Peugeot 308 XSE 2007 Review

Anyone hoping the arrival of the 308 signals a new beginning for Peugeot - in terms of ride and handling approaching the excellence expected of its previous mid-sizers, at least - will probably not be overwhelmed by the new car's specification.

Stripped to the bone, the 308 is basically a re-bodied version of the 307 that uses not only the same platform, but the same front and rear suspensions that seemed so woefully inadequate in the 308's predecessor. It smells distinctively like a case of same merde, different bucket.

But dig a little deeper and things appear more hopeful. The new body doesn't just look compelling, it's also a lot stiffer. The 307 introduced what Peugeot called a "semi-raised architecture" which might have helped hat wearers, but also meant suspension rates were firmer than they otherwise would have been to control roll stiffness. The 308's roofline and centre of inertia are 12mm lower, and the 53mm wider body has allowed wider front and rear tracks for a larger footprint on the road. The promise is of something more squat and planted than the 307 tallboy.

Cutting to the chase, after driving the 308 you have to wonder if it contains any 307 at all. Gone is the fidgety, crashing ride, replaced by a degree of suppleness not far removed from more recent classic Peugeot softies such as the 306 and 406. The 308 can still be caught out by sharp ridges, but no longer is road shock transferred through the body. And this car is so quiet, there's little to hear from tyres, suspension and engine anyway.

It also handles reasonably well. The electro-hydraulic assisted steering is well weighted, even communicative, and while the totally conventional tendency to understeer isn't exactly thrill-a-minute, there's a large degree of stability and predictability.

Then there's the interior, which exudes an aura of quality-chic instead of previous Peugeot shabby. Simple, chrome-ringed instruments, soft-touch textured dashboard plastics, lots of light and plenty of simplicity: the 308 has finally achieved the oft-imagined (but never delivered) holy grail of French style with German quality.

It's roomy, too. The 74mm extra length over the 307 has gone partly into 28mm more rear knee-room, and the front seats have 35mm more elbow width. The boot is a deep, nicely-lined cube, and while the rear seats don't fold totally flat (due to a hump for anti-submarining safety effect) they go pretty close.

The engine line-up comes as no surprise to those who know their 207 and Mini powerplants. Petrol variants are an 88kW 1.6-litre atmo and 110kW turbo 1.6 from the BMW alliance. Diesels start with an 80kW/240Nm 1.6-litre (available in Oz with a five-speed manual or clutchless manual), but the 100kW/320Nm 2.0-litre is expected to be the more popular choice, especially as it comes with an optional proper six-speed automatic with torque converter.

The important thing is the petrol engines introduce a different philosophy for Peugeot mid-sizers, namely that of grunt low in the rev-range instead of power at high engine speeds. The turbo has an especially nice swell to its bottom end, but don't expect performance of the turbo-tearaway variety as acceleration feels adequately good, not vibrant. Then again, Peugeot claims 0-100km/h in 8.8 seconds for the turbo manual and that's not hanging about. Maybe it's the absolute smoothness and quietness that hide the engine's potential?

The atmo 1.6 that will headline the cheapest 308 variants (prices are expected to closely mirror the 307, which start at $24,990 for the XS) isn't as weedy as it sounds, and does a reasonable job of hauling the 308's 1277kg in baseline trim. Kerb weights are up about 70kg across the board against the 307 thanks to added safety features (up to nine airbags on top variants), stronger steel and extra sound-proofing.

In terms of performance, the two diesels are as gutsy as expected from Peugeot's powerplant centre of excellence. If you love the idea of low fuel consumption, a long range and low emissions, the 1.6 is particularly attractive. The figures speak for themselves: 0-100km/h in 11.1sec (okay); combined fuel cycle of 4.7L/100km (claimed); CO output of 125g/km (low); tank capacity of 60 litres (huge) and a Prius-beating theoretical range of 1280km.

The main thing is that at its core the 308 is a deeply attractive car, especially if you lust after European hatchbacks such as VW's Golf. It has levels of refinement, interior style, build quality, design integrity and ride comfort that have been missing from Peugeots for quite a while. It has every chance of kicking some German and Japanese butt.

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