2026 Peugeot E-208 Reviews

There are handy hatches on the French menu. Craig Duff 's taste test sorts the would-be sportsters from the tourers

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2015 Peugeot 308 GT with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Chris Riley road tests and reviews the 2015 Peugeot 508 at its Australian launch.

Well, maybe just blown up a bit, because it remains front-wheel drive so we wouldn’t be taking it off road any time soon.But it’s now officially recognised as an SUV. Go figure.The maker claims the 3008 has always qualified as an SUV but with the arrival of an updated model it decided to have that status ratified by industry gamekeeper, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.The mid-life makeover rationalises the 3008 to one better equipped model, with new styling front and rear, standard satnav and rear-view camera and concealed underfloor storage.It’s available with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine or 2.0-litre turbodiesel, both of which carry over from the previous model. The transmission is a six-speed auto.The engines provide energetic performance and the car handles well tooThe petrol engine is shared with BMW and powers a Mini variant.Prices take a $1000 cut — the petrol model is from $35,490 and the diesel $38,990. Premium paint adds $990.Get aboard and there are some surprises — the engines provide energetic performance and the car handles well too, sitting flat in corners even when pushed enthusiastically.The seats are large and comfortable and the ride quality is pretty good for a European job that has not had the benefit of local tuning. Still, the 3008 can bounce around on country roads.Standard equipment includes cloth trim, dual climate- control air-con, seven-inch screen, LEDs, auto lights and wipers, electric brake and 17-inch alloys.There’s just the one Active grade this time around but a $3500 option pack adds leather trim, heated front seats, head-up display, rear sunblinds and a panoramic glass sunroof.The head-up display projects the information on to a transparent plastic screen that unfolds from the top of the dash.Price from: $35,490Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmCapped seriving: YesService Interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 5 starsEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo, 115kW/240Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel, 120kW/340NmTransmission: 6 speed autoThirst: 6.7L-7.8L/100kmDimensions: 4365mm (L) 1837mm (W) 1639mm (H)Weight: 1555kg-1614kgSpare: Full-size (temporary in diesel)

One in four SUVs still lack rear view cameras – even though the technology is now standard on a $14,990 hatchback.

It's easy to give The Tick to the new Peugeot 308.After a series of dismal and uninspiring arrivals over recent years - some of them downright ugly - the compact hatch proves that the French brand can still do good cars.I wonder why they are not all as good as the new 308, but that question would take more than a single CarsGuide edition to answer. In any case, the 308 looks good, drives well, has a frugal three-cylinder engine and has the plush look and feel of a Volkswagen Golf.It's won a European Car of the Year award, picked up five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing and drives well for the class and price.The price is still nowhere near sharp enough for what amounts to a "challenger" brandNo, there is no reversing camera, some members of the CarsGuide crew are uninspired by the engine and the price is still nowhere near sharp enough for what amounts to a "challenger" brand in a class where the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla are the sales benchmarks and the Golf is the car to love.I'm also not convinced about the i-Cockpit driver layout, which provides an excellent steering wheel but an instrument binnacle that is always partly obscured by the top of the rim.It's the same in a number of new Peugeots and I don't like any of them, despite Peugeot's belief that it is leading in a new direction.I first drove the 308 in France last year and believe it could have been a CarsGuide COTY contender with a better price, more refinement on arrival and that rear-view camera.Now I'm sliding into a 308 on roads I know, still with the new-age three-cylinder engine but better equipped with a six-speed automatic gearbox and an Allure package that brings a 9.7-inch touchscreen, cruise control, alloys and parking radar. On the safety front there is a six-airbag package, tyre-pressure monitoring and the usual stability control.It's a tasty package but the Peugeot people in France don't understand the reality of price pressures in Australia, where $30,490 is too much for this car and even the $21,990 starter price is too costly when you can buy many of its rivals for less than $20,000 on the road.Still, I can see and feel the quality in the car. There might be some hard plastic surfaces but the seats are truly excellent and so is the wheel, the ride is plush and it's quiet at any speed.It takes some learning to get the best from the baby triple, which makes a useful 96kW but is tweaked mostly for economy. The six-speed auto is always looking for the highest gear but you can hit the Sport button for sharper response or resort to manual changes - where the "correct" race-style change means pushing forward to downshift and pulling back for an upshift - if you really want to go.There is a lot to like and not much to complain aboutThe syncopation of a three-cylinder engine is unusual at first but I've known them since the original Daihatsu Charade in the 1980s through to the latest BMW i8 hybrid and quite like the sound and feel.Moving through the cabin, the 308 has good space, there is a big boot and the fuel economy is very good.

