Peugeot 308: More character, more range

Peugeot has given the 308 a facelift. The hatchback and estate models receive visual and technical updates. We took the French Golf rival for a spin.

Nearly four years after its market launch, the Peugeot 308 A comprehensive update. In addition to a refreshed design, both the compact five-door hatchback and the SW estate benefit from technical improvements. The engine range remains diverse and continues to include diesel, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and a fully electric variant.

The facelift leaves no room for price changes: The 145 hp three-cylinder hybrid still starts at €28.664, while the station wagon costs around €840 more (all prices net). The decision to continue offering a 1,5-liter diesel engine with 131 hp is not only a concession to long-distance drivers, but also, and perhaps primarily, to German customers.

Striking appearance with a new front end

The redesigned front end gives the French car a striking appearance. Photo: © Peugeot

The optical changes of the 308 The focus is primarily on the front end. The latter has been significantly sharpened. For example, the daytime running lights in "Three-claw design" now clearly separated from the headlights. The main headlights, available in LED and matrix LED, have been moved one level lower into the bumper. The glossy black radiator grille features a fanned design with a vertical light signature. In the top trim levels... GT and GT Exclusive The large lion logo is also illuminated.

At the rear, the taillights are also in the brand's typical style. Three-claw design held. The GT Exclusive version It also features dynamic turn signals. The visual tweaks give the French car an even more striking appearance. However, the use of chrome elements has now been completely discontinued. 308 waived.

More power and a larger battery

The range of the plug-in hybrid has increased to up to 82 kilometers. Photo: © Peugeot

At the Plug-in hybrids The changes concern the powertrain. The electric motor's power has been increased from 110 to 125 hp, therefore the system output for the plug-in hybrid has risen from 180 to 195 hp. In addition, the eight-speed automatic transmission has been replaced with a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

 The four-cylinder petrol engine It still draws its power from a 1,6-liter engine producing 150 hp. The battery's energy capacity, however, has been increased by a good 5 kilowatt-hours to 17,5 kWh. This increases the all-electric range by 20 kilometers to a maximum of 82 km. The battery can be fully recharged in about two hours using the 7,4 kW onboard charger.

The station wagon makes quick progress. 

The boot capacity varies depending on the engine: In the plug-in hybrid estate tested, it ranges from 467 to 1.402 liters. Photo: © Peugeot

The combination of a powerful electric motor and a refined combustion engine delivers a maximum torque of 300 Newton meters, propelling the 308 SW with ease. The station wagon, priced at €35.332, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in a brisk 7,7 seconds and can reach a top speed of up to 225 km/h when needed.

The new dual-clutch transmission shifts smoothly through its seven gears, and the steering is noticeably more precise than in the previously tested mild hybrid. Peugeot states the PHEV estate's consumption according to the WLTP standard as 20,4 kWh of electricity and 2,3 liters of premium gasoline. In practice, however, fuel consumption – as is the case with all plug-in hybrids – is higher. Therefore, an average consumption of between 5,5 and 6,5 liters should be expected.

Driving pleasure is paramount; the i-Cockpit remains.

Tall drivers cannot see all the displays because the steering wheel rim partially obscures the i-Cockpit. Photo: © Peugeot

Overall, the 308st Driving pleasure is not neglected, with the firmly tuned suspension effectively filtering out most road imperfections. The front seats, certified by the German Campaign for Healthy Backs (AGR), also contribute to the comfort. A soothing massage function can be added for an extra charge.

This for Peugeot The typical i-Cockpit, with its low-positioned steering wheel and high-mounted digital displays, isn't to everyone's taste. For taller drivers, the steering wheel rim still obscures parts of the instrument cluster, even though the steering wheel itself is relatively compact. This makes it difficult to see some of the display information. Incidentally, this is the only serious criticism of the facelifted model. Peugeot 308, which otherwise leaves a harmonious impression.

More range, also for electric vehicles

On the top-of-the-line versions of the 308, the brand logo in the radiator grille is now illuminated. Photo: © Peugeot

As part of the model revision, the all-electric versions were also updated. E-308 and E-308 SW Optimized. By increasing the battery capacity by four kilowatt-hours to 58,4 kWh, the sedan's range increases to up to... 450 km or the station wagon's up to 410 kmThanks to manual preconditioning of the batteries, the charging time of 32 minutes (20 to 80 percent) should also be achievable on cold winter days.

And with the new V2L (Vehicle to Load) function, the high-voltage battery can now also power electrical devices such as an e-bike. The starting price for the E-308 However, at around €35.660, it's quite expensive. For the more practical... E-308 SW Peugeot is asking exactly 36.500 euros. At least the French are offering one at all. all-electric station wagon That's rather the exception with some other competitors.

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