NEW Peugeot 308 review: the posh Peugeot?
Peugeot is moving upmarket, but has it gone too far with the new 308?
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The humble family hatchback has fallen out of favour with buyers craving an SUV, but all the major brands still have something to offer in the segment - not least because hatchbacks still sell in reasonable numbers. Which is why Peugeot has introduced a new 308.
We won’t dwell on the car’s looks for too long, although Peugeot has worked hard to give the 308 a distinctive style that makes some of its competitors look a tad dull. The firm’s trademark ‘fang’ daytime running lights sit astride pinched LED headlights that flow into the grille, and there are plenty of creases and slashes in the bodywork heading to the rear, which features ‘three-claw’ rear lights.
It all looks very premium, and this feel continues inside, with our GT Premium-spec car boasting a classy mix of fabric, piano-black plastic and man-made leather. But how does Peugeots push upmarket translate out on the road? Nicola Hume finds out in this in-depth review.
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Chapters
00:00 Does this look like a Peugeot?
00:26 All about the 308
1:06 Diesel engine noise and performance
2:05 Handling and ride
3:16 Tricky driving position
4:20 Interior
5:44 Luggage space
5:54 Design: what do the public think?
I've got one of these. Really like it, engine pullls really well for a 1.2, good lease deals too.
Can someone explain her that the steering wheel is totally adjustable ? Been driving a Peugeot since 2018, I got used to the steering whee in less than 5 minutes and I absolutely love it. Same about my wife. You guys need to stop spreading BS about Peugeot's steering wheel. It's just great.
That's correct. I'm astounded at the driving position many reviewers use. (not Nicola).
Steering wheel is adjustable but if you raise it to clear your legs it completely obstructs the instruments - unusable for many and frankly a bit daft
Steering wheel is a design fault IMO ..glad to ditch my e2008 with same issue..not very safe if you cannot see the FULL drivers display..mentioned in every review for a reason!
God help me, i hate these reviewers that complain about the steering wheel. You can clearly see that she has the steering wheel to low, and too far forward. ……SO GUESS WHAT, lift the steering wheel up, its not that hard!!!!!
I really really like this reviewer! Her style is so much more personable than many others
Making the piece more about you and less the product is offputting and smarmy.
Great review guys, love the vox pop on the styling!
Love your reviews, Nicola! Very entertaining and proper opinions, rather than stat regurgitation. Great job!
Lovely review mate and great idea to talk to the average Joe. The car is definitely appealing and they have done a good job. Thumbs up given 👍
Will you guys do the DS4 2022?.
I love that Peugeot is trying to move upmarket with much more stylish models like this new 308 😃👍
They’re succeeding too
It’s a Peugeot. It’s not upmarket.
Peugeot has been upmarket since 2014 with T9 308 it was an absolutely stunning car and still to this day is. High quality materials, superb design, reliable and great to drive.
@@bigchief2331 still a Peugeot.
@@raftonpounder6696 what's that supposed to mean champ? Peugeot is the oldest marque in the world and they produce brilliant cars with excellent engineering
Favorite bit, the double denim 👌
Love your style for review, hope another episode for this car. I still in my T7 308 2012, handling superb but firm. This new one are have softer suspension? Unfortunately, daeler here only sale the SUV 3008 and so on.
Making the piece more about you and less the product is offputting and smarmy.
Such a great product, we’re waiting for here in México, and of course a lots of inventory hehe , Greetings.
since peugeot launched 3008 in 2017 which i own btw in the GT trim which also won the car of the year in Europe since then peugeot doing a fantastic job everyone who sees the cabin thinks it's a lambo and the exterior designs r even more amazing well done peugeot
Love your 3008gt still the nicest suv in the segment
Still waiting on my 308 GT Premium (180 hybrid). No date for build/delivery yet and ordered late Jan.
Did you get it?
It looks beautiful from the front especially.
My daily is Subaru STI but I still like driving my mum's diesel 308 when I'm taking it for a service or an occasional drive (it doesn't get driven much).
Oh yes! definitely good looking car! We here in the Philippines They presented the 2008 and 3008 recently, both are marvelous crossover, how i wish i could buy one. 😊
Am I the only one that prefers the old badge? I got a 3008 in October and was delighted that it came with the old badge!
Does the badge really matter!!!!!!
Yes, I agree - the new badge looks very cheap to me
Great review Nicola looks a nice car but which one in the class would you choose? Golf, 308, Astra, DS4?
