Peugeot 308 P5 Hatchback GT Premium (2021-2026)

A step up in design, technology and quality – It’s the all new and improved Peugeot 308. It signals a new wave of cars for Peugeot and a new direction for the iconic French manufacturer. It’s more than just a new badge and design. There’s been a deep focus on attention to detail here, but that comes with a higher price tag. Almost like it was inspired by Hermes, the build quality in the 308 was exceptional. Leather was plentiful throughout the cabin and it felt oh-so buttery.

All digital displays in this Euro hatch were responsive, bright and vibrant. It was a delight to engage with the key functions inside the Peugeot.

There’s a noticeable heft in the door feel too, which complements the premium approach Peugeot is hard lining for.

This top shelf 308 will set you back $53,504. That puts it into the premium segment and pulls it out of its previous occupation in the more affordable hatchback space.

That’s not uncommon, but the main issue my audience has with this price tag is the engine you receive at this price point.

Peugeot's 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty promises peace of mind, and service packages are fairly priced, ranging from $1000 for 3 years to $1800 for 5 years.

On ProductReview.com.au, the average score for the Peugeot 308 is 3.2 out of 5. That’s not a stellar score from owners of the Peugeot 308. So I’m hoping that Peugeot have addressed previous complaints with the 308’s reliability for better long term ownership experiences.

The interior of the 308 is a quiet retreat away from the outside world. I was deeply impressed with the isolation from the road and surrounding vehicles when cruising in this French hatch.

In addition, the 10-speaker Focal sound system was more than sufficient, but phone calls ended up sounding like you were talking to someone through a tin can.

Nothing particularly impressive about the brakes here. There's a camera/radar fusion autonomous emergency braking system on board in case you forget to spot an obstacle before it gets close.

Here’s possibly the weakest argument for buying the new 308 GT.

For over $50,000 you’re getting a 1.2L 3 cylinder turbocharged petrol motor. That’s fine, seeing as Toyota has proven to us that a 3 cylinder turbo petrol engine can be exciting.

This 3 cylinder only manages to produce a mere 96kW (130hp) and 230Nm. For exclusive city driving, that’s a fine amount of power. There’s a healthy response from the 308 but occasionally that can be disrupted by a splash of turbo lag.

Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels, but you’ll never need to worry about spinning tires.

This 8 speed automatic transmission is a fine way to get up to speed, but it lacks any crucial feedback if you want to drive this thing like a hot hatch.

The 8 speed smoothly switches through its gears, again helping reinforce that French luxury appeal.

Here’s the frustrating part for me. The Peugeot 308 is a lot of fun to drive, but all I crave is more power to make the most of this chassis!

It’s quick on its feet when reacting to inputs from the steering wheel. It’s honestly a lot of fun to drive through tight and twisty roads.

Claimed fuel efficiency is 5.3L per 100km combined. However, I saw figures in the high 6-7L range. I found it hard to get close to that 5.3L claim during my week with the 308.

The interior of the 308 GT is the highlight of this French hatchback’s new design. There’s dual LCD displays available, lots of leather and a visually impressive new layout.

The driver’s display offers a ‘3-D’ mode, which by reflecting a LCD display onto the digital gauge cluster, can produce a 3-D effect which looks visually stunning.

I adored the stitching and materials splashed throughout this 308’s interior too, which helps justify that Premium designation.

The headline feature would be the digital buttons below the centre touchscreen, again adding to the ‘Avant Garde’ nature of the new 308.

That small shifter also looks a lot like the same shifter you’ll find in the new VW Golf. And even though that steering wheel looks great, its awkward placement can block the gauge cluster at most viewing angles. This forces you to sit in a particular seating position which might not be the most comfortable.

The 308 GT Premium has a 384L of boot space with the rear seats up, and 1295L with the rear seats folded.

If you’re after a European luxury hatchback, the Peugeot 308 GT Premium definitely stands out as a potential top consideration.

The features you’re getting, styling and materials in the 308 makes it a lot more appealing than some direct European rivals and undercuts the big 3 German automakers too.

If you can expand your mind past a European hatch option, the new Honda Civic offers amazing attention to detail and packaging that makes it one of the best hatchbacks in its class. Or you could even consider a Mazda 3 which is another strong alternative too.

The downside is that the power plant, which is going to be fine for day-to-day driving, might make you wish you had more horsepower out on the highway or during moments of spirited driving.

And let’s hope Peugeot has improved the long-term reliability of the new 308 too.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.