Peugeot 308 Touring 2008 Review

What we liked
>> Excellent ride, communicative steering
>> Ready and refined turbodiesel torque
>> Stylish interior design

Not so much
>> Slightly compromised driving position
>> Mature audiences restricted by third-row seat option
>> Vague manual transmission shift

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 3.0/5.0

About our ratings

OVERVIEW
Peugeot's 308 Touring is the successor to the 307 variant, with larger dimensions and other benefits gained by the 308 range generally.

In a relatively rare coup for an Australian motor show, the 308 Touring range was launched globally at the Melbourne International Motor Show earlier this year. That in itself indicates how French makers are treating the Australian market as a little more important these days; that and the wagon's local launch barely six months later.

Peugeot is probably regarded by Aussies as the most 'mainstream' of the three French importers, with the best sales and correspondingly, the highest profile. As a consequence of its broader sales success, Peugeot anticipates a 2009 forecast of 2000 units for the 308 Touring.

While not a huge number in itself, that figure is expected to include some conquests from V6 SUVs. Peugeot suggests owners of offroaders are increasingly unimpressed by the cost of fuel for vehicles that rarely if ever go offroad.

Even for those vehicles that are called upon to tow occasionally, diesel variants of the 308 Touring could conceivably tackle that role -- to an extent.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
The 308 Touring range comprises seven variants, based around two levels of trim, four engines and three transmissions. Pricing starts with the base model XS petrol ($30,590) and ends at the XSE HDi variant with automatic transmission ($38,390).

Closer to the entry-level, there's the manual XS HDi with 1.6-litre diesel ($32,590) followed by a 2.0-litre diesel XS model with automatic transmission ($35,990), the petrol XSE auto ($32,990), the XSE Turbo petrol auto ($35,190) and the XSE HDi manual ($36,190) -- in that order.

All models feature as standard: a trip computer, remote central locking, electric windows/mirrors (with heating), height-adjustable front-passenger seat, MP3-compatible six-speaker CD audio system with remote controls on the steering wheel, cruise control/speed-limiter, front and rear fog lights, dual-zone climate control and 15-inch steel wheels.

Over the base XS models, the XSE grade gains: 16-inch alloys, stability control, auto-on/off headlights, rain-sensing wipers, reverse-parking assist, leather-bound steering wheel and lumbar adjustment for the front-passenger seat.

Just one option, Bianca White, is a solid colour. Available at extra cost ($700), the other (metallic) colours in the range are: Perla Nera Black, Aluminium Grey, Moondust Grey, Lunar Mist, Shark Grey, Montebello Blue, Taranga Blue and Babylon Red.

MECHANICAL
We tested the 308 hatch range at its local launch (more here). Predictably, the wagon follows the five-door's mechanical template.

As a refresher, in naturally-aspirated form, the joint BMW/Peugeot-developed 1.6-litre petrol engine produces 88kW of power at 6000rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4250rpm. The turbocharged version, which also powers the 207 GTi, produces 103kW at 6000rpm and 240Nm at 1400rpm.

There are two diesel engines available in different 308 Touring variants. The smaller displacement 1.6-litre HDi engine's peak power of 80kW arrives at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque occurs at 1750rpm. This engine is only available in the XS grade, whereas the larger 2.0-litre turbodiesel is fitted in both XS and XSE-grade variants and develops 100kW at 4000rpm and 320Nm at 2000rpm.

There's no manual transmission option for the 308 Touring with petrol engines. Drive to the front wheels is via a four-speed automatic transmission only.

Buyers of the 308 Touring with the 1.6-litre HDi engine will have to shift gear for themselves, since the only transmission choice for that engine is a six-speed manual. The larger 2.0-litre HDi engine is coupled to a six-speed automatic in both XS and XSE grades, with the further option of an XSE variant matched to a six-speed manual.

Peugeot has engineered the 308 Touring's suspension to align with that of the hatchback -- MacPherson struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear. Similarly, the brakes comprise ventilated front discs and solid rears.

PACKAGING
As already mentioned, the 308 Touring is larger than the 307 variant that went before it. The 308 Touring is 72mm longer, 53mm wider and 16mm lower. That means the Touring is also 224mm longer than the 308 hatchback -- with an extra 100mm in the wheelbase. Still, at 4500mm in length, the 308 Touring remains a relatively compact vehicle.

The larger dimensions translate to larger interior dimensions also (not always the case!). Indeed, Peugeot is in a position to offer the 308 Touring with the option of a third-row seat, providing seven-seat capacity from the small car.

The $1180 option is adequate for two children only, although at a real pinch, it would accommodate small adults for short trips. Peugeot designers have designed the third-row seats to be modular, removable and interchangeable with seats in the second row.  In fact, both rows of seats can be folded flat or removed altogether.

Headroom in the rear was good, but the second-row legroom was tight behind taller front seat occupants. Headroom for the third row might just be adequate for short adults, but it's hard to imagine anyone beyond early teens being comfortable.

Luggage space with the third row seat was virtually non-existent and would be hard pressed to accommodate a briefcase standing on its side. Peugeot has not supplied a capacity for the luggage space with the optional third-row seat folded flat, but without those two seats fitted, the capacity is an exceptional 674 litres with the second-row seat in place and measured up to the cargo blind. That's about a third more volume than the bootspace of a typical Aussie six-cylinder sedan. As noted above, the ability to fold and/or remove rows adds significantly to the versatility of the vehicle.