I'd buy a Honda 😉
@@rjung_ch 😂
Great video
The interior is white! Which version are you driving?
The nose sounded like you had the sport mode selected thus playing fake engine noise through the speakers.
It was noisy but I sort of liked that growly noise.
Peugeot are really stepping up their game lately, the 308 and 408 are handsome looking cars interiors really nice too. Much better than some current premium models👌 The 208 is an awesome wee looking car! Seems to be a trend for Peugeot they go through phases of making really good cars then go through a phase of not so good cars the back to good again. Looks like we are in a good design stage at the moment. I have to say though the people on the street?? It's clearly a Peugeot they all have the same or similar front end haha
What’s a 408
@@ST-ur7oh sorry that should say 508, the old 408's replacement the new 408 won't be out until 2023 I think.
'lately...' hmm. That's been the case since 2014 at least.
If you are going on looks then the GT version is more premium with a better grill, front and side body skirts, matrix headlights and 3D rear lights. 18" alloys too although those didn't make as much of a difference as I thought compared with the 17". I saw several new 308 side by side yesterday at my local dealership. The SW version looks great too.
Apart from some design tweaks it still looks like the previous 308, really wasn’t hard to guess. Why didn’t you raise the steering wheel if it was hitting your legs?
She is great
Agree...especially in tight jeans
It looks front heavy to me as though the front wheels need moving forwards
looks awesome
I still don't understand why Peugeot gave 'Allure' specification models to AutoExpress and CarWow; the GT models look even more premium and stylish!
If you put the steering wheel higher would it block the gauges?
Yup, that's why it's stupid.
Yes it is a design fault, same as e-2008, had it a very long 3 years ,now rid of it thankfully. Can't believe they got it so wrong and did the same in the 308!
It's unmistakably Peugeot, I don't understand who sees Renault in that design. The current Megane (not the E-Tech) just looks like a first-gen Mercedes GLA body with Renault DeZir Concept bits stuck on... Nice car, but it's been a bit generic since the achy-breaky big booty model. Peugeot's squinting front end styling is legendary, I'm glad they've stuck with it and evolved it. It's like what BMW do with their kidney grills, but the cars actually got sexier in this case, I'd say
Personally I prefer the Renault Megane, the 308 looks like a Citroen C4 to me.
I had 2 405 GTXs j the 1990s and I loved them., but I’m really not sure about that weird driving position. Glad Peugeot are heading back to producing quality drivers cars again!
New non plugin hybrid added to 308 range. No reviews yet. ( 1.2 Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 )
The new badge reminds me of a Proton 🤣
The new badge is in fact return of the old Peugeot badge from the 1960s. That’s long before Proton briefly existed!
@@dgbservices6049 I didn't know that
@@dgbservices6049 Yes - I think the 403 & 404 had a similar badge - I'll have a look at my old photos of my 404.
Actually for me it's very typical Peugeot. And Nicola is typical Nicola as always 🤗
Of course it is a typical Peugeot but this host doesn't even get it.... yet she makes reviews about cars.... That's how this channel loses all its credibility.
She has no clue what she's driving. icockpit (looking over the wheel at the gauges) has been out since 2012.... yet still car journos can't get their heads round it 🤦♂️
Could those people at the end have been any more clueless?
I know right, it’s a bit insulting to suggest it looks like something from Ford
Great review as always Nicola! No Panny Roof then! That steering wheel dash thing is really weird. Looks in this case are in the eye of the beholder. I must be in the minority but it is just another odd-looking oversized mid-range hatchback that doesn't work for me. It's trying too hard to be different. You are the princess of auto reviews! Keep up the great work girl! Auto Express needs to give you some proper cars to review! (sorry Sutters!)
Making the piece more about you and less the product is offputting and smarmy.
Looks like a Peugeot to me
Like a very modern 306 to my eyes!
No need for a bonnet that long, looks a bit silly
And when BMW does it then it does not, right?
Nicola, can't you just raise the steering wheel and look through it at the dials? I had a 3008 on loan and that worked for me!
Or move the seat up or down (I gather the driver's seat is electric with up/down movement)
I wonder if Peugeot will ever consider a height-adjustable gauge cluster if i-Cockpit is still going to divide opinion, or will they just be stubborn and stick to it? The design isn't an issue for me, but then again, I _am_ one of those short-legged, long-torsoed people they're presumably aiming this at.
Just get used to it - or stick with your German blandmobile...😁
@@robcowdrey2611 I drive a Peugeot, so...
Can you not raise the steering wheel to get out of the car?
