The all-new Peugeot 308
has a lot riding on it. The French car-maker’ hopes this long-awaited
new-generation model will re-establish it’ in the small car segment
against rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf when it launches around the end of
October.
The outgoing previous
generation was one of the oldest and tiredest in the segment, and Peugeot’ has
made some pretty dramatic changes as part of its stated plan to move upmarket.
Pricing,
body styles and engines:
Peugeot will offer’ a
range that consists of two body styles ‘€" the hatch and Touring wagon.
There are 11 variants across five trim-levels, with three different engine
options and six different engine outputs.
Though most have petrol
engines teamed with automatic six-speed transmissions, there are two six-speed
manual options available, and two diesel offerings.
Peugeot will release the
new line-up in two phases, the first seeing the arrival of the 1.2-litre
three-cylinder turbocharged petrol and 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
engines.
The 1.6-litre
four-cylinder turbo petrol engines aren’€™t available until phase two due in
March 2015.
The petrol range starts
with the base model Access with the new PureTech Euro 6 1.2-litre 96kW/230Nm
petrol engine, and it’€™s the only trim level in this initial phase to offer a
manual alternative. The Access is only available as a hatch and is to be priced
at $21,990 plus on-road costs for the manual and $23,990 for the automatic.
The previous comparative
specification was the Style, available in automatic only and priced at $27,490.
Compared to the new one that’€™s $3500 cheaper.
The range then steps up
to the Active, with’ the same engine as the Access, a hatch body style and’ a’ singular
offering at this trim-level priced at $27,340.
The Allure hatch is
available with the 1.2-litre engine and automatic transmission for $30,490,
then there’€™s a jump of $4300 for the 2.0-litre BlueHDi 110kW/370Nm
automatic-only diesel. The Touring Allure is also an automatic offered with the
2.0-litre diesel engine at a premium of $2700 over the hatch at $37,490.
European data reveals
combined cycle fuel consumption of between 4.6 to 4.9 litres per 100km for the
petrol-powered variants and a frugal 4.1L/100km figure for the diesel.
The second launch phase
in the first quarter of 2015 marks the arrival of the 1.6-litre 110kW
turbocharged petrol variants including the Allure hatch and Touring, both of
which have an automatic transmission.
The Allure Premium is a
stand-alone spec, with the same 1.6-litre engine teamed with an automatic
transmission.
Finally, the
performance-oriented GT trim-level will be available as a manual with a more
powerful 1.6-litre 155kW/285Nm turbo petrol engine, or as an automatic with a
gutsier 2.0-litre BlueHDi 133kW/400Nm turbo-diesel engine.
Prices for phase two
will be released closer to time, but are expected to top-out at around $40,000.
Exterior
styling:
In a first-in-class, the
higher specs come with full LED headlights, DRLs and tail-lights. The new
design of the headlights is a feature of other Peugeot models including the
508, creating a new signature.
There are 31 LED’€™s in
each headlamp and the DRLs have been designed to represent the claw of the
Peugeot Lion. Lower specs have to settle for halogen headlamps.
A wide air intake is
located at the bottom of the front bumper, framed by fog-lights. This’ flows
up into the grille design that features the Peugeot name prominently at the
top.
The Lion retains its
pride of place on the sculpted bonnet. The sculpted lines continue through the
sides, giving it a sportier look than its predecessor.
The rear has been
smoothed out and is less bulbous, and the taillights are now more horizontal.
The tailgate is made from composite thermoplastic, light-weight and is a
world-first.
The front-side windows
have been integrated ‘€" no small triangular window near the A-pillar. The
exterior also benefits from the addition of anti-scratch lacquer to the paint.
Interior:
Inside, the vehicle the
interior has been fully redesigned and is intended to be minimalist in
execution.
Interior quality has
been enhanced with the use of soft-touch materials on the dash and doors, door
mechanisms have been improved so the sound made by closing the door is more
reassuring and the acoustics have been improved.
Peugeot’€™s i-Cockpit
features a smaller, more compact steering wheel, a head-up instrument panel
designed to be viewed above the steering wheel, a 9.7-inch touchscreen and an
elevated central console.
The touchscreen controls
air-conditioning, multimedia, driving aids, telephone, vehicle configuration
and satellite navigation, reducing the need for buttons on the centre console.
All except the entry-level Access get a new touchscreen.
There is a CD player as
well as a USB port and Bluetooth, 12V power outlet and one cupholder in the
front.
Plenty of storage has
been included, with deep and wide storage bins in the doors both front and
rear, and a centre console bin.
The rear passengers
however, miss out on air-vents.
The dash and centre
console on higher trim-levels feature satin chrome finishes and the Allure
Premium and the GT get Alcantara/PVC seats.
EMP2
Platform:
The 308 is the first
Peugeot to be built on the new EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2) platform, it
gives the new generation a slightly longer wheelbase and has a flatter
underside to help enhance aerodynamics.
The EMP2 platform has
also helped reduce the weight of the vehicle, accounting for 70kg of the 140kg
weight reduction.
The scalable platform
will be used by Peugeot in upcoming vehicles, and it’€™s expected that 50 per
cent of future models will be underpinned by EMP2. ‘ It’€™s capable of
providing a foundation for hatch, touring, coupe, cabriolet, MPV and SUV.
Suspension:
To improve ride and
handling, the weight of the new vehicle has been reduced and there are new
front and rear axles.
The new suspension
consists of a Psuedo-MacPherson front and deformable crossmember rear. The
wagon has been calibrated to bear more weight.
New
technology ‘ and safety:
New technology includes
an electric parking brake, hands-free entry, push-button start, reversing
camera, blind-spot monitoring, park assist, dynamic cruise control, emergency
collision warning and emergency collision braking.
The Allure Premium spec
is the only one to get ‘ blind-spot monitoring as well as the Driver
Assistance Pack with Dynamic Cruise Control, Emergency Collision Alert and
Emergency Collision Braking.’ The system will only slow the vehicle down
by around 20km/h.
The 308 has scored a
five-star Euro NCAP rating, scoring five stars in all four categories.
Capped
price servicing
Peugeot offers five-year
capped price servicing every 15,000km or 12-months.
The cost of’ servicing
over the five-year period ranges between $2570 and $3430.
Sales
and model mix
The’ Allure
trim-level is expected to be the best seller, predicted to make up around 60%
of sales. Active and Access variants expected to represent 18% each, the’ sporty’ GT
and Allure Premium will make up the remaining 4%.
Across the range,
Peugeot expects petrol engines to make up three quarters of sales, 3 per cent
of sales to be manual, and 85 per cent of cars purchased to be hatches.
- See our earlier spec breakdown here:
- Read our review of the European spec 308 SW here.
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