Review of the Peugeot 308 2021: GT-Line

Around the same time last year, I had the opportunity to test the Peugeot 308 GT. It was a great little warm hatch that subjectively I really liked.

Imagine my dismay when I discovered that Peugeot had discontinued the oft-overlooked GT this year to replace it with the car you see here: the 308 GT-Line.

Externally, the GT-Line looks much the same, but instead of the powerful GT four-cylinder engine, it gets a conventional three-cylinder turbo engine, which can also be seen on the lower Allure version.

So, with an angry look but less power than the base Golf, can this new version of the GT-Line win me over like its warm hatchback predecessor? Read on to find out.

Peugeot 308 2020: GT Line limited edition
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	1.2 L turbo
fuel type	Regular unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	5l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$26,600

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10

With the GT gone, the GT-Line now tops the 308 lineup in Australia. Roughly the same size as a Golf or Ford Focus, the current generation 308 has danced around price points throughout its rather tumultuous six-year history in Australia.

Priced at $36,490 (on the road with an MSRP of $34,990), it's certainly way off budget, around $20 in the hatchback market, rivaling the likes of the VW Golf 110TSI Highline ($34,990), Ford Focus Titanium ($34,49030). or Hyundai i35,590 N-Line Premium ($XNUMXXNUMX).

Peugeot once tried a budget option with entry-level options like the Access and the current Allure, a strategy that clearly didn't buy the French brand much more than a niche in the Australian market.

The gorgeous "Ultimate Red" color our test car wore costs $1050.

On the other hand, apart from VW Golf and premium marques, other European competitors such as Renault, Skoda and Ford Focus have struggled to make a significant impact in recent years.

The level of equipment in Peugeot is good, no matter what. The kit includes those impressive 18-inch alloy wheels that I loved in the GT, a 9.7-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as built-in navigation and DAB digital radio, full LED front lighting, sporty body kit (visually almost identical to the GT), a leather-trimmed steering wheel, fabric seats with a unique GT-Line pattern, a color display on the driver's dash, push-button ignition with keyless entry, and a panoramic sunroof that almost reaches the length of the car.

There is also a decent security suite, which will be covered later in this review.

The kit isn't bad, but it lacks some of the more advanced features we see from competitors at this price point, such as wireless phone charging, holographic head-up displays, digital dashboard clusters, and even basic stuff like full leather interior trim and power steering. adjustable seats.

Oh, and the gorgeous "Ultimate Red" color our test car wore costs $1050. "Magnetic Blue" (the only other color I'd consider for this car) is slightly cheaper at $690.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

It says so much about this car's great design that you can't tell this generation is over five years old. Still looking as modern as ever, the 308 has simple classic hatchback lines accentuated by a pugnacious chrome-accented grille (see what I did there?) and big two-tone alloy wheels that really fill those wheel arches.

LED taillights, which now feature progressive indicators and a silver stripe framing the entire side window profile, complete the look.

Again, it's simple, but distinctly European in its appeal.

The 308 has simple and classic hatchback lines.

The interior takes the design to unique yet controversial places. I love the driver-focused molding in the stripped-down dash design, which features a few very tastefully applied chrome accents and soft-touch surfaces, but it's the steering wheel position and the driver's binnacle that separates people.

Personally, I like it. I love the tiny but strongly contoured steering wheel, the way the elements sit deep but high above the dashboard, and the sporty stance they create.

Talk to my colleague Richard Berry (191cm/6'3") and you'll see some of the shortcomings. For example, he has to choose between comfort and having the top of the wheel block the dashboard. This should be annoying.

The interior takes the design to unique yet controversial places.

If you're my height (182 cm/6'0") you won't have a problem. I just wish, especially at this price, that it had a cool new digital dash design like the bigger 508.

The 308's cabin is also comfortable, with soft-touch plastics and leather trim extending from the dashboard to the door cards and center console.

The screen is large and impressive in the center of the dashboard, and I really liked how Peugeot wove its white-blue-red pattern into the center of the seat design.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

Annoyingly, one of the shortcomings of this simplistic but futuristic cabin design is the apparent lack of storage space.

Front passengers get shallow door binnacles with a small bottle holder, a tiny glove box and center console drawer, and a strange lone cup holder built into the center console that is small (barely holds a large cup of coffee) and awkward to access.

One downside to this simplistic yet futuristic cabin design is the sheer lack of storage space.

