Following the switching of local distributors and the introduction of the brilliant 3008 medium SUV, Peugeot’s Australian renaissance continues with the introduction of the mid-life update for the 308 hatchback and wagon to compete with rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and Hyundai i30.
Whilst earning some light styling changes and added equipment, the 308 lineup has been revised to just three main model lines – Active, Allure and GTi. The diesel-only 308 Touring wagon continues with one specification, and the 308 range pricing now starts from $1,000 less at $26,990 plus on-road costs.
308 Hatch
As before, the 308 hatch is available in two specification levels: the $26,990 Active and $31,990 Allure – both prices have fallen $1,000 compared with pre-update models. Both the Active and Allure continued to be powered by Peugeot’s award winning 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, with 96kW of power and 230Nm of torque. Both are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, and list performance as 0-100km/h in 11 seconds, and combined fuel economy of between 5.0 and 5.1L/100km. CO2 emissions are listed as between 113 and 115g/km.
Despite offering no true base model (the Active is equipped like many mid-spec competitors), the 308 offers good equipment levels in both specs. 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, six airbags, automatic headlights and wipers, a 9.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a reversing camera, inbuilt satellite navigation and driver attention alert are standard equipment.
Disappointingly, no active safety aside from the driver monitoring system is available on the Active – competitors such as the Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf offer equipment such as autonomous emergency braking on all models.
Spend more on the $31,990 Allure and you earn larger 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high beams, a rear centre armrest with cupholders, alcantara/TEP seat upholstery, an added 12V socket in the rear console, electric-folding mirrors with puddle lamps, as well as a whole host of active safety equipment such as blind-spot monitoring, active lane keep assist, advanced driver attention alert and speed limit information become standard equipment.
Available optionally on the 308 Allure is a $35,990 2.0-litre turbo diesel producing 110kW/370Nm, matched to a six-speed automatic. Its 4.4L/100km combined fuel economy figure and 114g/km CO2 rating are slight improvements on the 308 wagon. The 308 hatch continues with its 435-litre seats up bootspace, opening up to 1,274-litres with the seats folded.
308 GTi 270
In Australia, the 308 GTi used to be offered in two levels – a 184kW GTi 250 variant, and a 200kW GTi 270 variant, with the 270 also receiving larger wheels and a mechanical limited-slip differential. For 2018, the GTi 250 has been cut from the range, and a large $4,000 cut from the price of the GTi 270 – now $45,990 plus on-road costs. The 200kW/330Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol four continues as before, as does the six-speed manual transmission.
The GTi 270 adds onto the Allure’s specification with a whole host of sporty upgrades to appeal to hot hatch enthusiasts. Large 19-inch alloy wheels with 380mm-diameter front disc brakes hiding behind them are complemented by a redesigned and more aggressive bodykit, with large air intakes and twin tailpipes at the rear. The interior welcomes sportier details such as bucket seats upholstered in black leather and alcantara suede with red stitching, and a smattering of GTi badges around the cabin and exterior.
Peugeot claims performance figures as 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds, with a 250km/h top speed. Combined fuel consumption is listed as 6.0L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 139g/km. Aside from sporty details, the 308 GTi 270 also adds an alarm system, messaging functionality for the front seats and the Peugeot Driver Sport Pack, which allows drivers to further personalise the driving aspects of the car such as the driving mode. A lack of a spare wheel pushes the 308 GTi 270’s bootspace to 470-litres with the seats up, and 1,309-litres with them folded.
308 Touring wagon
As with the pre-facelifted 308 range, the wagon bodystyle of the 308 is only available in upper spec Allure, and only with the same 110kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel and six-speed automatic drivetrain combination as the Allure hatch. Priced from $37,990 plus on-road costs (-$1,000 on MY17 models), Peugeot claims that the 308 Touring HDi consumes just 4.6L/100km combined, with claimed CO2 emissions of 119g/km.
The 308 Allure HDi’s pricing now starts $1,000 less than before at $37,990 plus on-road costs. Standard equipment for the Allure wagon follows the hatchback, with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high beam, a leather wrapped steering wheel, Peugeot’s i-Cockpit dials, a 9.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a reversing camera with parking sensors, inbuilt satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, active lane keep assist, advanced driver attention alert, blind spot monitoring and rear traffic alert though curiously, autonomous emergency braking and radar cruise control still remain unavailable, even at this specification.
The 308 wagon’s strength is its load carrying capacity. At 625-litres with the rear seats up, it eclipses all of its small wagon competitors, and its 1,740-litres figure with the seats down also eclipses cars such as the Holden Astra Sportwagon, Volkswagen Golf wagon and Skoda Octavia wagon.
At this stage, further variants such as the 308 GT with a higher-powered diesel and Peugeot’s first eight-speed automatic available overseas are yet to be confirmed for Australian sales. Considering the GT’s former place in Australia, in the 308’s current advertising campaign and place on the front page of Peugeot’s local website, one would assume that it will be part of the 308 range sooner rather than later.
2018 Peugeot 308 pricing (plus on-road costs):
Active hatch 96kW 1.2-litre turbo petrol automatic: $26,990
Allure hatch 96kW 1.2-litre turbo petrol automatic: $31,990
Allure hatch 110kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel automatic: $35,990
GTi 270 hatch 200kW 1.6-litre turbo petrol manual: $45,990
Allure wagon 110kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel automatic: $37,990
Options:
Panoramic glass sunroof: $1,000 (all models)
Leather upholstery with heated front seats: $2,500 (Allure)
18-inch alloy wheels: $700 (Allure)
Metallic paint: $590 or $1,050 depending on colour
Coupe Franche two-tone paint (GTI only): $3,000
Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for news regarding the local Peugeot range. Read our review of the 3008 SUV here.
