- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
133kW, 400Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2014)
Peugeot 308 GT first drive review
Looking to exploit a niche lying between vanilla small cars and established hot hatches, Peugeot set out to find a compromise with the new 308 GT.
This has been a popular journey lately, with affordable models such as the Hyundai i30 SR, Nissan Pulsar SSS and Holden Cruze SRi-Z tempting keen drivers with additional power and sporty suspension along with a price tag well short of the $40,000 asked by blue-chip hot hatches.
But Peugeot put itself in dangerous territory with a sporting hatch that by its own admissions lacks the edge of more focused rivals, yet costs the same as a Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The brand put forward mixed messages about the car.
Its Australian general manager, John Startari, says the new 308 GT is "extremely capable", inviting journalists to a race track "to prove the 308 GT's prowess", while adding that "GT does not equal GTI" and that the car is intended to maintain "the comfort of a car you would drive daily".
Similarly, Peugeot product manager Pavel Meck says the 308 GT "is, for lack of a better description, a warm hatch", but adds that it has a power-to-weight ration that places it between the Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST, and compares "very well with vehicles more powerful than itself".
Priced from $41,990 plus on-road costs, the 308 GT has plenty of extras to justify the premium over lesser models. A suite of driver aids including self-parking, active cruise control and blind spot monitoring systems is fitted as standard, along with other luxuries including LED headlamps and a sporty body kit.
The car's cabin is a delight, with sports seats trimmed in grippy Alcantara and a chubby flat-bottomed steering wheel finished with red stitching. A large infotainment screen, dedicated music hard drive, satellite navigation and Bluetooth are par for the course, as is Peugeot's unique cabin layout that places the driver's speedometer and other dials high on the dashboard.
A new platform shared with Citroen's C4 Picasso is key to the 308's appeal. Weighing in at just 1173kg in petrol form, the 308 is 140 kilograms lighter than the Golf GTI and 240 kilograms lighter than the Focus ST, an attribute that has a pleasant effect on its driving experience.
The 308 family is generally light on its feet, treading gently over bumps and scooting up inclines without the weighty effort exhibited by rival hatchbacks.
But lower, firmer suspension with large 18-inch wheels robs the GT of the base model's easy going appeal, trading plushness for poise in a bid to satisfy keen drivers.
Light steering responds quickly to driver inputs, the car faithfully following direction on the open road. Peugeot worked to retain suppleness to the car's ride that in turn lends more body roll than enthusiasts will appreciate, and conservative suspension settings have its Michelins squealing earlier than you might expect.
A champion rally driver on hand to help demonstrate the car's abilities let on that it is almost impossible to make that hatch oversteer on track, something that could never be said of more focused models. The GT feels unwieldy during brisk direction changes with little of the athleticism buyers might expect from a sporting Peugeot.
The car is pleasant when driven sedately on country roads, but drivers looking for "extremely capable" dynamics will be disappointed.
While the GT's suspension isn't set to thrill, its pair or four-cylinder engines are excellent examples of the breed. The new hatch is available with a petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission or in diesel automatic trim for an extra $1000.
The 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine produces 151kW and 285Nm, enough to accelerate to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds. Smooth and refined, the motor builds power progressively with a touch of lag as the turbocharger finds boost.
That six-speed manual has long throws and a slightly vague action that can result in missed shifts if handled without authority. A redeveloped auto in the diesel model is a better bet, with revised internals that allow for a direct transfer of power, avoiding the slurring sensation that can affect poorly-developed alternatives.
Muscular outputs of 133kW and 400Nm help the diesel GT scoot to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds, helped by shift paddles that allow drivers to mine its rich torque reserves.
Both models feature a sports mode that increases steering weight while adding an artificial blare to the exhaust note that may divide opinions. The car is not a natural singer, and a quick inspection of twin chrome exhausts on the rear bumper reveals that neither is hooked up to the car's emissions system. Twin pipes on the left side exit downwards well before the car's faux outlet; the right hole is purely for show with no connection whatsoever to the exhaust.
In a way that captures the 308 GT, a model with the appearance of something special that doesn't quite deliver on the road. But its generous equipment list, beautiful execution and peppy engines should put it on plenty of shopping lists.
Not too hot and not too cold, for some buyers this Peugeot will prove to be just right.
Peugeot 308 GT pricing and specifications
Price: From $41,990 (petrol) or $42,990 (diesel) plus on-road costs
On sale: Now
Engines: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 151kW at 6000rpm (petrol), 133kW at 3750rpm (diesel)
Torque: 285Nm at 1750-4000rpm (petrol), 400Nm at 2000rpm (diesel)
Transmission: 6-speed manual (petrol), 6-speed auto (diesel), front-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 5.6L/100km (petrol), 4.0L/100km (diesel)