The Peugeot 308 came out in 2007 as a direct successor to the Peugeot 307, even though the latter remained in production till 2014 in some parts of the world including China. Just like its predecessor, the 308 is also a small family car still in production. Although it shares the numbering of the 300 series, the 308 is a part of a new generation of Peugeot cars called the X08 series.
The Peugeot 308 came as a successor to the 307. It is the sixth car in the Peugeot 300 car series after the models 304, 305, 309, 306, and 307.
Peugeot 308 First Generation (2008-2013)
The first-generation 308 used the same 307 chassis but upgraded the bodywork which gave it a broader and longer look. It had a drag coefficient of 0.29, which is on the lower side for a small family car, and reduced further to 0.28 in 2011 after the car received a facelift.
Guinness recognised the HDi variant of the 308 as a global record-holder as the most fuel-efficient mainstream car in production at this time. It consumes fuel at 3.13L/100km of combined driving. Assembly of the 308 takes place Peugeot’s plants in France, Russia, Argentina, and China.
There are different body styles to the 308, including 3-or-5-door hatchbacks, 4-door sedan, 5-or-7-door station wagons, and 2-door coupe cabriolet, but their availability varies by region or market.
In 2010, a GTI hatchback variant became available. It had a 1.6L engine, capable of delivering 149 kW. In Australia, the station wagon variant is called the 308 Touring, which inspired the design of the SUV/MPV called Peugeot 3008. The 3008 uses the same X08 series chassis as the 308. The 308 cabriolet variant succeeded the 307 CC variant back in 2009.
Some markets received the 4-door sedan model, such as China in 2011. The European version of the 308 sedans had a different exterior and came with two engine variants – one 1.6L (82 kW) and one 2.0L (107 kW).
The first facelift happened in mid-2011, with the 308 receiving an upgraded front end and a few changes to the rear end. At around the same time, Peugeot also launched the new 308 e-HDI models with micro-hybrid and stop-start technology. The stop-start feature allows recovery of energy during deceleration, while the hybrid battery provides power during startup.
Peugeot 308 Second Generation (2013-Present)
Peugeot revealed the second generation in 2013, announcing that the 308 would use the PSA EMP2 platform. The car shed off 140 kg and received a few stylistic changes.
The new models include the 1.2L Puretech 61 kW and 97 kW petrol variants and the Station Wagon 1.5L 97 kW diesel model.
The GTI variant comes with engines of its own, one delivering 186 kW of power while the other produced 201 kW. The 186 kW variant came equipped with LED headlights, keyless entry, twin exhausts, stop/start technology, and electronic limited-slip differential, to name a few features. The 201 kW model, on the other hand, had massaging seats, Alcon front brakes, and Torsen limited-slip differential.
So far, nine engine variants have been released under the second generation, including three petrol and six diesel versions.
The petrol engines include two 1.2L engines, namely the VTi with 61 kW and the e-THP Puretech with both 82 kW and 97 kW of power. The 1.6L petrol engine called the THP delivers various power outputs, including 93 kW, 116 kW, 153 kW, 186 kW, and 201 kW. The diesel engines included three 1.6L engines, delivering 86 kW, 69 kW, and 89 kW of power, a 1.5L engine producing 97 kW of power, and two 2.0L engines producing 112 kW and 134 kW of power.
In Australia, the following powertrains were available:
Petrol:
- 1.2L e-THP PureTech I3 (96 kW, 230 Nm), 6-speed auto or 6-speed manual gearbox
- 1.6L THP Prince Turbo I4 (103/110kW, 240 Nm), 6-speed auto gearbox
- 1.6L THP Prince Turbo I4 (165kW, 285 Nm), 6-speed auto transmission
Diesel:
- 2.0L BlueHDi DW10 FD I4 (110 kW, 370 Nm), 6-speed auto gearbox
- 2.0L BlueHDi DW10 FC I4 (133 kW, 400 Nm), 6-speed auto transission