitted with the optional 7.4kW onboard charger, it takes 1hr 55mins to fully replenish the battery using a 7.4kW wall box; otherwise it’s 3hrs 50mins. Remote charging and preheating can be done via an app.

Despite the outré looks and madcap interior, this is a seriously solid effort.