Yes
I am sorry but this review reveals your total incompetence and even condescendence. The whole of Europe knows that Peugeot has been making GREAT CARS, that look utterly stylish and beautiful since at least 2014. Have you not tested or just looked at the Peugeot 3008 ??? The Peugeot 508 ? "It looks nice for a Peugeot"... Peugeot is going premium, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee, as you say in England. It seems that this host isn't aware Peugeot have really levelled up. Sad that so many English people still live in the past, still use silly stereotypes, etc.. about French cars. I am German and I see French cars everywhere in Germany and they look really great, deliver quality and offer better value for money than German cars (which are overly expensive). To sum up : incompetent host who hasn't done her homework. It seems that she is surprised that a Peugeot can be that good and such reaction exposes her incredible ignorance. In Germany, she would have lost her job for gross incompetence.
Perhaps you do not understand the British sense of humour?
@@alanjenkins1508 It wasn't "British sense of humour". She was genuinely shocked that a French car can be that good but you spin it like it was humour. It wasn't. Nice try, "mate".
@@alanjenkins1508 No - it wasn't British sense of humour. She was using the comment as a smart alec entry to the review. And it didn't work (IMHO). The rest of the review was quite OK
Agreed, those "it looks nice for a Peugeot" and "that's what I wanted to hear!" remarks were totally uncalled for amounts of bile spilled. Peugeot has always made beautiful cars, with very few exceptions of some admittedly ugly ones (1007, 4007, first generation pre-facelift 3008). The Brits are renowned for loving anything that Ford and VW put out and talking down the French brands. It's sort of a tradition of theirs at this point and not to be taken seriously, really. 😄
Great looking car but that dash will put off a substantial number of potential customers,
Making the piece more about you and less the product is offputting and smarmy.
Looks like a Mazda or an Opel (which they acquired) .
Can't afford but I just love it, someone ask Peugeot to send it free of cost to me
I want one too, let's share! 🤣
I enjoyed watching the Video Review. It Is very stylish, however I don’t like the small steering wheel and there Is not much room In the back
I just can't understand why they axed Gilles Vidal who literally saved Pug from bankruptcy with bold new design language.
They didn't axe him, he left for Renault because he wanted a new challenge and had a lucrative offer from Renault. They wanted to keep him, he didn't want to stay.
We are in the enviable position of having a third car for our two CHILDREN 😳😱to share and dogs though they don’t drive..previous car was a golf 7.5, The Peugeot replacement was because the Golf 8 interior was so poor in quality compared to old, the Pug is more stylish feels premium, however the jerky stop and acceleration especially at junctions from gearbox needs attention and is a pain with start/stop if only that was sorted out it would be a great car... it’s annoying enough to mean that when replacing at end of 12month contract (incredibly good value) means another brand but not rubbish Golf8 with scratchiest plastics and ridiculous climate slider that’s not back lit for confusing dangerous eyes off road at nighttime ..oh the driving position in Pug after an hour becomes very natural so don’t let that put you off..yum fruit pastels 😍
I've got 3 Phantoms and a Ferrari
So you have 3 cars and one is just to carry the kids etc why in the world are you even looking at Peugeots or VW clearly have the money to get a BMW X5 or Audi Q5 etc
When did you leave ‘Car Buyer’?
Nose looks just a bit too long ahead of the wheels - otherwise, not a bad looking car. Surprised that manufacturers are still investing in petrol/diesel cars tho - The EV version could be interesting...
Because EV technology is not 100% there yet - so new more efficient petrol and Diesel engines are still in demand.
@@jamessez5826 yes I get that. I bought a new diesel last year because it was the sensible thing to do. Brands like Kia and Hyundai have just about hit the right compromise on range and price with their latest EVs. Peugeot are nearly there with their smaller cars. I don't think I would be buying the ICE version of any newly launched car from now on.
I'm really pleased with my new Peugeot 308 GT petrol, it's a great car. I've had it almost a month and do I regret my decision YES. The reason why is that Peugeot are supplying the new 308 with missing equipment. Mine is missing...heated windscreen, wireless charging, 3D i-Cockpit, heated steering wheel and traction control deactivation. There should be a series of function buttons to the bottom right of the steering wheel. My car just has 5 blanking plates where these should be and this missing kit is not an isolated incident, search for - Peugeot Forum..Missing Specifications. It's my first and last Peugeot. I'm in touch with Peugeot UK but haven't got anywhere yet !!!
They do that so they can add these in when doing small facelifts. Quite sad really.
