By: Minesh Bhagaloo
Calais, France - You’d be forgiven for wondering why this Peugeot is not in fact called the 309, as it is, after all, an all-new car.
According to the French carmaker its badging strategy has changed going forward, with the 3 signifying the segment, the 0 the DNA (double-zeros annotate the company’s SUV and MPV ranges), and the 8 showing the level of comfort within the series (overseas markets get a 301, which is a significantly more entry-level car).
In other words then the 308 nameplate is here to stay, with the all-new car arriving in SA in March next year.
After spending some time with the latest 308 at the international media launch in France last week, it’s safe to say that the 2014 European Car of the Year winner is a substantial offering, and depending on how the product is priced when it lands here it should give VW Golf and Ford Focus buyers something very real to think about.
SMALLEST IN SEGMENT
With a length of 4.25m the 308 is the most compact hatch in the segment (it’s 3cm shorter than the outgoing model) and it does have a sleek and compact look going for it. It’s also lower and wider than its predecessor, overhangs are shorter all round (thanks to the carmaker’s new EMP2 platform – which makes wheels nearer to corners possible), and at 965kg it’s 140kg lighter than its predecessor (thanks to the new platform, lighter steels and aluminium, and the new shape).
It’s pleasant on the eye too, sleek and elegant. The front end has a large “floating” grille finished in chrome, thin LEDs, and a wide air intake. Side mirrors are shaped like pebbles; while the tail of the new Lion proffers a curved tailgate from Peugeot’s SR1 concept car. The tail lights are especially cool, with their LED claw-look – but the squared rear-quarter windows are a bit of an anomaly.
Behind that tailgate sits 470 litres of lugging space (1 228 with seats down), of which 35 litres live in storage compartments under the boot floor – while making loading in the premium hatch easier is a low sill and wide boot aperture. Rear passenger space is quoted as segment rivaling, but is no bigger than the previous car.
CLEAN CABIN DESIGN
Inside the 308 is Peugeot’s new “i-Cockpit” layout, with accommodation divided into four key areas – compact steering, a head-up instrument panel that offers more info than traditional head-up displays, a raised centre console, and a large 9.7” touchscreen. The interior’s a clean design with very few buttons across the fascia and everything controlled by the fancy touchscreen, and high quality soft-touch finishes.
Some may be troubled by the carmaker’s insistence of using a small steering wheel in front of the raised clocks, which blocks your view of speed and revs. This seems to work better in the new 308, with clock fonts curved to follow the rim of the wheel, and seat position more friendly to the predicament.
The touchscreen works intuitively and with one touch, but conveniences like the aircon should have shortcut buttons – going through the menus to change fan speed while driving is a hindrance.
THREE-CYLINDER TURBO
Powering the 308 at launch in SA in March next year will be a three-cylinder 1.2 turbo pushing 96kW and 230Nm to front rubber. It will be available in six-speed manual only, will be badged as a GT Line derivative (meaning a generous spec level), and should the Rand hold steady will set you back around R339 000.
This is also the model we drove at the world launch, and I’m still finding the outputs churned by that little tyke hard to believe. At sea level you have to remind yourself of the cubic capacity at play here, with zero lag and chihuahua-like throttle response on offer. A prod of the Sport button elicits a rorty soundtrack through the cabin and a more-awake right pedal.
The 308 feels surefooted too, which the new and lighter modular platform plays a role in – as does the car’s 20mm lower centre of gravity, new suspension, better turning circle and tweaked dampers.
Peugeot’s latest feline claws its way elegantly through corners at higher speeds, with direction fed through electronic steering which doesn’t have an over-assisted feel. There’s a nice balance between outputs and suspension going on here, which encourages you to explore the limits of the car. If I had to be picky, I’d say the rear set-up felt a little crashy under load over speed bumps.
Following on the 1.2 turbo GT Line’s launch in March next year will be the 308 Active in June – which runs the force-fed 1.2 from the Cactus (81kW/205Nm), mated to five-speed manual. But September is when things really spice up, with the launch of the 308 GT which pushes 150kW and 285Nm.