Peugeot 308 2022, More Than Ready To Compete With The Incombustible Golf

Peugeot has finally unveiled the third generation of its compact, the Peugeot 308. In addition to presenting better credentials than ever to beat the incombustible Volkswagen Golf, this model arrives with a new brand image under its arm. The French return to their origins, saving distances, with their new emblem.

With a 5-door body, SW family and a complete mechanical range that includes hybridization for the first time, the new Peugeot 308 has made a qualitative leap that even positions it as an alternative to premium compacts . The gains in quality and technology reinforce this approach.

The model will be marketed in Spain in the Active Pack, Allure, Allure Pack, GT and GT Pack finishes. As for prices, these start at 23,000 euros without discounts, although in the case of access diesel the figure rises to 26,000 euros. As you might expect, hybridization is the most expensive option, with a starting price of 34,700 euros.

French gala dress

Developed on the third version of the EMP2 modular platform of the Stellantis Group (union of FCA and PSA), the Peugeot 308 significantly alters its dimensions to give rise to a more aggressive image and a more elegant plant. Its length increases by 11 centimeters, the wheelbase increases by 5.5 centimeters and the height is reduced by 2 centimeters.

With this drastic change, the French compact sports a slimmer image, with a long, fairly horizontal hood that ends in a very vertical grille. The model is somewhat reminiscent of the first generation of the BMW 1 Series in that regard, saving the distance.

The entire front has been designed to proudly show off the new shield, with a large diamond-patterned grille and very thin optics that turn to daylight in a vertical format. This resource has been used in more and more models and refers to the lion’s fang that manufacturers use as an emblem.

Depending on the finish, the optics become Matrix LED instead of Full LED, while at the back they remain unchanged, but in 2 variants: triple diagonal bar with the fog and reverse lights moved to the bumper. As in the 208, a continuous light bar is dispensed with, although instead there is a black molding that joins both pilots.

Another interesting detail is the location of the shield on the wing just before the door cut, in true Ferrari style. We do not know if it will be an extra or not, but it cannot be denied that it attracts attention. Finally, there will be 7 colors available: green, blue, red, black, gray and two types of white.

New generation i-Cockpit

If, with the new emblem and the new design line, the manufacturers want to show the brand image abroad, with the interior they intend to do the same for the lucky ones who ride in the car. It has been almost a decade since we knew the first iteration of the i-Cockpit and now we are facing the 3rd generation of this concept.

The i-Cockpit is distinguished from any interior design by the layout of its controls. The instrumentation, now 10 ”digital and with 3D graphics, is located above the dashboard, with a smaller-than-normal steering wheel located below (to facilitate reading) as the main hallmark.

The general forms become more baroque but better finished, with a multi-level dashboard and air intakes at the top. The central area is dominated by a 10 ”semi-integrated screen. This is complemented by another smaller screen just below, customizable for shortcut controls.

Below both we do find physical controls of aviation type. They are not the buttons for the air conditioning, but shortcuts to different functions. An elevated central tunnel separates both front seats, leaving here the commands for the driving modes and, in the automatic versions, a small gear selector.

Mechanical offer

Submerged in a stage of transition between technologies, manufacturers are inclined to create specific niche products with the new-future technology (electric vehicles) or to offer very complete mechanical ranges with which to adapt to the tastes and needs of the largest number of people. With this situation, we can speak of the new Peugeot 308 as a car of the second group.

This is totally justified, taking into account that it will be a volume car and the one that will popularize the new image of the brand. All in all, we find 3 thermal versions (gasoline and diesel) and two plug-in hybrids.

As for the thermal versions, the same 3-cylinder 1.2 PureTech block will be offered in gasoline, available with 110 and 130 hp. The latter will be available with an EAT8 automatic transmission, in addition to the standard 6-speed manual. For its part, in diesel we only find the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 hp with manual and automatic transmission.

The two plug-in variants are those already seen in other models of the group. The most basic offers 180 combined hp and an electric range of 60 kilometers, while the 225 hp option has yet to homologate the electric range according to the WLTP cycle.

In both cases, the starting point is a 150 and 180 hp gasoline engine respectively, to which an 81 kW electric motor is coupled to achieve the combined power that is never the sum of both. Regardless of the power level, all the variants are complemented by an alternative of the automatic transmission (known as e-EAT8).