Peugeot is one of those brands that go under the radar for most Australians, it's one to which they rarely give any thought of owning, but for comfort and refined road manners the French brand is hard to beat.The 407 was Peugeot's medium-sized offering and came in coupe, sedan and wagon body styles, with a choice of peppy petrol engines and economical diesels.Its lines were elegant, languidly flowing from tip to tail in a wonderful balance of form and function.The coupe was able to accommodate four in comfort, but the more family friendly sedan and wagon had the capacity to transport five.The cabin was spacious, nicely laid-out with comfortable seats and was sublimely quietThere were three equipment levels, the SR budget model, the ST and the SV.All had an impressive range of comfort and convenience features, particularly the higher spec models.The cabin was spacious, nicely laid-out with comfortable seats and was sublimely quiet. The main criticism was a blind spot created by the heavy A-pillars that at times impeded the driver's view.The 407's 2.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine was a free-revving unit that had sufficient performance for most situations, although at times it had to work hard to get there.For those wanting more than the 2.2-litre engine could muster there was the 3.0-litre V6, which answered the call of most seeking performance.But it's the diesels that were the most popular with 407 buyers, particularly the 2.0-litre turbodiesel, which boasted strong mid-range torque for smooth, flexible driveability, impressive performance, and admirable economy.The 407's suspension was supremely comfortableWith more than 400Nm of torque, the twin-turbo V6 diesel was a powerhouse with an attractive blend of performance and driveability.While there was a six-speed manual gearbox available in the front-wheel 407, the vast majority were sold with automatic transmissions. Early models had a four-speed, but it was later updated to a six-speed across the range.On the road the 407's suspension was supremely comfortable, but at the cost of some handling precision. Anyone wanting the sportiness of a German prestige model should probably look elsewhere for their jollys.Being French the Peugeot needs some getting used to for anyone moving into the brand for the first time. Some people find it quirky, and oddly disconnected, while others find the quirkiness interesting and fun, and the driving experience comfortable and refined.Anyone stepping out of a German car would probably be very disappointed with the somewhat vague ride and handling.Being European the 407 comes with issues that affect most European brands, expensive parts and service spring immediately to mind.The 407 doesn't have any major flaws to noteAnyone thinking of buying a 407 should get on good terms with a mechanic experienced in working on Peugeots. They are usually able to service your car for significantly less than a dealer would, and they should be able to source parts at more affordable prices.For peace of mind it's also worth having a mechanic with specialist Peugeot knowledge check your chosen car for you before purchase.The 407 doesn't have any major flaws to note, but is subject to the occasional and frustrating failures of electrical components, particularly ignition coils.The 407 is relatively complex and needs the attention of someone who is familiar with the brandIt's also important to check for a service record, the 407 is relatively complex and needs the attention of someone who is familiar with the brand.The engines have timing belts, which need changing at specified intervals. On the 2.2-litre petrol engine it needs changing every 80,000km or four years, on the other engines the change interval is 180,000km or nine years.Peugeot recalled the 407 in 2011 for a fault related to the engine vacuum pump that could affect the braking performance.There was also a recall in 2010 to check the clearance between the wiring harness and the cooling fan that could result in damage to the harness.

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering, would you buy one?This 308 is the latest and greatest small hatchback from French manufacturer Peugeot. It's totally new from the tyres up - new platform, chassis, powertrains, styling inside and out, super efficient, lighter, safer.308 pricing kicks off at $21,990 for the petrol manual base model. The Allure drive car is $30,490.Heaps of them including VW Golf, Citroen C4, Ford Focus, Mazda3, Renault Megane, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla and plenty more from all points of the compass.The test car had Peugeot's new three pot 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing hooked up to a conventional six speed auto from Japanese manufacturer Aisin driving the front wheels. It's good for 96kW/230 Nm output.Really well. Certainly better than expected and really, this is all the engine you need in a 308. You can barely hear it running and it has plenty of grunt for all driving applications. It's a good example of Peugeot's new 'smaller is better' engine philosophyYep, 5.1L/100km not a problem - prefers premium unleaded, but right now that's fairly cheap.No rating available, but we suspect it would get five stars due to Euro6 credentials, engine stop/start, slippery aerodynamics, low rolling resistance and friction reduction in the powertrain. Weighs a lot less than before too.Five stars.Yes, seats are comfy and the ride is a good compromise between sporty and comfort. Has plenty of kit to enhance travel time, even a particle filter in the aircon.Really good. Not a sporty hatch by any stretch, but the drive feel is engaging and dynamics are competent. You won't get into any trouble. The engine's good off the mark and through the rev range and though it sometimes rushes to a high gear, the triple plugs away and gets the 308 going pronto. Love the small wheel and the tight turning circle. Responsive steering too.Yes, at $21,990 its a Euro bargain. The $30 grand plus price of the test car not so much.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the 2015 Peugeot 308 GT with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Peugeot has added new range-topping GT models to the local 308 hatch line up.Available with either a petrol or diesel engine, the new 308 GTs promise more performance than the existing models, but will sit below the upcoming 308 GTI hot hatch. Priced from $41,990 in petrol guise, the GT employs a 151kW/285Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.With a 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds, the GT is a full second slower than the much-loved and equally priced Volkswagen Golf GTI.   The diesel variant is $1000 more expensive at $42,990 but uses a 133kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-pot and, unlike the manual-only petrol version, comes standard with a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox with shift paddles. It's also 0.9 seconds slower from 0-100km/h. Combined fuel consumption for the petrol 308 GT is 5.6L/100km, while the diesel version sips an impressive 4.0L/100km combined. The 308 GT diesel is relatively unique in the warm hatch segment, with its nearest rival being the Skoda Octavia RS 135TDI. The Czech model manages the 0-100km/h sprint 0.1 seconds quicker, while costing $2900 less, but consuming 1.3L/100km more.Another similar alternative would be the top-spec Mazda3 XD Astina, which produces a near-dentical 129kW/420Nm, undercuts the Peugeot by $760 in automatic guise, but consumes 1.2L/100km more.Both 308 GT models get sportier suspension than standard, with spring and damper rates stiffened and a ride height lowered by 7mm at the front and 10mm at the rear.The GTs also score specific styling features including unique 18-inch alloys, dual exhaust outlets and chrome details around the front grille and window surrounds.Standard features across the GT range include, 9.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satnav, reverse camera with front parking sensors, keyless entry and start, LED headlights with daytime running lamps, active cruise control, emergency collision alert and auto brake, park assist and blind spot monitoring.The only optional extras are metallic paint ($990) and leather upholstered seats with heating in the front ($2500).Peugeot is also launching a new 110kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed auto across the 308 range this week.The new motor will be available in both hatch and Touring wagon body styles in Allure and Allure Premium trim levels for $2300 more than the existing petrol models.