Peugeot 308 GTI: Review
After years in the hot hatch doldrums has Peugeot really got what it takes to go chasing the Golf GTI?
If not beautiful there's purpose in its looks
And that's before you factor in cars like the Megane Renaultsport, Focus ST, Civic Type R and Astra VXR. Guys, you've got some previous in this game. But are you really match fit after so long on the subs bench?
On paper there is hope for the 308 GTI, available in 'base' 250hp guise for £26,555 or bells and whistles trim here for £28,155. By some incredible coincidence when you look up the price of an equivalent five-door manual Golf GTI it comes up as ... £28,155. Gauntlet down then.
Coupe Franche two-tone if it's too subtle as-is
Developed by motorsport division Peugeot Sport, in this most potent form it gets a 270hp version of the 1.6-litre turbo four, a Torsen limited-slip differential (add £995 to the Golf for its VAQ 'diff'), Alcon brakes and a suggestion from the 208 GTI30th Edition (now sold as the 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport) and RCZ R they've rediscovered some of their old form. True, in engineering terms the 308 platform lacks fancier bits like multi-link rear ends, offset front struts or even the option of a dual-clutch auto. There are benefits in that though, not least in weight - 1,205kg is just a kilo more than a Clio Renaultsport from a segment below, 101kg less than that equivalent Golf GTI and means a better power to weight ratio than a Golf R.
There. That made you sit up and listen didn't it!
Upside down dash, back to front rev counter...
Loeb effect
Instead it's got five doors, a decent-sized boot, comfortable suspension with a very definite road bias and a general air of understated maturity. And then you look again at those trick Alcons, ponder the insistence on a diff and the fact it's got 169hp per litre, read up on the fact the 19-inch wheels are actually 2kg lighter per corner than the 18s, it gets more track (+11mm) and negative camber up front (-0.6deg to -1.7deg) and has been developed by the blokes building stuff like Loeb's Dakarchallenger. Do we have a sleeper here?
Engine punches above its 1.6-litre weight
The long-throw gearshift is typically old-school French, the chunky aluminium knob giving it some fair momentum as you chuck it around the gate. Nor are the pedals especially well-placed, adding to the sense this is a powertrain not to be rushed. Which is a pity because the steering and chassis suggest a sense of agility and playfulness that stands out among the authoritarian MQB cars.
Not a natural track toy but not disgraced either
A good job the engine's power band is wide enough to exploit without constantly shifting around the box. Third and fourth are enough for making progress on road and track, the engine pulling hard from 1,900rpm all the way to 5,000rpm and offering a fat mid-range with which to work the chassis. With a 35 per cent locking ratio the Torsen's effect is mild on the road, with none of the tarmac chewing intensity of the more aggressive diffs in the Megane or Astra. It's smoother than VW's VAQ system though, even if - like Haldex - it requires a loss of traction on one wheel before sending some power to the one that still has it. In the SEAT and Golf GTI Performance you need to push through some frankly disconcerting power understeer before the VAQ wakes up and pulls you back into the turn. The Peugeot is a lot more subtle and simply contains the scrabbling you'd get from ESP-based 'fake' diffs while holding its line without the violent kickback through the wheel you get from some mechanical ones.
Defiantely French - no bad thing in our book
It's a likeable car this GTI. You get a sense it was signed off by guys who worked with their knowledge and the parts available to to achieve realistic aims, rather than a carefully selected combination of components designed to fit into a bigger picture of multi-brand hierarchies and pricing structures.
Is it really good enough to tempt Golf GTI buyers out of their VW Group habit though? The more wacky features like the tiny steering wheel and oddly placed instruments might feel a bit Gallic for those raised on a more recent diet of Teutonic logic. But as an overall package the 308 GTI strikes a similar balance of enough sportiness to keep you happy on the long way home without upsetting those of a nervous disposition to hot hatch aesthetics. Assuming you don't go for the two-tone Coupe Franche look. From supermarket to office and back via a bit of twisty B-road, there's maturity and fun enough to cover all bases without the need to delve into driver configurable settings or any of that nonsense. In summary, it feels very pragmatic and very French. Which, depending on your prejudices, is either something to snigger at or celebrate.
With qualifications it isn't yet the true successor to the hot Peugeots of old we'd still go for the latter.
Peugeot 308 GTI 270 (GTI 250)
Engine: 1,598cc, four-cylinder THP
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 270@6,000rpm (250@ 6,000rpm)
Torque (lb ft): 243@1,900-5,500rpm (243@1,900-4,000rpm)
0-62mph: 6.0sec (6.2sec)
Top Speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,205kg (plus driver)
MPG: 39.2
CO2: 139g/km
Price: £28,155 (GTI 250 £26,155)
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On top of that, the Civic Type R and soon to be released Focus RS will cost almost the same money and offer a lot, lot more bang for buck. I know its all personal opinion but you would have to be bonkers to blow £28k on that
For those that want the 'understated maturity' isn't the Golf R again a better alternative?
I just can't see why anybody would actually buy one of these over the competition other than to be a little different?
Only time will tell if it sells well or not, but personally it would be towards the bottom of my list if I was spending the thick end of 30K on a new car.
How well is that going to survive after 100k of thrashing??
Presumably it's the same 1.6 turbo four that was in the mini cooper-s? If so, keep a can of oil in the boot and check the level every 50 yards.
On top of that, the Civic Type R and soon to be released Focus RS will cost almost the same money and offer a lot, lot more bang for buck. I know its all personal opinion but you would have to be bonkers to blow £28k on that
Have to say I agree with the pedal placement. Seems 1-2 inches too far over to the left for starters. Shame as the GT line is pretty nice inside.
I really like what they have done with their styling of late and think the current 308 is one of the best looking cars in this segment. Classy and understated in a way that is comparable to Audi, but with more interesting lines and character.
Extracting 270bhp from a 1.6 is incredible really. My old fashioned Z only packs another 58 horsepower than that and has over twice the displacement.
Good luck to them. The more variety and choice for us enthusiasts, the better.
How well is that going to survive after 100k of thrashing??
Presumably it's the same 1.6 turbo four that was in the mini cooper-s? If so, keep a can of oil in the boot and check the level every 50 yards.
I suspect they may have thought of longevity and designed it accordingly.
How well is that going to survive after 100k of thrashing??
Presumably it's the same 1.6 turbo four that was in the mini cooper-s? If so, keep a can of oil in the boot and check the level every 50 yards.
I suspect they may have thought of longevity and designed it accordingly.
From EVO:
The RCZ R has a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine just like the THP 200 RCZ (the previous range-topper), still driving the front wheels only. However, this new EP6CDTR engine has a reinforced engine block, specific turbo and exhaust manifolds, stronger conrods and new forged pistons developed with Mahle Motorsport (the last 20 Le Mans winners have used Mahle pistons).
All this takes power up to 266bhp at 6000rpm, while 243lb ft of torque is produced from 1900rpm all the way to 5500rpm. Despite this incredibly high specific output (166bhp per litre) and a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds, the RCZ R is actually the most efficient model in the petrol RCZ line-up, with impressive claimed figures of 44.8mpg on the combined cycle and 145g/km of CO2 emissions.
I will be shocked if I see these on the roads.
Although the car in isolation looks pretty respectable, I would be rather worried that you were buying in to a car range that struggles to sell even when very heavily discounted.
Autotrader is clogged up with delivery mileage 1.6 308s as low as £12,500, and even they don't seem to be in any great demand.
£28k or anywhere near it for the GTI would be insanity.
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