You didn’t really mention the actual build quality….. I viewed a 208 / 2008 …. The gaps between the dashboard and drivers door were huge …. Very poor …. Mazda is the yardstick for me.
They got it just right, the car looks as good as a bmw 1 series but is way cheaper. But considering the price of fuel today only plug-in hybrids or full electric cars are worth buying.
LPG is still much cheaper for the time being (€2 for diesel or petrol and 86cts for LPG). Makes my acquisition of my Duster worth while.
Lovely car, but I couldn’t get on with it, and I’m 6ft 2in. Shame! Because I really wanted one 🥺
are you sure.. I have previous one and I am 6'4" and it has heaps of room , sooo comfy for a small car
The only thing I’d say about this car that makes it not as recognisable as other Peugeots is the new badge. I wish they’d go back to the old one!
They have gone back to the old one.
@@q3b26Lol the one from the last model I meant. Much prefer a prancing Lion to a decapitated one…
This one looks more posh😊
By far the best hatchback and the a class too
The new badge looks really tacky. I don’t really like the styling, but it’s got more equipment than the SEAT Leon and is well priced
No panny roof ☹️. She loves a panny roof.
top car.
wow, you asked middle age housewife's and a priest to recognize the car...
I really like it !!! Can I have it with 150-180hp ? I don't care if manual or auto! OF COURSE NOT! you can only have it with a low power petrol and diesel engine or as a porky plug-in hybrid with small boot space and very high price
Puts the foot down and says it's noisy. 😆 🤣 😂 The new 308 has nothing my 508 Fastback hasn't got. Yet to hear someone call that posh. It gets the same reactions from people. They don't realise it's a Peugeot. Turns heads everywhere I go!
so hot, great shape, really nice to look at, smart and handsome, really would like to get a ride! ah and the car looks also very nice 😏
It's about ,5k too expensive ... It's a cheap brand going expensive and the badge should reflect it with it going upto its current/slightly increased price over the next 10 years, with the "omg it's such a bargain" buyer bring the line people hear through word of mouth
Now if Peugeot can get it's reliability back to where it was of yesteryear, then they are onto a winner!
How many years ago? I can’t remember them being reliable.
@@raftonpounder6696 go back to the 80's 🤔
it was the most reliable brand in the UK 2019.. they have been very good and reliable for the past decade..
@@Marco-iy7lt their new models have won many reliability awards and reliability surveys prove that they are very reliable
@@stratos8093 got that mixed up myself! The new cars are decent products, I like them a lot to be honest. I own a 207, but is it reliable? ...it's not bad in fairness. The only serious issue I had with the car was the head gasket, took it to a engine builder, resolved the problem and now it's done 110k miles on the clock and is working perfectly fine. Everything else with the car has been very minor with it and because the way Peugeot has engineered the car, it's very simple to fix and hasn't cost me a fortune to maintain. So, overall, I'm actually happy with it. But I do like the new models, such as the latest 308, 208, 508 and 3008. Very good cars overall.
The fang look,not for me atall sorry
Lower seat
Drove it as a rental, needs some tweaks with the sensors as they can be very sensitive in high temp( south of France) but handles better then any car I have ridden. I got about 950KM on one tank(eco mode)
I’m sure it looks nice but who would want to buy it ? Just a few company car buyers would have it the tax levels are ok .
Well compared to Golf Mk8 which we had for 12 months this is far better built and stylish, and in hybrid form and mostly driven in town is very economical 85mpg in 6000 miles average..and as a cheap company car option is incredible value on tax and PCP ...so from that point of view ...people like my family as a third car for town and children to us....
@@alanwayte432 308's (like a lot of Peugeots ) are meant as touring cars. That's their strength.
What Peugeot needs is to create a new RCZ. The world doesn't need yet another station wagon.
Reminds me of a Fiat
The badge just reminds me of a Proton
The "badge" - would rate 5,690 in importance.
@@allanbriggs807 and your point is what actually
@@anthonyfoley5576 The badge is irrelevant. It doesn't make the car go.
Bring out a gti and ill het it
Yes I instantly recognised it as a peugeot, 39mpg is only 13mpg shitter than my 14 year old Honda Civic, which you also have to look over the steering wheel to view your speed, so it's not the first. I'll stick with my 51mpg in the current climate. Also on a subjective note I'd have to say I prefer the look of my Civic than this too. Shame, it looks like a nice vehicle but I just can't get away with hybrid nonsense, why pay for two engines and loads of inefficient weight, that makes no sense to me and with mpg that bad I couldn't justify it in my life in anyway.
