Summarize

The first time we came across this shape of the Peugeot 308, we were quite gobsmacked. Its cabin. We felt, redefined its genre – spartan, chic and stylish with a taut little steering wheel you look over to see the gauges and a neat tablet in the middle. Not much has changed since the facelift bar some trendier trim for those edgy bits.

But 308 is no longer the cabin market leader – the game has moved on to make this one look pretty pedestrian in some respects. And no – it is not a Golf or a Corolla or a Giulietta that’s stolen a march, it’s rather its 3008 sibling that keeps Peugeot right on the cutting edge of car cockpit design via superbly detailed switches, materials and such immaculate attention paid to aspects not used to that sort of fuss.

308’s cabin still outdoes its somewhat slab-sided exterior design – maybe Peugeot should let the lot that does its cockpits loose on the outside shape too. It’s not that the bodywork is ugly, it’s just not up to what’s inside.

For the rest, 308 is pretty much on the button – its lusty little turbo twelve-hundred triple gets on with it on the vaguest scent of propellant and we happily came close to Paris’ consumption claims, while performance is on the better side of adequate – especially considering how heavy all that safety and sophistication makes this car.

All of which kind of makes us pretty excited about the next 308 – if this one’s quite exceptional interior can so quickly be made to seem redundant by its stunning crossover sister, we can’t wait to see what they dish up for the next one of these. 

We thought they’d aced it last time, but we were wrong – kinda makes it all the more exciting, no? 

QUICK TEST: Peugeot Allure 1.2THP 96kW 6-Speed Auto 

Engine:    96kW 230Nm 1199cc turbo petrol I3

Drive: 6-speed automatic FWD

TESTED: 

0-100km/h: 9.27 sec   

0-160km/h: 23.93 sec

400m: 16.5 sec @ 132km/h

80-120km/h: 6.57 sec

120-160km/h: 11.01 sec       

CLAIMED:       

VMax: 206km/h 

Fuel: 5.2 l/100km

CO2: 119 g/km

Warranty/Service 3y 100K/4y 60Kkm

LIST PRICE: R369K

RATED:          80%