Peugeot 308 GTI: UK Review
James once owned a 306 GTI-6 - can he uncover some of that Peugeot hot hatch magic in the 308 GTI?
And the French have come out swinging, not least with a starting price identical to that of the equivalent five-door Golf GTI. To that, Peugeot has drawn up a spec that should make us all sit up and take notice, including a 270hp 1.6-litre engine, six-speed manual gearbox, suitably wider, lower and stiffer chassis and - crucially - a mechanical limited-slip diff. Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres and Alcon brakes are also standard kit and demonstrate commendable reluctance to skimp on the detail or the substance - our test car had just two options, just one of which really makes any odds. But I'll come to that later.
There is a 'diet' 250hp version too but this is the full-fat 270hp model, sharing a motor with the RCZ-R and impressing with both its numbers and the tech within to deliver it. It claims to be the most powerful production engine of its size and includes goodies like Mahle lightweight pistons, a twin-scroll turbo and host of other tech. This manifests itself as a potent mix, with a wide spread of torque and heady turn of speed. Shame it never sounds as inspiring as it looks on paper though, even with the Sport button pressed and additional noise piped into the cabin. Manual-only sounds laudable in this age of dual-clutches too - a pity then it's not quite the sharpest.
The Torsen limited-slip differential, on the other hand, suits the car well, especially for road use. Getting on the power early still brings with it that feeling of the car being sucked towards the apex, but it is much more subtle than, say, a Megane. For those who enjoy life on the edge it's possibly all a bit safe and predictable but it's a worthy feature and adds welcome dynamism you can enjoy at civilian speeds too.
Same can be said of the chassis set-up, which is both taut and yet still comfortable too. It feels tied down without being excessively stiff for the sake of it, meaning it feels agile, well damped and fun to drive with all the enthusiasm you'd hope in a hot Peugeot. The 308's relatively light weight helps here - its 1,205kg is equivalent to cars from a class down like the Renaultsport Clio.
It does, however, quickly reach a point experienced drivers or track day regulars will find a little limiting. Initial understeer is to be expected but there's seemingly no option to adjust the car's attitude on the throttle as you can the best hot hatches.
Generally good though. Until we get to the steering. At first I thought it was just the tiny, weirdly positioned wheel with its over-stuffed rim. But as I put that aside I concentrated on the steering feel, or lack of it. Not unusual in this day and age and not disastrous but to regain that hot hatch crown Peugeot needs to be doing better than OK.
Steer around the issue
Cabin-wise it's also difficult to see past that steering wheel, figuratively and literally. The seats are excellent though, more so with the standard fit massage function activated. Fit and finish might not be up to the best of the class but it's acceptable and the standard kit is generous with all the expected aids and even a rear-view camera. A calculator is a quirky addition to the infotainment system but, perhaps, a handy bonus for maths students looking to while away traffic jams crunching numbers.
So, back to where we began. Is the 308 GTI enough to win over someone with fond memories of fast Peugeots of old but more recent ones of benchmark competition from the dominant Germans? After a quick once-over in the showroom and, perhaps, a short test drive you'd be hard pressed to find anything stand-out to tempt you away from the usual suspects. And perhaps a few - that steering wheel for instance - that might have you running for the hills. Which is a shame. Because I don't think anyone brave enough to take the plunge would end up being disappointed with their purchase.
PEUGEOT 308 GTI 270
Engine: 1,598cc, four-cylinder THP
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 270@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 243@1,900-5,500rpm
0-62mph: 6.0sec
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,205kg (plus driver)
MPG: 39.2
CO2: 139g/km
Price: £29,695 (Basic of £28,155 with Coupe Franche paint for £1,300 and Peugeot connect SOS and assistance for £240)
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[Photos: Chris Teagles]
Thirty grand!
Is there even one reason for anyone to consider this? One?
A Focus ST, VXR Astra, Civic Type R, Golf R, Golf GTI, Megane RS or a BMW M135i.
they will sell four.I don't actually mind its looks, even the paint. But this is a cuthroat sector and "just okay" isn't good enough, by a long margin.
In any self-respecting GTi?
Really??
Personally, I think this just shows that Peugeot are getting distracted away from driving dynamics by sybaritic fripperies, which should have no place in a GTi. A big GT, yes, but not something in this market sector.
Surely they would have been better fitting some Recaro-type minimalistic seats, dropping the dual-colour paint scheme, calculator, and strip it back to what should surely be the essence of GTi ownership
As such, this wouldn't even make my shortlist....
Thirty grand!
Is there even one reason for anyone to consider this? One?
pretty good spec though!
Buyers in this market who are well-informed to see beyond a fashionable badge will also be well informed enough to know that they can lease a Golf R or BMW 135i for the same money.
Peugeot need to sort out the finance before they can hope to succeed, no matter how good the car is.
I do wonder if this would have been better received in estate form, wearing a Citroen badge and with its sights set more toward the Octavia VRS. That way PSA could perhaps let Peugeot Sport make something a bit more raucous and bare bones for the VXR/Renaultsport crowd. They'd need to find a way to drive prices down a fair bit first, of course
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