Peugeot 308 Touring 2018 Review

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I’m going to be straight up and say that the Peugeot 308 Allure HDi Touring stood up to a considerable amount of punishment during its time with us.

It hauled endless amounts of video gear to far flung locations, was tossed around racetracks while covered in cameras, used as the staff kitchen and, on at least one occasion, even acted as a warm bed.

Yet, regardless of what we threw at the Peugeot 308 Allure HDi Touring, it never flinched.

The 308 Touring’s sizeable 625-litre cargo area consumed all of our large, odd-shaped camera cases, cleaning supplies, rigging gear, sandbags and tripods, and with a low, flat floor was a cinch to load and unload. Fold the 60:40 seats flat and that space increases to a massive 1740 litres – more cargo capacity than most medium-sized SUVs – which is incredible considering the 308 is a small car.

Anchor points at the edges of the cargo area floor made it easy to secure heavy equipment. The addition of a 12-volt outlet in the boot also allowed us to pack our trusty car fridge for longer trips.

Where the Peugeot 308 Allure HDi Touring suffered internally was in its cabin oddment storage. The cupholders, for example, were not deep or wide enough to cope with a standard latté, while the door pockets were so shallow that every time you opened the door your drink bottle fell out. There’s also nowhere to secure mobile phones, and the glove box is so small the owner’s manual is the only item that fits in there.

On the plus side, the optional heated Nappa leather seats were comfortable and supportive with decent adjustability and a massage function, too. What a nice touch for long-distance highway cruising!

Although we didn’t spend much time in the rear seats, we did find legroom tight for adult passengers and the lack of ventilation outlets, 12-volt charging and USB outlets disappointing.

The long hours at the wheel

Once you’ve settled in and worked out where everything is the Peugeot 308 Allure HDi Touring is a pleasant wagon to drive.

The 308 Touring's punchy 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine is a delight providing strong, smooth torque delivery via the six-speed automatic transmission. That said, it’s definitely more comfortable with highway cruising than it is with the cut-and-thrust of busy city traffic.

The optional 18-inch alloy wheels and lower profile tyres dealt surprisingly well with the bumpy, often potholed country roads we found ourselves filming. Although the 308 Touring is by no means a corner carver, it does feel stable during cornering and inspires confidence when pushed.

One drawback to the driveline is the clunky idle-stop system. Restarts are rough, and occasionally lengthy, which meant we found ourselves turning the fuel-saving technology ‘off’ every time we jumped behind the wheel.

On the subject of fuel economy, we managed an average of 6.2L/100km over our three-month loan period, an extraordinary effort considering we drove with little thought to saving fuel. I think that if we had driven with fuel economy in mind (and left the awful idle-stop system on) we could have done better.

A few ergonomic quirks are a little frustrating, including the cruise control wand placed behind the steering wheel. It’s difficult to see while you’re driving, leaving you with the only option to mash buttons until you find the one you want. The steering wheel itself also blocks the instruments slightly, depending on where you have your seat positioned.

Stealthy tech

The Peugeot 308 Allure HDi Touring is dripping with technology – even if you can’t find it – including the front-seat massage function. It took me weeks to discover the option was fitted, the controller’s position on the lower seat base difficult to locate, until you know it’s there.

Thoughtful safety technology complements the driveability of the 308 Touring including autonomous emergency braking, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, parking sensors (front and rear), and a reversing camera. No quibbles here.

Entertainment, interior and safety tech in the 308 Touring is accessible via the 9.7-inch touchscreen which is canted towards the driver. Although some of the items are hard to access, the tidy set-up simplifies the look and feel of the cabin. In the case of our test car, I would have deleted the CD player and replaced it with an analogue climate control system. Sometimes you just need a hard button or dial, and not a series of touchscreen menus…

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto add to the 308 Touring’s cabin appeal, making it easy to navigate to bookings and responding to text messages on the fly. Keyless entry also proved invaluable while loading and unloading copious amounts of camera gear in the rain.

What a sweetie

Our time with the Peugeot 308 Allure HDi Touring proved that new-car buyers don’t necessarily have to default to an SUV.

The 308 Touring is a car that, once you’re accustomed to it, feels cosseting and practical. The motoring.com.au multimedia team constantly found ourselves fighting for the keys when heading out for a shoot, which I guess says a lot for how quickly this sweet little Frenchy became a valued part of the team.

How much does the 2018 Peugeot 308 Allure HDi Touring cost?
Price: $37,990 (plus ORCs); $40,690 (as tested, plus ORCs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 110kW/370Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.7L/100km (ADR Combined); 6.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 174g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2014)