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Peugeot 308 passes the test

Thursday, 28 February 2008

JUST put one back but this week I’m testing another new Peugeot.
After safely returning the 4007 SUV without any scratches, I’m now in the award-winning 308, incidentally the first-ever Peugeot car title to end with an 8.
While the 308 didn’t win the European Car of the Year, it did pick up the Goldene Lenkrad award for ‘Best Family Car’‚ in Germany last year.
For non-German readers ‘Goldene Lenkrad’‚ means Golden Steering Wheel and the award is presented annually by German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
“Dad, this looks really nice.” That was the reaction of my 21-year-old-daughter when she sat in the passenger seat of the 308 for the first time.
Straight away I could see this car, especially the two-door version, being attractive to female drivers. The four-door model which I drove would be a fine family car.
But maybe it was the Babylon Red colour which attracted my daughter. It really looked class and I was humming that old Boney M‚ hit of the ‘70s, ‘By the Rivers of Babylon’‚ all the way home.

But then I was told that Babylon Red comes from the name of a flower. Either way it’s still an attractive colour.
No doubt about it, the cabin is very spacious, and there is plenty of leg room especially for the front seat passenger. The back seat has plenty of room for three adults, but you can’t have everything and the boot is a bit on the small side.
The front grille is split in two and looks attractive. Looking at the car from my doorway, the headlamps were very impressive and the famous Peugeot lion seemed to sit proudly on the bonnet. The 16 inch alloy wheels added to the sporty effect.
The driving position is comfortable, but the way the bonnet is shaped you cannot see where it ends.
One of the extras provided is cruise control which can be useful even for outer city driving to avoid the dreaded Garda cameras. But surprisingly no slave controls for the radio on the steering wheel.
One thing that stuck in my mind was how well the doors closed in the 308. Down in Kerry many years ago we had a neighbour who after getting a lift would almost break the glass when closing the door.
He would have enjoyed closing the doors in the 308, if he was still around.
Prices start at e20,395 for the 1.4 petrol model, while the 1.6 SX four-door model I drove will cost you e26,065.
Another bit of good news for Peugeot. According to JATO Dynamics, the world’s leading provider of automotive data and intelligence, Volkswagen was the best-selling brand in Europe in 2007, but the Peugeot 207 was the best-selling individual car in Europe last year.

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