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| Peugeot 308’s upmarket hatch |
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| Friday, 16 November 2007 | |
 France’s extensive rural road network is very good with almost all roads asphalted and sign posted to a high standard. But they are bumpy. Traditionally, French cars coped by having suspensions which soaked up the bumps. The design brief for the 2CV in the late 1930s famously included being able to put a basket of eggs on the back seat and drive across a field without an egg breaking. The concept of comfortable suspension has been a French trait ever since. Even Citroën’s famous hydropneumatic suspension system from the late 1950s was a nod to the state of rural roads. Recently though, some French cars have been losing their famous suppleness, suggesting that the designers are townies who do not know which end of a hen produces eggs. Peugeot’s new 308 has started to reverse that trend, and has more give over rural bumps than the 307 it replaces. When pushed on rural roads the 308 copes well: the suspension seems to get in the mood and only the thumping sound of the tyres tells you the road has more patches than original surface. Strangely though, individual bumps, like manhole covers in town, jar as if the car was set up to be thrown around a smooth race track. Slightly firm ride aside, the car deserves to be a success for the Lion brand, marking an external design shift from bland to bold. It is slightly longer (7.4cm) and wider (5.3cm) than the predecessor but a bit lower (1.2cm). On most versions the bonnet has been given a crease, as if with a hot iron, to sharpen it up, while the haunches sweep up to subtle bulges. Peugeot says the bonnet has been given a “nose” but whatever it is called it looks good, with fancy, side-set fog lamps adding an original touch. Road-holding is superb and the car feels safe and secure through sweeping bends. Passive and active safety systems ensure that the vehicle received the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests for passenger safety. The test car, provided by the Peugeot concession Serreau in Périgueux, had a 1.6-litre diesel motor, giving 110hp, driven through a five-speed manual gearbox. It is likely to be the most popular since the price of the base launch model, the Premium level of trip, is set at €22,700. That includes such luxuries as automatic bi-zone air conditioning, an extra air-bag for the driver’s knees and a smart radio/CD/MP3 player. Less equipped models will be introduced in the coming months. The cheapest diesel, a 1.6-litre 90hp unit, in the Comfort finish (manual air conditioning, electric windows, height adjustable driver’s seat and computer) will cost €18,550. The top-of-the-range ‘Féline’ models start at €25,750 for the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine giving 150hp, and reach €29,400 for a 136hp diesel with a six-speed automatic gear box, the same as in the larger 607 and 407 models. The 110hp engine in the test car has an over-boost feature which gives extra oomph when the accelerator is floored. Moving on to an autoroute with lorries in the slow lane and madmen behind me I found my foot to the floor and the car responded like a scalded cat as it moved out of danger. It is also frugal, with a mixed fuel consumption rating of 4.7 litres per 100km and a CO2 rating of 125 grammes per km. Compared with the 307, the 308 scores high on interior fixture and fittings. The sweeping dashboard is covered with soft, textured plastic – not unlike canvas to the touch – and rear passengers have more leg-s and head room than in many larger cars. One thing potential buyers will have to check is the colour choice for the dashboard. The test car was fitted with a stylish, bicolour off-white and dark grey finish but the lighter colour reflected just at eye level in the steeply raked windscreen. (As well as being a townie the designer is probably also short.) Everything seemed to be very well screwed together, and there were no rattles even on the bumpy roads. The 430-litre boot is not huge but the back parcel shelf has an ingenious extra shelf, accessible from the back or from inside, and large enough to carry a tennis racquet or umbrella. There are also two smaller compartments, each side of the spare wheel under the boot floor, for those times when serious packing is required. Also available as a relatively low-cost (€450) option on most models is the panoramic roof over the cabin with an electric blind for hot days. With tough competition in Europe, Peugeot has great expectations of the 308, which does seem to be in a superior class to the model it replaces. |
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