Name: Peugeot 308 Review
Item: Peugeot 308
Author: Gumtree.com

First launched in the UK in 2007, the Peugeot 308 is a small family hatchback with a large amount of style. There’s room in the back for adults or carseats, so it’s great for the school run or going on trips with friends. It’s available in a range of trims and engine sizes and with a petrol, diesel or micro-hybrid engine to suit your needs. If you’re looking to top up your style even further, consider the 308 CC – a hardtop coupe with a lifting roof. This medium-sized Peugeot is usually a good value second-hand buy, whether you go for a model built before or after it was updated in 2014.

Check out the Peugeot 308 model page for available cars and more info.

What we think about the Peugeot 308

The Peugeot 308 is a practical yet classy smaller family car.

Pros

Lots of space inside

Great range of engine options

Comfortable ride

Cons

–

Mediocre reliability rating

–

Older models starting to look a little dated

Available as a petrol, diesel or micro-hybrid, the Peugeot 308 is a five-door hatch with plenty of space inside. There are lots of options for engine size, and efficiency ranges between 30 and 70 mpg depending which you go for. There are five trim levels, running from entry-level Active to several top-line GT variants.

Driving performance of the Peugeot 308

Our Driving Rating8 / 10

From behind the wheel, the Peugeot 308 feels competent and quite fun to drive. Good body roll control and strong brakes on all models mean you’ll feel safe and in control. The suspension is tuned to give a comfortable ride, and your ears will thank you too, as there’s very little wind or road noise. Petrol versions do tend to be a bit louder, but neither will stop you talking to passengers. Driving performance in the 308 is fairly consistent across all trims and specs – if you’re on the lookout for sportier handling, check out the 308 GTi version.

Safety and reliability of the Peugeot 308

Our Safety Rating8 / 10

With a full five stars from Euro NCAP assessments in both 2009 and 2013, the Peugeot 308 is a top-of-the-range choice when it comes to passenger safety. All models have six airbags and some newer ones even have seven for full crash protection. All have electronic stability control and antilock brakes, with more modern iterations also including features like cruise control. In the backseat, you’ll find Isofix points for securing child seats safely. There aren’t any common recurring problems with the 308, but Peugeot’s reliability reputation isn’t notable, especially for older vehicles. Always check the service history and look over the vehicle to make sure it’s been well cared for.

Under the bonnet of the Peugeot 308

Our Engine Rating7 / 10

Both petrol and diesel 308s are available in a range of engine sizes and with manual or automatic transmission. There’s also the eHDi diesel option, which is a ‘micro-hybrid’ – it uses battery boost to improve efficiency, but not as much as most mild hybrids do. Pre-2014 engine options include the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre (120 bhp) petrol VTi, as well as 1.6-litre and 2.0 (150 bhp) diesel engines. The smallest petrol engine feels a little underpowered, but all of the others are well-matched to the car. Modern 308s have a similar range of engine sizes, though all are slightly more powerful than the corresponding older model. From 2017, there’s also a petrol GTi model with a 1.6-litre engine and 256 bhp.

What you'll find in the Peugeot 308

Our Design Rating7 / 10

With its eye-catching hot hatch looks, the Peugeot 308 is smart and distinctive. It’s available in eight different colour options including shades of blue, grey, white and red. Peugeot have kept roughly the same trim options throughout for the 308. These range from the budget-friendly Access and Active to the extra-fancy Allure, which adds more feature options and luxurious interior trimmings. If you’re after speed, go for a model with the GT spec, or the GTi spec for an even sportier experience. There’s also the 308 CC to consider, a coupe version with a folding hardtop roof.

Comfort and interiors in the Peugeot 308

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

Inside, the 308 is comfortable and more spacious than many family hatches. There’s reasonable headroom and legroom in the backseat as well as the front. However, if you’re transporting three adults in the back, they may find it a little tight on shoulder room. On a brighter note, all models have five doors, making them easy to get in and out of. There’s a surprisingly large boot too, and models with the Allure trim have handy storage drawers under the rear seats. The interior finish is classy looks-wise but durable too, so you can travel in style without compromising on functionality and longevity.

What features you'll find in the Peugeot 308

Our Features Rating7 / 10

Pre-2014 models of the Peugeot 308 have a good range of standard features including fully electric windows, air conditioning, a radio/CD player, a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. Upgrading to a higher trim adds cruise control, automatic wipers and lights, and nifty two-zone climate control for pleasing fussy passengers. More recent versions have front and rear park sensors as standard, as well as a touchscreen multimedia system for infotainment and navigation. Check out the Allure trim to get leather accents on the seats and a rear parking camera. If you’re interested in more gadgets, go for a Tech Edition model to get the best options.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Peugeot 308

Our Fuel Consumption Rating7 / 10

If efficiency is your number one priority, go for the eHDi micro-hybrid version of the 308 – the 2013 version does 70 mpg and emits just 103 g/km of carbon dioxide. In general, versions with smaller engines offer better fuel economy. The 2017 1.2-litre petrol PureTech 130 model is rated as doing 54 mpg and emitting 119 g/km, while the 1.5-litre diesel makes a slightly more efficient 66 mpg and emits 137 g/km. Sportier engines mean higher prices at the fuel pump of course, and the most recent 308 GTi claims just 37 mpg. The Peugeot 308 weighs 1327kg, though this varies slightly with year and specification, so do due diligence on any specific model you’re looking at.

Running costs of the Peugeot 308

Our Cost Rating6 / 10

The Peugeot 308 is usually a good value second-hand buy, as long as the car you’re considering is in good condition and the service history doesn’t indicate any problems. They’re fairly common and use standard Peugeot parts, so any repairs or services should be reasonably priced. Insurance costs vary a lot with engine size and trim level. Low-spec models with small engines tend to sit in insurance groups 13-18, while fancier and more powerful models go up to group 25. The latest GTi version even makes it up into group 30, so be warned that it can get a little costly for its size.

Our verdict of the Peugeot 308

4 / 5 Gumtree rating

This small family hatch is a practical choice with a surprising amount of space inside. Most models are efficient and cheap to run, and there are lots of options to suit your preferences.

Peugeot 308 Review