Peugeot 308 GT 2019 Review

The Peugeot 308 GT is a limited edition model the French brand has added to its Australian line-up.

Cheaper and less powerful than the legendary 308 GTi, just 140 examples of the GT will be coming to Australia.

The Peugeot 308 GT costs $39,990 versus $45,990 for the GTi (both plus on-road costs).

For that you get a detuned version of the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that features in the GTi. Power drops 35kW to 165kW and torque 45 Newton-metres to 280Nm.

The GT’s engine includes direct injection and variable valve timing but misses out on some of the tricks from the GTi, like Mahle pistons.

One thing the 308 GT does get is a particulate filter to weed out nasty particulate emissions, which is a first for a petrol engine in Australia. It also drives its front wheels via a new eight-speed Aisin automatic as its only transmission option.

Other key technical features include a firmer power steering retune, sports suspension that drops the ride height by 7mm/10mm front and rear compared to a standard 308 and firms up spring and damper rates. Bigger 330mm front disc brakes are part of the package, up 47mm on regular 308 models, while the rear rotors are 268mm.

Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are shod with grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres and there are dual exhaust outlets, LED headlights and DRLs and a subtle body kit. Inside you’ll find six airbags, active cruise control with stop-and-go function, autonomous emergency braking, head-up display, massaging front sports seats with red stitching and a big 9.7-inch touch-screen infotainment system.

Peugeot offers a five-year/unlimited-km warranty, plus five years of roadside assistance.

The GT has the happy knack of being easier to live with than the GTi and many other hot hatches.

Partly that’s because of its new Aisin auto, which combined with the very accessible power and torque delivery of the engine makes the GT suitable for stop-start city traffic and urban congestions.

Then, when you get beyond the traffic crush, you’ll find the GT retains enough traits of the GTi to be an enjoyable drive. The steering is sharp and accurate, the engine crisp and the auto’s shift slick if noticeable. The 1204kg kerb weight helps it feel light on its wheels.

The 7.4 sec 0-100km/h claim gives you a pretty accurate idea of where the GT sits in the performance spectrum. Good not great in other words. But the counter to that is a 6.0L/100km fuel consumption claim (the same as the manual GTi) on 95 RON minimum fuel. We averaged in the sevens and eights.

Just be aware that you really want to be in ‘sport’ mode for most driving, as the normal’ mode really dulls down the drivetrain. It has no impact on the suspension tune because the dampers are passive.

If you really want hot hatch performance then there’s a very strong alternative to the GT that costs just $500 more. It’s the Hyundai i30 N and it is one of the great go-fast bargains on offer in Australia today. But beware, it is manual only.

Okay, so back to the 308. There are some annoyances here that can’t simply be pushed aside as French foibles.

The first is i-Cockpit, Peugeot’s attempt to redesign the driver’s relationship with the steering wheel and instrument panel.

The wheel is tiny and if positioned in the traditional position it blocks the speedo. Dump it into your lap and it just feels weird. Can’t do it.

The only way to change gears manually is via the flappy paddles mounted on the wheel and they are only about half as long as they need to be. It’s easy to be tapping at mid-air looking for an upshift out of a corner.

Peugeot’s also gone for a minimalist display system with very few buttons and most functions performed through the touch screen. It’s hardly annoying at all compared to i-Cockpit and the missing flappy paddles!

Another issue is drinking and driving. No, not that drinking and driving! There is not a single proper bottleholder or cupholder that I could find in this car. Not in the centre console, not in the doors. There’s various storage spots but none that specifically fit a drinking container. Enjoy!

Don’t think of the GT as a family car either. It’s simply too squeezy in the back seat thanks to those big – and comfy – front pews.

The Peugeot 308 GT is on-sale in Australia now.

The last time the 308 GT was seen in Australia was as a hatch and wagon launched in 2016. Back then the engine made 151kW and 285Nm. A 133kW turbo-diesel was also offered.

If you’re after warm performance at an affordable price and with the convenience of automatic shifting then the 308 GT might appeal.

It’s a bit different and a bit understated, a bit weird too. Just like you, maybe…

There are no shortage of warm front-wheel drive hatches in Australia. Logical rivals for the 308 GT include the Holden Astra RS-V, Hyundai i30 N-Line, Kia Cerato GT, Mazda3 G25 Astina, Renault Megane GT and Skoda Octavia RS.

Broadly speaking the 308 GT is more expensive than that lot, often tops them on power but usually gets topped for torque.

The new Ford Focus ST will be here soon, but that leaps over the 308 GT in terms of both price and performance.

The Peugeot 308 GT is a niche offering, so no surprise only 140 are being offered in Australia.

While there are some weird ergonomic foibles, it’s essentially a neat and nice offering that is enjoyable to drive without scaling the heights of its famous GTi sibling.

How much does the 2019 Peugeot 308 GT cost?
Price: $39,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 165kW/280Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.0L/100km
CO2: 135g/km
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP