Peugeot 308 GTi 2018 Review

Peugeot’s hot hatch heritage runs deep. The iconic 1980s 205 GTi set the benchmark for hot hatches and maintains legend status even today, but with such a reputation to uphold, does the 2018 Peugeot 308 GTi have the goods to continue its family name?

Back in the late 1990s while living in the UK, I owned another of Peugeot's GTi classics, the 106 GTi. It was a firecracker of a car but unfortunately for Australians, like many great hot hatches, it never made it to these shores.

The Peugeot 106 GTi was powered by an 88kW 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. It was my commuter vehicle for a couple of years and boasted aftermarket 19-inch wheels that looked the bizzo — even though they scrubbed out on full lock (the joys of being young and dating a mechanic)!

The 106 GTi was the perfect vehicle for a young couple — it was small and light but offered plenty of accessible performance making it a joy to zip through England’s hedgerow-lined country roads.

I am happy to report the latest iteration of Peugeot's GTi line-up, the 308 GTi is an absolute ripper too. The updated Peugeot 308 GTi arrived in Australia after this year's running of the 2018 Australia's Best Drivers’ Car and it definitely would have held its own, even against some of more powerful foes.

Like my old 106 GTi, the Peugeot 308 GTi is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine but this one is paired with a six-speed manual transmission and generates significantly more grunt. It pumps out 200kW and 330Nm and thanks to a modest kerb weight punches with substantial power to weight ratio of 170kW/tonne.

The 308 is a larger vehicle than my 106, which legitimises it for consideration as a family conveyance. So will the 308 GTi be a logical choice for us hot hatch enthusiasts now we’re a full grown family with two teenagers?

Styling-wise the new Peugeot 308 GTi is smart enough to get you noticed but doesn't stand out so much that you'll be too attractive to law enforcement. As such, it is likely to fly under the radar -- not a bad trait for a hot hatch.

The exterior lines of the Peugeot give the vehicle quite a square boxy look that's actually really contemporary. This vehicle is equipped legitimately with 19-inch wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Sport rubber which help to deliver a strong yet stealthy stance.

A twin exhaust pipe which emits a delightful rumble finishes off a rear which is bereft of a boy-racer spoiler yet still manages to look suitably sporty.

On the inside the 308 GTi looks smart and grown-up. Pleasingly, the French have really pulled back on the quirky characteristics to present a cabin which is well laid out and frankly just makes a lot of sense.

The driver’s seat is reasonably comfortable and is not as sports focused as, say, the Ford Focus RS with its ‘sharp’ bucket seats. Instead, the seats offer good support on long journeys or through spirited cornering.

The seating position is also good considering this is a sports-orientated vehicle, however, the steering wheel sits low within the cockpit and when it is at its highest point blocks vision of the instrument panel. It is not a deal breaker (Ed: it is for me, as is the reverse tachometer!) but ergonomically many drivers will find it is not ideal.

As with all good hot hatches interior upholstery plays a key role in the presentation of the 308 GTi. Seats are finished in Alcantara with Peugeot Sport branding setting off the sports-focus.

Rear seat accommodation is adequate for growing teenage lads, although we found our taller son needed to be positioned behind me rather than my 180cm husband to avoid being too cramped.

Front seat passengers can also enjoy massaging seats which are unique within this segment.

My old Peugeot 106 GTi boasted a CD player and radio and that was about it but today's Peugeot 308 GTi boasts a whole lot more. It offers great features like keyless entry and push button start, reverse camera (with excellent functionality including surround view), auto parking, cruise control with lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and speed limit recognition (one of my favourite features on modern vehicles).

There’s a minimalist approach taken to the layout of the centre console particularly with many of the ancillary functions controlled via the car’s touch screen, eliminating extraneous buttons and knobs.

The dash layout is quite straightforward and includes a CD player in the centre stack located beneath a 9.7 inch colour touchscreen. Almost obligatory infotainment inclusions include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a good satellite navigation system.

Of course, technology and features are all well and good but when it comes to a hot hatch, the proof of the pudding is in the performance. Yes, the 308 GTi doesn’t have the overt grunt of say the Ford Focus RS or the budding icon status of the new Hyundai i30N, but its own unique panache sees it worthy of the hot hatch badge.

On start up, the 308 exhaust emits an encouraging burble which belies its sophisticated styling. Apply the loud pedal and shift through the gears and the auditory sensation continues, which is further heightened when selecting sports mode.

The problem with adding more features, more safety and more tech to hatches is that they’ve become heavier than before -- just look at the classic Mini compare to a current BMW maxi MINI.

One of the nicest features of the Peugeot 308 GTi therefore is just how light it is (and feels on the road). In fact, it weighs a full 300kgs less that the Hyundai i30N. What that means when behind the wheel is that the 308 GTi is a pleasure to punt through corners and has plenty enough straight-line speed even if it does give away 400cc or so.

On my regular test route, where performance cars get a good examination, the 308 excelled. My drive route has tight corners paired with sharp inclines and declines and the 308 GTi handled the twists and turns with aplomb.

It also excelled on my extended route, a mountainous gravel road which is the perfect proving ground for a front-drive hot hatch. The 308 GTi is light enough that it can skip across the top of the shale with deft handling yet still delivering outstanding confidence.

The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine in the 308 generates plenty of low down torque which delivers punch off the line. Accelerate hard and you will get some torque steer but it is far from unwieldy, so it should have broad appeal to drivers who perhaps haven't owned a hot hatch previously.

Steering feel is responsive and sharp. There's good feedback to the driver and the car is really easy to place on the road. Add its lightness factor and the 308 GTi is an absolute joy to pilot.

Of note is the performance of the 19-inch 235/35 Michelin tyres which delivered exceptional grip on both gravel and wet, leafy tarmac.

The Peugeot 308 GTi retails from $45,990 which is pricey for a vehicle of its size but this reflects the outstanding engineering that sits within.

For the money you get Peugeot's five-year warranty and 15,000 km service intervals which should lessen the blow of the early ownership years. That said those sticky 235/35/19 tyres aren’t designed for longevity, neither are they cheap to replace. If you're planning on pushing your 308 GTi hard on weekend manoeuvres then start your tyres savings fund when you pick up the car.

Hot hatch models typically appeal to younger drivers looking for good value sports performance in a smaller package but for those drivers like my husband and I who want to relive our youth, the Peugeot 308 GTi is a great reminder of life before kids.

Couple its performance with a high-level of features and technology and for us, it’s easy to make a case for the 308 GTi as a family hatch.

This is a car we’d buy.

2018 Peugeot 308 GTi pricing and specifications:
Price as tested: $47,040 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 200kW/330Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 139g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A