I can daily drive the hybrid to work with purely on electric. And if I want to go meet my relatives hundreds of kilometers away I can then do it easily without hassle of electric charging.
I guess it would be illegal to cover up those stupid 'claws?'
No, just stupid. Who redesigns a car by changing, adding bits? Apart from bored kids in dull towns. Bless them.
@@fairybuddy-angel2035 Is it stupid to not like one feature of a design but love the rest of it? I thought it was just down to personal taste...
Mazda 3 my choice
Yeah, currently noone can beat that one, but there is no EV version...
After 3000 miles covered in my wife's 208 1.2 AT, I can say the same about the gearbox. Fine when using it carefully/ on the move. However in stop/ start traffic it can become a nightmare... Not to mention the stop/ start system, which is so intrusive and laggy. These 2 things combined almost ruin the car for us. In the 208... go for the manual, if you can. Obviously not an option in the 308.
Just disable the stop start then. I have it in my 3008 1.5 eat8 hdi and have no problems at all.
Oh, we do… Sadly, this doesn’t sort the jerkiness of the gearbox (also seen/ discussed in this video) and overly sensitive brake pedal which makes driving in town a chore anytime you’re journey is more than 10 minutes or so - it’s just frustrating. Good to hear the 3008 is better though.
Chop it in for a Clio E-Tech hybrid. Drove one in Italy last week whilst on holiday and that drivetrain was like silk. I was seriously impressed as I was expecting it to be crap.
@@mgmarrison 3008 is the way to go
At 6ft 4 I’m always whacking my legs on steering wheels but this looks ridiculous. Style over practicality from the new Peugeots it seems.
I'm 6 3 and it's fine
i never understood where the english see the R in "Peugeot" :D
i am not sure about the timing with this "going upmarket" thing... have you seen your energy bills lately? thanks greens, thanks Biden
To be fair, every Peugeot sounds and feels like it's a diesel...
i will keep my rcz with its full leather interior and better handing and looks, better fuel eco when i drive it sensibly and a manual gearbox and 260bhp
Looks like a Mazda
Half a glovebox and smack your knee on steering wheel. Go for Astra instead. Unless style over substance counts
Amazingly, Peugeot have swapped the fusebox over on the new 308, so you get a full sized glovebox now.
Astras are everywhere. V are owned by PSA group; essentially the same car BUT the Peugeot's are much, much nicer.
i-cockpit is a joke. I like Peugeot but will never buy one with that.
The steering wheel is tiny 😂
Is this Horsham .....
Peugeot trying too hard to be different I think - in some not so good ways. Too gimmicky, poor driving position, steering wheel too low/small, iCockpit is like marmite, and those animations on the main screen will get *so* annoying. Looks are ok but nothing special - a bit 'fat' at the rear end too. I think I'd take the Astra, which is a simpler design but looks better in my opinion. You're looking at £6-8k more for ther hybrid versions too, which is a big chunk of cash. Glad to see they still have a diesel in the range though. Diesel's have been unfairly vilified by the media - a modern one is actually very clean and economical.
Steering wheel is adjustable as are seats.
You eh, have long legs, that’s why your thigh hits the Wheel, us short people ? Won’t be an issue.
fruit pastilles 😳
🏴🥃🥃🏴
The man in the black shirt knows nothing about cars
Peugeot is wilingly making there cars stupid and frustrating. I hate tham for that.
The reason the driving position is weird is becouse you guys are driving on the wrong side of the car 😂
That horribly small steering wheel. That is a deal breaker for me. I cannot deal with that hideous thing. Other than that love everything else about it.
You get used to the small steering wheel.
Peugeot should just admit that the small steering wheel is a stupid idea and go back to a sensible sized wheel so u can see the instruments 🙈
Why on earth would they do that, the small steering wheel is brilliant and I have no trouble seeing the instruments..
u should have try it first and the talk i have a new 3008 and i the small steering wheel is amazing and gives u a unique driving experience i really think all cars should have this small steering wheel
@@Anashere_Narrnda I drove a 2008 from Glasgow to Wales and back, I think I had plenty of time to try it lol set the steering wheel to a comfortable height and I can't see any dials. Drop it lower to see the dials and it's bumping off my knees. It might suit a small minority but for the majority it's not suitable and a terrible design. That's why no other manufacturer does it! Small steering wheels below on track cars.
Nose is too long, Astra for me is better looking
Thankfully you have the choise.