Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV 2023 Review

You might want to take a seat, because the 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV doesn’t come cheap.

The single model variant has landed in Australia at $64,990 plus on-road costs, which pushes out to about $70,000 – the exact figure depending on the state or territory in which you live – once those on-roads are stacked on.

That’s a $16,000 premium on the next-most-affordable 308 GT Premium hatchback, and a $21,000 jump from the cheapest (but still well-specified) 308 GT hatch model currently available in this newest third generation.

Simply for context, you could pick up a brand-new previous-generation Peugeot 308 Active back in 2019 for $21,973 plus ORCs. Yep, times are changing…

Even so, there’s not an awful lot of choice when it comes to plug-in hybrid small passenger cars in Australia.

Key rivals here include the sporty Cupra Leon VZe (from $59,990 plus ORCs) and the Mercedes-Benz A 250e (from $71,889 plus ORCs).

The full-electric Cupra Born is also now available, from the same starting price as the Leon plug-in hybrid.

Price aside, the 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV gets a list of equipment as long as your arm.

Of course, the non-hybrid 308 GT Premium hatchback is also highly equipped.

But as it stands, the PHEV comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED Matrix headlights, LED tail-lights, keyless entry and start, panoramic opening glass sunroof, Nappa leather seat trim with ‘Tramontane’ grey contrast stitching, heated and massaging front seats, heated steering wheel and eight-colour ambient interior lighting.

The Peugeot 308 GT Sport PHEV is backed by Peugeot’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia as well as five years’ roadside assistance. The battery is backed by a separate eight-year/160,000km term.

Peugeot Australia offers customers capped-price servicing plans, as well as the option of pre-paid servicing packages available at the time of purchase ($1200 over three years or $2000 over five years). These are based on 12-month/20,000km service intervals.

Even with its lofty new positioning, the third-generation Peugeot 308 carries only a four-star ANCAP safety rating in Australia (out of a maximum five).

At the time of testing (2022), ANCAP criticised the 308 because its occupant protection could be better. It was also marked down for not offering backover autonomous emergency braking (AEB) on any variant.

In any case, the 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV is fitted with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with low-light pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic hazard light activation, automatic post-collision braking system, acoustic vehicle alerting system, rear cross traffic alert, long-range blind spot detection, lane departure warning, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, driver attention warning and speed sign recognition.

Other safety items include tyre pressure monitoring, a reversing camera and 360-degree camera.

The 308 gets driver and front passenger side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags as standard, but no knee or centre airbags.

Inside, the 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV combines a 10.0-inch colour touch-screen display with a 10.0-inch digital instrument cluster, plus wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.

There’s also a 10-speaker Focal audio system, voice recognition and internet-connected 3D navigation with three years’ free subscription.

The integration of the Pug’s tech is quite clever in practice as well.

You can return to the native home screen at any point in time by simultaneously depressing three fingers on the centre screen, plus there are short-cut buttons aplenty and adequate switches and dials to activate simple functions like recirculated air.

The 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV combines a familiar 132kW/250Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with an 81kW electric motor.

Combined outputs are listed at 165kW and 360Nm, with drive shuffled to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Peugeot says the hybrid combination allows the 308 PHEV to notch 100km/h from rest in 7.5sec, onwards to a top speed of 234km/h claimed.

All of that electric hardware imposes a hefty circa-300kg weight penalty on the small Pug, with kerb mass listed at about 1.6 tonnes.

As with the regular Peugeot 308, the PHEV is suspended by MacPherson struts up front and a semi-independent twist beam axle at the rear.

Braked towing capacity is listed at 1.5 tonnes.

Officially, Peugeot Australia lists a combined-cycle efficiency claim of 1.3L/100km for the 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV.

As we know, those ADR figures are purely academic, and depend largely on driving habits, distances and environment.

The plug-in hybrid Pug also claims an EV range of 60km. You can recharge the 12.4kWh lithium-ion battery via a household power point (roughly five hours claimed) or a higher-output AC charger – the caveat being it only has a maximum charging rate of 3.7kW, thereby rendering a wallbox almost pointless.

During the national launch this week, we averaged 8.0L/100km across a 30km driving loop, during which time we tested the 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV in all three driving modes – Sport, Hybrid and Electric – across mostly suburban conditions (average speed of 35km/h).

The 60km EV range reads closer to 48km in practice. That said, the Pug does have a recharge function which is quite proficient at capturing additional range on the road via regenerative braking and the petrol engine.

The other consideration for longer journeys is the 10-litre-smaller fuel tank (40 litres). Our vehicle displayed a total petrol range of only 420km at launch.

This is a different beast to any Peugeot 308 you might have driven before.

Until recently, the 308 driving experience was one of lightness and French charm. Think a thrummy petrol engine, light controls and adept handling – traits which would combine in an enamouring way to invoke thoughts of yourself schlepping along the Champs-Élysée, or taking a casual cruise of The Grand Corniche.

