|
|
Weekend roadtest: New Peugeot 308 series
publication date: May 14, 2011
|
author/source: Robin Roberts
With close to a million sales to its fans, the Peugeot 308 has undergone a facelift for the new generation.
Out
has gone the heavy chin and nose launched in 2007 to be replaced by a
sleeker and more rounded front, a refreshed interior and significant
mechanical refinements designed to stretch the economy to new lengths.
Most
notable of these is the introduction of an intelligent stop and start
system and the inclusion of a new high economy Oxygo version with
special long gearing, regenerative braking and on-demand power steering,
low rolling resistance tyres, cruise control, USB and Bluetooth, and
aerodynamic tweaks intended to
|  | bring it to market in July with an
official emissions figure of 98gkm. The imminent arrival of the revised 308 in showrooms is
the latest in a series of changes which will see six new models in 15
months from Peugeot.
After its French introduction in the previous
year, the original 308 came to the UK in 2008 and it has since sold
930,000 globally including over 89,000 in Britain, but this time it is
being sold only as a five-door hatchback, a convertible-coupe and
business-like SW estate with up to seven seats.
In all there are 60
versions priced between £15,245 and £27,545 but crucially they are about
£800 less than the equivalent outgoing models, although there is no
three-door hatchback in the new series.
An important element of the
new series is the introduction of the e-HDi micro-hybrid stop &
start technology on the 1.6 litre HDi FAP 112 bhp Euro 5 diesel engine.
It
is available with an electronically controlled six-speed manual gearbox
(EGC) and, for the first time, also with a manual six-speed gearbox,
for optimal driveability.
In addition to the fitment of e-HDi
micro-hybrid technology, all other factors affecting the level of CO2
emissions of the New Peugeot 308 have been optimised. So weight is
reduced by 25 kg on average per car, you can select 16" tyres with very
low rolling resistance, high efficiency engines VTi, THP, HDi Euro 5 and
styling tweaks have created a very low drag coefficient of 0.28 for
fuel economy versions.
The New Peugeot 308 will be available with a
range of power trains, comprising four petrol engines ranging from 98
bhp to 200 bhp for the exclusive GT version and four HDi diesel engines
from 92 bhp to 163 bhp.
All engines have been designed and developed
to maximise environmental efficiency so the diesel range entry model -
the 308 hatchback 1.6 litre HDi FAP 92 bhp with a manual gearbox - is
well positioned, with CO2 emissions reduced to only 110 g/km and its
sub-100gkm for the clever automatic.
|  | The work which has gone into
creating the new Peugeot 308 is being reflected in the predicted
residual values of the models now entering showrooms with resale prices
expected to be over 14pc higher than the current series.
This has also
meant that combined with the lower list prices the models are available
on Peugeot's Just Add Fuel leasing scheme for less than their
predecessors and the 308 Active VTi 120 is available to private users
for £235 a month with a £1,500 deposit, including insurance, servicing
and maintenance.
The 308 product manager Steve Fahey said they were
very excited by prospects for the new series because of the significant
price reductions and the technology they offered to drivers and reduced
operating costs for fleets.
Across the three body styles the
five-door hatchback, which will be over 70pc acquired by fleets, will
take an anticipated 15,000 registrations out of 21,000 in a full year in
Britain, with the primarily business preferred SW estate accounting for
another 2,700 and the CC the remaining 3,300 cars.
Peugeot UK also
believe that diesel engines will account for 62pc of Hatchback sales and
possibly a similar amount in the SW version. | |  |
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Full marks to Peugeot for the simplicity and effectiveness of the new micro-hybrid system in the 308 e-HDi 112 models.
I
drove a Hatchback around Cardiff city centre in a busy afternoon and
achieved 44mpg and then took a 308 SW with the same system on a more
typical country run, stretching it to 55.3mg.
What is important about
this technology is that the user does not have to compromise driving
style to achieve these figures, although you inadvertently find yourself
coasting more often as the long legged gearing builds up momentum and
you can knock it into neutral
| to further reduce load and fuel use.
It
stops the engine once neutral is selected and the car's at rest and
instantly restarts when the clutch is depressed to select first gear.
Driving
the Hatchback, an SW and also a new CC, I preferred the ride and
handling as well as the lowest noise level in the estate but the
sophisticated cabriolet shielded occupants from wind and rain and you
can appreciate the neck scarf warming system on a cold morning.
©Robin Roberts |  |
Download the Wheels Within Wales toolbar for your quickest way to keep in touch with everything that's happening on Welsh roads and in showrooms or use our RSS feed for the headlines you will not want to miss
|
|
|
.gif){kind=small}