The best small car? 2023 Peugeot 308 review: GT Premium hatch | Mazda3 rival seriously impresses!
On paper, the 2023 Peugeot 308 is up against it in Australia, where in recent times the French brand has been far from popular and the Small Car segment has continued to shrink. But this new generation might just be in the business of bucking these two challenging trends.
In fact, the latest 308 is so good that it just might be the best small car money can buy right now. How we do we know that? CarsGuide Managing Editor Tim Nicholson has spent the past three months loving 'living' with its petrol-powered hatch flagship, the aptly named GT Premium.
But what exactly about the Mazda3 rival does he love? In this expert review, we deep-dive the 308 GT Premium from all fronts, including its pricing, features, safety, design, practicality and, of course, driving characteristics. As always, it's not perfect!
#Peugeot #308 #Review
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00:00 Intro
00:43 Design
02:06 Pricing and features
03:59 Practicality
09:31 Under the bonnet
10:31 Efficiency
11:04 Driving
15:45 Safety
16:14 Ownership
16:37 Verdict
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Read Tim's full review: carsgui.de/47JeeMU
Check out our Peugeot 308 hub: carsgui.de/3OyjjOY
Find more hatchbacks: carsgui.de/3kbB7SL
Visit our UrbanGuide: carsgui.de/2Jz14Ig
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Loving my 308 SW… after moving from a lumbering mid-size SUV. It will probably remain the rarest of vehicles in Australia, but it’s not dulled my enthusiasm for how comfortable and enjoyable it’s to live with everyday.
Good to here I ordered one two days ago. There was a great deal in my country. Its avatar blue with entry trim and petrol engine but has agr seats, the faux leather interior and heated windscreen as extras Just loved the design and on test drive it felt very agile
I went from a Golf MK8 to the new 308, the interior build quality is brilliant compared to the golf
I enjoyed watching the video review 😊
It's one formidable car. It looks so good, it drives really well, interiors are utterly nice, better than anything the Germans make. In continental Europe, Peugeot is considered as mid premium, and going full premium. They have really levelled up big time since 2012-2013 , and it is time to be intellectually honest and admit it. I drove a Peugeot 3008 for two weeks, rented it in Italy, it was the best stuff I have ever driven. So premium, so impressive. Frankly, the 3008 GT is almost a luxury car, and I'm not even exgaggerating. On same level as the best stuff made by Merc or BMW, but for 50.000 less. I'm telling you: Peugeot have levelled up big time.
I had a 2012 308 - brilliant car. the 2.0L diesel had plenty of power - a great drivers car.
Regarding fuel consumption: the figure will vary a lot depending on how much you hammer it. Mine sits at around 7 in the city and 6 outside the city. The driving style matters a lot.
The latest iteration of the 308 is not bad..although I'm a bit over those vertical day running lights. The latest iteration of Tim's fringe I'll have to get back to you about.😉
I’m adaptable but this needs 40-60 more nm, I guess discounts are available, have seen 1 on the road here in Perth, Skoda sales must be keeping the Peugeot dealer here in business.
Love this review!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
nice design, nice colour. right up there with the mazda3 hatch (and volvo s/v90)
you should've said 'opel astra L' instead of the volvo
yeah true. sorry mate.
no worries
Love this review. You understand french idiosyncrasies
My 5008 GT Premium was in for a service and Peugeot gave me one of these. It was great fun for the day but too low for me.
Owners will soon get used to the difficult bonnet opening😅.
I just ordered a white GT with all the options.
Great review. No 5star ANCAP is a deal breaker unfortunately 😢
How many hatches sell at this price range in Austraya. It's PHEV is very attractive but a rip-off. It's peugot's most profitable car but lowest on sales. Leaving all about car, nice video and very informative. Thank you mate.
What size battery does it have??
Huh?? It's not an EV. But Peugeot does have a plugin hybrid model of this 308 GT.
if its hybrid and EV versions will be sold "down under", they have 12.4 kWh battery in PHEV version and in 48V μHEV version it most likely will get a 05 kWh battery... EV version has 54 kWh battery.
I really like the look, the interior ambience and the green paint colour. While everything is currently overpriced, I'd find it challenging to look beyond this given the average fuel economy and performance. I think I'd prefer to pay less and have more fun in a Polo GTI.
You will not have more fun in Polo trust me
@@BrateTebra123he will
@@ApostolosPitsinos-fk4lr Noup, maybe if he said MX-5. It is even cheaper then the 308 and the GTI
Whats it like when going up step hills ?
Absolute cakewalk with that 1.2 L turbo.
One day, in certain countries, a juggernaut will be referred to as a "small car"!
Rented it for a week, stunning!
Have to disagree re most beautiful small car, I think the Mazda 3 hatch is far more premium and stylish in design. This is a sexy car though I have to admit…
Resale value, servicing costs, high price deal breakers… There’s a reason why the Corollas, ravs are so popular. They just tick the most boxes for buyers.
What boxes do they tick ?
@@gregrobins5615 Resale value Maintenance costs Maintenance intervals Price point Fuel efficiency Overall running costs
[x] Dull design @@gregrobins5615
So sad, such a stylish hot hatch without the hot. As it lags the power and it's called a GT 😮😮😮
Does it come with reliability?
Peugeot has been one of the most reliable and best built brands out there for some time now..
@@bigchief2331 🤣 you’re funny
@@donr62 you’re living in the past
@@bigchief2331 my two friends with relatively new dud pugs would disagree but you do you.