At the national launch of the 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV this week, there’s decidedly more polished and even corporate demeanour to the newcomer – though not all is positive.

Held on unapologetically Australian commuter roads – varying surfaces (mostly pockmarked) around Manly and the Northern Beaches – the 308 PHEV bristles with its cabin presentation and slick technology integration.

The exception to the rule is the carryover positioning of the diminutive steering wheel, instrument cluster and driver’s seat.

If, like your correspondent, you prefer to have your seat set low in the cockpit and the steering wheel set high – thereby cultivating maximum feel of the vehicle – there is simply no happy medium.

The steering wheel blocks out the instrument cluster no matter which angle you try; the only solution is to have the steering wheel in your lap.

It’s a quirky trait, but probably something you’d grow accustomed to.

Light low-speed steering and the silence of the electric powertrain – which takes up the initial slack when pulling away from the kerbside – offer a strong first impression on-road.

Similarly, the electric motor offers decent though hardly neck-breaking passage around town to really qualify itself as a Monday-to-Friday EV commuter. Even if the claimed 60km range is a tad optimistic.

With more time at the wheel, it is clear the 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV is beset with a lumpy, busy ride regularly infiltrated by thudding over the rear axle and noticeable road noise.

It appears the slabby kerb weight and 18-inch wheels are the major culprit here; ditto for the Pug’s slowness to recover from extended sections of broken bitumen, whereupon the body feels disconnected and floaty over the rough surface underneath.

In a similar vein, the brake pedal feels wooden and inconsistent with its feeling as you apply pressure.

These traits bear stark contrast with the PHEV’s lofty positioning, but also with the light, redeeming qualities of the second-generation 308 hatchback before it.

With that said, the plug-in hybrid offers decent agility between changes in direction, and strong outright body control. It isn’t likely to vouch as a replacement for the venerable GTi hot hatch, but on our short test drive it offers a communicative chassis and decent outright balance.

Then there’s the drivetrain. The serene and calming character of the electric motor is at times crudely interrupted by the sudden input of the four-cylinder engine as it chimes into action.

Individually, the two make compelling arguments; combined, they lack the grace, efficiency and general intuition of more polished PHEV options.

The petrol engine becomes quite vocal as it reaches its straps, and with peak power realised from 6000rpm, that’s the territory you’re required to explore if you want to call on more urgency. It is also quite jolty under heavier acceleration from a standstill.

All in all, the Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV offers a rounded drivetrain and decent dynamics. But we’d argue it’s not up to the measure of its price tag.

In a word, polished. The 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV really enamours upon settling into its soft, supportive driver’s seat. There are quality materials at every touch point, a thoughtful design and excellent integration of technology.

Those steering wheel/instrument cluster issues aside, everything is within easy reach of the driver and there is a strong array of incidental storage, open cubbies and door pockets for odds and ends.

There are two USB-C ports up front, a 12-volt outlet and a wireless phone charger.

In essence, it feels special and befitting of the lofty price tag. Features like the metallic gear shifter, lime green contrast stitching and swish centre fascia display really do validate the new positioning. And about the only thing missing from a tech perspective is a head-up display.

Outward vision is generally sound and open, though could be better; there are thick front pillars, a narrow back window and bulky rear pillars. That said, the outward view is strongly supported by the cameras on board.

Contrasting slightly with the amenity of the front row is the rear seat. It feels quite cosy, with small door openings and limited knee-room and toe-room commensurate with the Pug’s 4.3-metre length.

There are also harder contact points present, and no flip-down arm rest, though occupants do have access to separate air vents and two additional USB-C points.

The Peugeot 308 will ferry little ones at a pinch (less so if you have a rearward-facing child seat) with two ISOFIX attachment points on the outbound pews and three top tether strap points.

The rear bench has a 60/40 split to improve boot volume, which is 361 litres with all seats in place. That compares to 384 litres in the non-hybrid hatch. Fold the rear seats down and there’s 1271L available.

You also only get a tyre inflation kit rather than a spare wheel in the PHEV. And the fuel tank capacity drops to 40 litres (from 50L).

It depends on what your motives are around small car ownership.

The 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV is unmistakably tech-laden, sleek and clever in practice.

And so far as efficiency goes, it has the theoretical efficiency of an EV, or the same efficiency as a petrol-powered hot hatch, depending on your driving style and distance.

For us, however, the 308 GT Sport Hatch PHEV doesn’t quite uphold the light, charming on-road character traits the 308 once epitomised.

And at $70K in the traffic, it loses touch with most prospective buyers.

2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch Plug-In Hybrid at a glance:
Price: $64,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 132kW/250Nm (electric motor: 81kW/250Nm)
Combined output: 165kW/360Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Battery: 12.4kWh lithium-ion
Range: 60km (ADR)
Fuel: 1.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 30.2g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Four-star (ANCAP 2022)