Peugeot 308 Review - 1.2T Allure Auto

Full disclosure, when this current shape of 308 was launched almost four years ago, I was smitten. But I want to provide some context.

See it’s French, which in South Africa makes it something of an underdog. German cars are generally excellent, their marque’s boastful as a result. Japanese cars are mostly flawless, yet their creators are humble – so you want them to do well. Which they do. American cars are a laugh. British cars a riot. But this Peugeot had to be a scrapper to get any sort of recognition in a land where you needed a Golf or Corolla badge on your bum. Hell, even a Focus tag would suffice.

So now, enter the new 308.

Return of the Pug

Ten a month? Ten 308s. Sold. Per month. No wonder it vanished entirely from the marque’s South African portfolio for over a year.

Thankfully it has returned and with some renewed vigour, in Allure spec alone. You can have one in 6-speed manual or automatic, both with the same subtle visual upgrade in the form of a tweaked bumper design featuring larger air intakes and a diamond cluster grille for added menace. The engine is a characterful little firecracker – three cylinders measuring 1.2 litres in total, turbocharged to loftier highs this time around at 96kW and 230Nm. That will get you to 100kph in 9.2 seconds, but also it will return 100km with just 5.2 litres of fuel. Carbon emissions are favourably low at just 119g/km.

And numbers aside, we just really, really like the way it sounds and pulls – thrummy and eager.

All aboard, the 308

I only had one problem with that original launch car and I’m sad to say it is still here – the incessant need to axe all the conventional controls in favour of a bloody 9.7 inch touch-screen. So long knobs, cheers dials!

Thankfully they’ve also loaded up the aforementioned infotainment system with all the connectivity options you could possibly want – so good. What I do like, and I’m not necessarily in the majority here – is the tiny steering wheel. It’s a Peugeot ‘thing’ this, but all at once for me it makes the experience that much more special and perhaps even more racy. I even get a kick out of peering through the tiny helm at the dials beyond.

Peugeot's teeny steering wheel is not for everyone. Mr Fisher's a fan, though

Rev it up, drop the clutch and aim in down some mountain roads and the steering wheel wields like a scalpel. A small (fun) one. This reveals a dynamic little chassis that can tango between firm and compliant as the requirements vary.

Okay, let’s wrap this up

I guess this is the verdict bit and even now it is a tough one to call.  I so want the 308 to be taken seriously, it certainly deserves to. Yes, there’s my one and only niggle, the lack of traditional knobs and such but were this your daily driver you’d quickly surmount this and just get on with things.

I do wish they cribbed from Volvo, a company that does GUI (Graphical User Interfaces) well in 2018. Yet I respect (but not admire) their willingness to stay up to date and trendy even, with their technological offerings. But what of legacy bugbears such as resale value, reliability and after sales support? Well, the market will continue to be unkind to Peugeot as long as sales are low – it is a vicious cycle. As for reliability, I have no reservations recommending a modern day Pug as readily as I would a Golf, especially when the firm ensures steady parts availability.

I’d buy one, admittedly with my heart more than my head.

Peugeot 308 1.2T Allure Auto Spec: