Peugeot 308 hatchback 2008 review

In automotive terms, refinement is often the word buyers use to measure quality in a car.

It come downs to a few basic principles. Is the car quiet? Does it maintain its composure when the going gets tough? Is the steering, ride and handling seamless and do they relay all the necessary information to the driver? Do the controls have a quality feel?

Peugeot Automobiles Australia managing director Rob Dommerson says the company wants to reassure past and present Peugeot owners the 308 is as well built as its German rivals and a great driving car.

The 308, which goes on sale this month, replaces the dynamically and visually maligned 307 hatch. Gone is the 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder, replaced by normally aspirated and turbocharged 1.6-litre fours, and the hi-tech 2.0-litre HDi turbo diesel carries over.

Three trim levels will be available: XS, XSE and the range-topping XTE.

The 308 will be powered by a choice of two petrol and two turbo-diesels, jointly developed with BMW.

The petrol engines are available in three states of tune: 88kW, 110kW and 103kW.

To ensure the 308 can stand toe to toe with its key rivals — the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Citroen C4, Renault Megane and a host from Japan and South Korea — Peugeot engineers did two million kilometres in durability testing.

Visually, the 308 borrows cues from the successful 207 range and the 407.

Peugeot describes it as a dynamic design. The large wrap-around lower bumper is available in two styles: classic in the XS and XSE and sports for the XTE, which also gets a diffuser inset into the rear bumper.

In size, the new car shadows the 307 but is fractionally bigger. It is 74mm longer and 53mm wider, but 12mm lower. It sits on the same 2608mm wheelbase but front and rear tracks are wider — 30mm in front and 16mm at the rear — to ensure a better on-road stance.

The fuel tank gains an extra 10 litres capacity, up to 60 litres. Luggage capacity has increased to 430 litres, up 9 litres.

The rear seats are 60/40 split fold with a ski flap on the XSE and XTE.

Peugeot Automobiles Australia has managed to hold prices. The normally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder XS is $25,990, $500 more than the old model. A four-speed auto adds an extra $2000.

The 1.6-litre XS HDi costs $29,990.

The four-speed auto-only XSE 1.6 is $30,390, five-speed manual XSE turbo $30,590 and six-speed manual XSE HDi $33,590.

The four-speed XSE Turbo auto is an extra $2000 and the six-speed auto on the XSE HDi an extra $2200.

On the road

When we piloted the 308 over ultra-smooth roads in France late last year, it impressed.

But can this newest French immigrant cut the mustard on Australia's indifferent roads?

The answer is yes.

There has been a palpable and measurable increase in quality, fit and finish, and the on-road dynamics recall the well-loved 306 hatch.

Nor does the 308 feel as flimsy as the 307. The body is ultra-strong, extensive use having been made of high-strength steels.

Inside, the French have taken a leaf out of a German ergonomics journal.

The instruments are clear and concise and there's a quality feel to the switchgear. The seats can only be described as pure French: soft, inviting, extremely comfortable and supportive.

Peugeot has also provided plenty of storage spaces for items and the ingenious two-way 8-litre rear parcel shelf storage area is a bonus.

At 100km/h on country roads and 110km/h on the freeway, there is barely any wind noise, and road noise is almost non-existent.

At these speeds the 1.6-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre HDi loaf along.