Need space for a laptop or tablet, or anything bigger than a phone? I guess there's always a back seat.

As for the rear seat, the beautiful seat trim and door cards extend all the way to the rear, which is a nice design aspect of the 308, but again, there's a noticeable lack of storage space.

There are pockets on the back of each seat, and a small bottle holder in each door, as well as a fold-down armrest with two small cup holders. There are no adjustable vents, but there is one USB port on the back of the center console.

Good seat trim and door cards extend to the rear.

The size of the rear seat is normal. It doesn't have the design magic of the Golf. Behind my own seat, my knees are pressed into the front seat, although I have plenty of room for my arms and above my head.

Luckily, the 308 has an excellent 435-litre boot. It is larger than the Golf 380L and 341L offered by the Focus. In fact, the Peugeot's trunk is on par with some mid-size SUVs, and had enough room for my usual equipment stored next to our biggest 124-litre engine. Cars Guide suitcase.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

The GT-Line has the same engine as the smaller Allure, a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit.

It produces a less than impressive 96kW/230Nm, but there's more to the story than just numbers. We will cover this in the driving section.

The 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine develops 96 kW/230 Nm of power.

It is paired with a six-speed (torque converter) automatic transmission (manufactured by Aisin). It's sad that you can no longer get the eight-speed automatic that was fitted to the 308 GT with the more powerful four-cylinder engine.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The 308 GT-Line's combined fuel consumption is claimed to be just 5.0 l/100 km. Sounds plausible given its small engine, but your mileage may vary.

Mine were very different. After a week of driving in a predominantly urban setting, my Pug posted a less impressive computer-reported 8.5L/100km. However, I enjoyed driving.

The 308 requires 95 octane medium quality unleaded gasoline and has a 53 liter fuel tank for a maximum theoretical mileage of 1233 km between fill-ups. Good luck with that.

It has a low CO2 emission rating of 113g/km to meet the latest stringent Euro 6 requirements in the domestic market.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

The current 308 doesn't actually have an ANCAP rating, as the 2014 five-star rating only applies to the now discontinued diesel variants.

Regardless, the 308 now has a competitive active safety package consisting of automatic emergency braking (operating from 0 to 140 km/h and detecting pedestrians and cyclists), lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring zones, traffic sign recognition and driver attention control. anxiety. There is no rear cross traffic alert or adaptive cruise on the 308.

In addition to these features, there are six airbags, an expected suite of stabilization systems, brakes and traction control.

The 308 has two ISOFIX anchor points and three top-tether child seat anchor points on the second row.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Peugeot offers a competitive five-year unlimited mileage warranty alongside its major competitors including VW and Ford.

Service prices are also fixed for the duration of the warranty, with every 12 months / 15,000 km of service costing between $391 and $629, averaging $500.80 per year. These services are far from cheap, but promise to include most supplies.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

I can safely say that the 308 is as good to drive as it looks to be. Despite average-sounding power figures, the 308 feels more punchy than its more powerful rival, the VW Golf.

Peak torque of 230Nm is available at a low 1750rpm, giving you a good share of traction after the initial turbo lag second, but the 308's real draw is its thin weight of 1122kg.

It gives a bouncy feel both when accelerating and when cornering, which is just plain fun. The three-cylinder engine makes a distant but pleasant gravel rumble, and the six-speed transmission, while not as lightning-fast as the dual-clutch VW group, pushes forward confidently and purposefully.

The ride is generally firm, with seemingly very little travel, but has consistently surprised me with its forgiving nature over some of the worst road bumps. This is the golden mean - in the direction of hardness, but nothing extreme.

The relative silence in the cabin is also impressive, with the engine almost silent most of the time, and road noise really only gets louder at speeds above 80 km/h.

The steering is direct and responsive, allowing precise sunroof guidance. This feeling is heightened in Sport mode, which makes the ratio stiffer and naturally makes the dial glow red.

While it's more of a driver's car than most, it still suffers from annoying turbo lag moments, exacerbated by an overly ingenious "stop-start" system that often shuts off the engine at inconvenient times when slowing down.

It, too, somehow yearns for more power, especially with its well-oiled ride, but this ship sailed with its older GT sibling earlier this year.

Verdict

I love this car. It looks fantastic and will amaze you with its sophisticated yet sporty driving style that betrays the numbers and its age.

I fear that its high prices set it apart from more expensive competitors, which will eventually make it stuck in its odd little French niche.