When it comes to packaging then, the 308 Touring is no Kia Rondo. In fact, it's no Kia Rondo in any respect. That's good as well as bad for the Peugeot.

Peugeot offers the 308 Touring with a full-length glass sunroof, which is bound to annoy as many locals as it enchants. In our experience, such sunroofs are appealing, until the temperature gets much above 30 degrees. At least the Peugeot also features a powered shade blind that rolls forward from the rear, to give the passengers a bit of respite from the sun.

SAFETY
Knee airbags are probably seen within the market as a novelty safety feature from the Japanese. In reality, protection for the lower extremities is an increasingly important issue, as we've learned from ANCAP. Lower legs remain the least protected part of the human anatomy in modern cars.

The 308 Touring offers the option of a knee airbag in the XSE models. We're betting take-up of this option will be less than 20 per cent of all the upmarket models sold. If given the option, 20 per cent of buyers won't choose stability control, so knee airbags are even less likely to earn a tick on the options list, come time to haggle with the salesman.

And on that point, stability control is an option for the XS petrol and 1.6 HDi variants, but is standard for all other variants. It should be standard across the board.

Thankfully, dual front and side-curtain airbags are standard for all models.

Some may be concerned that the third-row seat is located aft of the rear axle-line, which is technically a crumple zone of the car. Saab, in the past, has refused to fit factory-installed third-row seating in the 9-5 Estate, for this very reason. However, Saab does appear to be in a minority on this point and the location of the seat in the Peugeot probably remains one of the safer places to be in the car.

Two impressive safety features introduced with the 308 Touring are the hazard warning lights that flash during heavy braking and the WiFi system that detects whether or not all seats are fitted and configures the seatbelt warning accordingly.

As the second (and third)-row seats can be removed in their entirety, the Wi-Fi system monitors whether the seats are actually present in the car and are occupied without the seatbelts fastened.

COMPETITORS
As we see it, the 308 Touring will have two streams of competitors -- those that seat five and those that seat seven.

Of the seven-seaters, there's the Kia Rondo, which is cheaper but less capable than the Peugeot in every respect barring accommodation for seven. The Rondo's third-row seat will actually accommodate adult occupants in the third row.

Other seven-seaters include vehicles that are much more focused on seating seven. These include vehicles such as the Citroen C4 Picasso and the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life. Both are more expensive than the 308 Touring equivalents, but they are generally more capable in the role of seven-seaters.

It's worth bearing in mind also that these peoplemovers are expected to come up against a dedicated competitor from Peugeot in due course. Based on the 308 platform and rumoured to be named the 3008 (more here), it's yet to be confirmed for Australia at this stage.

In respect of the five-seat variants, the 308 Touring's competitors would include such vehicles as the Renault Scenic, the Skoda Roomster and the Volkswagen Caddy Life.

The Roomster is cheaper than the Peugeot and is quite a good package for the money. Like the 308 Touring, it's available with petrol and diesel powerplants. It's probably a bit roomier than the Peugeot and is a bit more kid-friendly too, with its low waistline.

The Roomster started out based on the Skoda Fabia, a light car, whereas the 308 is definitely a small car (meaning relatively larger), but with the changes Skoda wrought to develop the Roomster from the Fabia, it's definitely no tiny-tot. Worth considering if you don't absolutely have to buy a Peugeot and money is an object.

ON THE ROAD
Our exposure to the 308 Touring was relatively brief -- we managed to sample an XSE Turbo (petrol) auto model and the base grade XS HDI turbodiesel manual (with the smaller capacity 1.6-litre engine) for an hour each. The only way to get an XS turbodiesel with automatic transmission is by specifying the larger 2.0-litre engine.

The first characteristic of the 308 Touring that left an impression was the steering feel. Despite the electrically-assisted system, feedback from the steering was quite good and combined very well with the car's handling.

And the handling didn't diminish the Touring's ride, which was very supple and felt like it might have been better than that of the 308 hatch. Just the difference in wheelbase alone might be the reason for the Touring feeling slightly more composed and sedate.

The suspension also helped to isolate the car from road noise. There was virtually no road noise to mention. At 100km/h, there was some bass vibration from the drivetrain, some rustling from the wind -- but no effective tyre noise, even over some patches of coarse bitumen. In spite of the wind and drivetrain NVH, the Peugeot remains a very quiet car.

Contributing to very low levels of NVH, both petrol and diesel variants were refined.

We preferred the diesel, which mustered more torque when required and felt virtually no less refined. The manual gearshift was not as poor as some Peugeot shifts we've driven in recent times, but the diesel with auto would make a better combination.

When it came to stopping, the brakes were a little 'grabby' from the initial press of the pedal, but were good to use otherwise.

In common with the 308 hatch, it's difficult to find a driving position that allows the driver to see the tops of the dials through the steering wheel without feeling like the wheel is raised too high for comfort -- although the Touring's driving position seemed better than this tester remembered from the hatch.

Still on the driving position, the handbrake was located closer to the front-seat passenger, one of this tester's pet hates. Generally speaking though, the interior was nicely styled and finished, with easy access to controls and simple design.

In summation, the 308 Touring was a pleasant surprise. Both diesel and petrol versions impressed with their combination of dynamics, refinement and comfort. Indeed, it seemed to this reviewer that the Touring represents a better iteration of the 308 than the hatch.

If you have the money to spare, go for the XSE turbodiesel auto and option up the third-row seat. Just bear in mind, it's an 'occasional' seven-seater for 'occasional' kids.

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