No he's not. They are extremely reliable. Peugeot had a problem in the late 90's - early 2000's with quality control. The only other issue was the very early Puretech engines but that has been resolved. One thing I will say is that you need to find a mechanic who knows Peugeots. They are around. Our family has travelled over 10million kms in Peugeots - never had a major problem - that's from 403's right up to present 3008's.@@bigchief2331
Japanese brands build hatchbacks too.
Damn those finger prints in the a-pillar
B pillar.
@@corkeymonster thanks mate. Brain wasn't working
50k, gutless and 11 litres per 100km. Ridiculous! Looks great though
11 liters? Are you crazy? I drive this engine in 208 and I get 5.5 liters. This car can't consume more then 6.5 liters it is just slightly bigger then 208
Great review on a great marque. Australians just don't seem to understand, Peugeot sell in over 160 countries worldwide in very good numbers. Just hope that your Hyundai/Kia won't catch on fire .
Mazda 3 is still the best looking car in this class, Corolla 2nd and then the 308. That olivine green is a delicious colour btw
Externally, I like the look of the Corolla (sedan) best, but as the driver, the external 'look' is lower on my list of preferences than the interior, so the Peugeot 308 is my winner. Mazda third...
Corolla second? Hahahhaaha 😄 🤣 😂
Skoda kamiq has beat car charger
They look good that's all.
Thats not all, drives good, nippy engine and no problem what so ever.
Never driven one have you.
The small steering wheel which blocks out the dials could be a deal breaker for me. I just don’t like the ergonomics
The steering wheel sits below the dials display. It won't block it. It's highly recommended that you test drive the car first to see if you like the positioning.
@@simon1430 I have test driven other Peugeot’s & because I am quite short 5ft 8ish in my driving position it obscures the dials.
@@anakinskywalker4113 I have loved the iCockpit since they first arrived, and I'm even shorter than you, but I can easily find seat/wheel adjustments to suits me! There is only one iCockpit in my stable thus far, but that number is likely to grow as time goes by (more likely the 508, though). The lack of a manual gearbox is what really irks me TBH.
@@joaquinstabbington673 each person to their own. I just can’t get a comfortable position that’s just me
@@anakinskywalker4113 I'm 1.72 m, which I guess is something of your height and NO, IT DOESN'T... I owned two Peugeot cars, 5008 and 508 and it didn't obscure it in either of them (it did just slightly on prev. gen 208, I got as replacement car once for a day)... and neither it did to my spouse, who is 1.63 m tall! so, adjust your driving position... you either like to lay down behind the st.wheel, or you have st. wheel lifted "above your nose"... and both is dangerous... 😉
Best small car😂😂😂😂
Mini cooper is small!
😂😂😍
To expensive and no separate aircon buttons
Couldn't disagree more with your appraisal. It's predecessor was not a "really good car." The Puretech (ie Purecrap) engine, the same as the one you are testing is an oil guzzler, a common issue with that motor. I should know, I have one. How does a litre of oil every 1,500 kms sound in a car with only 90,000 kms? That's right folks, with average kms every month you'll be topping up the oil. Easy to park? Err no. It's over 1.8 metres wide. My model has a bigger boot AND a spare compared to yours. Hardly a step forward in car design. Mechanics hate French cars, and European cars in general. You have to go back decades for really good French cars (Peugeot 404, 205 GTi, Renault 16 and Citroen DS). Aussies woke up to this fact decades ago and French cars sell in miniscule numbers in Oz. Do yourself a favour and buy a Mazda instead. I've got one of those too...only it's 50 years old and still going strong and consumes no engine oil. Nearly 50K for this piece of rubbish? Mon Dieu!
Very interesting comment. I live in Oz and just sold my 2012 308 HDi (2.0L diesel) 165,000kms - no issues. I agree re the early puretech engines although our mechanic (A European specialist) indicates that the later Puretech engines have improved substantially. The Peugeot diesel engines are out on their own. You just can't kill them. Unfortunately they are no more. I just purchased a 3008GT HDi (2.0L diesel) simply to get that diesel engine. 2022 is the last year of the 2.0l DIESEL) Just on mechanics. You need to get a European specialist mechanic - they are around and they are worth their weight in gold. Our family has owned Peugeots for about 65 years. Love them. Hopefully the 3008 is similar to all other Peugeots we have owned.
Thanks for your comment Mate. My mechanic is brilliant so I know he'll do whatever is possible. It could be an issue just with the petrols. I've noticed it's also dropping oil which is very retro...kind of like going back to the 60's. It also has a grabby clutch and brakes, awful gear change, rubbish visibility (A pillar), jittery rear end (torsion beam) and weird French ergonomics. Conversely it has heaps of power, great fuel economy, a huge boot, great cooling and heating and fantastic steering (with no torque steer). I still wouldn't buy another French car, or a turbo or a triple.@@allanbriggs807
"Australians woke up" you think ? They buy Hyundai which have had problems with engines catching fire for 15 years and plenty of recalls. How's the paintwork and gearboxes on recent Mazda going too ?
"Woke up" Ahh...yeah. Being on the road every day I see what's around and I've seen 2 of these in the 3 years this model has been on the market. One was parked in a car park which is the best place for a modern French car. @@gregrobins5615
@@gregrobins5615 Yes, they absolutely "woke up". I've only seen 2 of this recent model, and I'm on the road every day. One of them was parked in a car park, which is the best place for a French car, really.