Peugeot 308 2010 review

Removable seats Stylish front end Power at speed

Back end No steering wheel controls Tight in the back

Peugeot have added a new dimension to their small car garage with the 308 Touring. Miserly at the bowser, it is perfect for small enviro-conscious families who need just a little more space than a regular hatch, without opting for the big boofy 4WD tank.

Engine

The 308 Touring is a six-speed automatic, powered by 2.0 litre diesel that puts out 100kW at 4000 rpm and 320Nm at 2000 rpm. It has a combined fuel economy figure of 7.1l/100km and it emits 187g/km of CO2. It gets to the 100km/h mark in 13.2 seconds.

Exterior

With body-coloured door mirrors and handles and 16 inch alloys, the XSE is noticeably primed compared with the base XE. Given it’s the Touring variant, the back half is longer and boxier than the straight hatch but the front loses none of the smaller car’s sporty appearance.

Interior

Inside, you get a leather trimmed steering wheel, although minus any controls, a big glass sunroof, a nice, clean clutter-free dash, plus loads of storage. There is a decent sized drawer under the front passenger seat, map pockets, stowage bins and a centre console area for drinks.

Seating is a big feature in the Touring with three independent foldable, removable seats in the back, allowing for dozens of possible seating combinations to suit. When up, boot volume is 674 litres but when down it becomes a cavernous 2149 litres of space.

Safety

On top of the comprehensive airbag package the Peugeot 308 Touring safety list includes anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist and electronic stability program.

Pricing

The Peugeot 308 Touring starts at $31,990 and tops out at $37,990.

Driving

At first glance we weren't overly keen on the shape. The rear end seemed a bit like a tacked-on boxy afterthought, not in keeping with the sharp creases and long lines of the front. But we supposed there must be the odd sacrifice when converting a hot hatch into a seven-seat family transporter.

In general terms, most European car interiors smell the same, and that smell evokes thoughts of luxury, style, quality and tradition. It's something that European cars have over other non-Euro marques, and it's exactly how we felt after stepping into the 308.

There was nothing too fancy or over the top inside our Peugeot but we liked that the dash layout was simple and intuitive, and that the seats were comfortable and supportive.

We only had three small kids to test the second row of individual seats and they sat snugly, so we reasoned three adults may find it a bit of a squeeze. But it's the cargo area where the 308 Touring jumps to another level. With the seats up it’s already quite spacious but with all but the front seats down and flat, the area is massive. So a young family, keen on the odd road trip, will be more than pleased with this Peugeot's ability to get them there stress free.

They will also reach their destination economically, with the smooth and torquey turbo diesel. Off the mark, the 308 punches swiftly. At speed a gentle tap on the throttle swooshes the car promptly, with no lag and plenty of potential.  We noticed the lack of buttons and levers on the steering wheel – there are none – and wondered why even the basic controls were missing.

Obviously the car's size makes it brilliant for city driving too. Parking is a breeze and the superior suspension set-up prevents chipped teeth when failing to avoid potholes and ruts.

We couldn’t find much wrong with the Peugeot 308 Touring. It won’t do for larger, older families – and the shape does take a bit of getting used to – but for starting out as a family unit, you will be hard pressed to do better than this Pug.