Peugeot 308 review
The Peugeot 308 is a stylish and efficient family hatchback that offers a classy interior and a huge boot, making it a great-value alternative to its mainstream rivals.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
7th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
If you’re looking for a family hatchback that’s a bit more stylish than the norm, the Peugeot 308 is a fantastic choice. This second-generation model, sold new from 2013, is a huge leap forward from its predecessor, offering a classy, modern design, a high-tech interior, and some incredibly efficient engines. It’s a car that majors on comfort, style, and low running costs. The 308 is an attractive and often overlooked alternative to rivals like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. While it might not be the most exciting car to drive in its class, it’s comfortable, refined, and impressively practical, especially when it comes to boot space. It’s a great option for young families or anyone who wants a good-looking car that’s cheap to run and feels a bit special inside.
Pros
- Very efficient petrol and diesel engines
- Stylish, high-quality interior design
- One of the biggest boots in its class
Cons
- Cramped rear passenger space for adults
- The small steering wheel can block the view of the dials
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Step inside the Peugeot 308 and you’re greeted by a very stylish and minimalist interior, which Peugeot calls its 'i-Cockpit'. The perceived quality is impressive, with a clean design and fewer buttons than you’ll find in many rivals. Most of the car's functions are controlled through a large central touchscreen, which helps to create the uncluttered feel.
The most distinctive feature is the driving position. Peugeot has used a very small steering wheel that you are meant to look over, rather than through, to see the high-set dials. It’s a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it feature, and some drivers find the top of the wheel blocks their view. It’s definitely something to check when you take a test drive.
Comfort
The 308 is generally a comfortable car, with a soft suspension setup that does a good job of soaking up bumps in the road. It’s a relaxed and quiet car for long journeys, although models with larger 18-inch wheels can suffer from a bit more road noise and a slightly firmer ride.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, but the biggest issue is space in the back. While it’s fine for children, adults will find it quite cramped, with less legroom and headroom than you’ll find in key rivals. It’s a compromise that comes with the car’s stylish design.
Quality
The interior of the 308 looks and feels very upmarket for a car in this class. While you will find some cheaper-feeling plastics if you look hard, the overall impression is one of quality and style. The main touchpoints feel good, and the minimalist design gives it a modern, premium ambience that helps it stand out from the competition.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The 308’s practicality is a tale of two halves. If you need plenty of space for rear passengers, this might not be the car for you. It’s okay for kids, but adults will find the back seats cramped and uncomfortable on anything other than a short journey. Rivals like the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf offer much more generous rear accommodation.
Boot space
Where the 308 really excels is its boot. At 470 litres, it’s one of the largest in the family hatchback class, beaten only by the enormous Skoda Octavia. It comfortably beats the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf for luggage space, making it a fantastic choice for young families. The boot is big enough to swallow a pushchair and all the other essentials needed for a trip away with young children.
Versatility
With its huge boot and five-door layout, the 308 is a very practical car for a young family. The rear seats fold down to increase the load space, and the wide boot opening makes it easy to load bulky items. If you prioritise luggage capacity over rear passenger space, the 308 is one of the most practical and versatile cars in its class.
Driving
Driving experience
Peugeot drastically improved the handling of the 308 with this second-generation model. While it might not be quite as fun or engaging to drive as a Ford Focus, it’s a very competent and comfortable car. The soft suspension can lead to a bit of body roll in the corners, but for the most part, it’s a pleasant and easy car to drive. The small steering wheel can make it feel quite darty and agile around town.
For those looking for real excitement, there’s the high-performance GTi model. Developed by Peugeot Sport, it’s a proper hot hatchback with a powerful engine and a much sportier suspension setup that makes it a thrill to drive on a winding road.
Performance
There’s a great variety of engines to suit every need, from super-economical diesels to high-performance petrols. The 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engines are brilliant all-rounders, available in several power outputs and offering a great mix of peppy performance and good fuel economy.
The BlueHDi diesel engines are the stars for those who cover a lot of miles. They are incredibly efficient, with some versions capable of over 90mpg in official tests. For performance fans, the 1.6-litre petrol engine in the GTi model produces an impressive 268bhp, turning the sensible 308 into a seriously fast hot hatch.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
This is where the Peugeot 308 really shines. The diesel engines, in particular, offer exceptional fuel economy and very low CO2 emissions, making them incredibly cheap to run and tax. The 1.2-litre petrol engines are also impressively frugal, with some versions capable of over 60mpg. It’s one of the most cost-effective cars to run in the entire family hatchback class.
Value for money
The 308’s key selling point is its excellent value for money. When new, it was significantly cheaper than a comparable Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf, and it represents a real bargain on the used market. Even the entry-level Access models come with essentials like DAB radio, cruise control, and air conditioning. It offers a huge amount of style and efficiency for the money.
Reliability & Warranty
While older Peugeots had a reputation for being unreliable, the brand’s more recent models have seen a big improvement. The 308 scores well in owner surveys for its build quality and reliability. From new, Peugeots come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is standard for the class.
Safety
Safety features
The Peugeot 308 is a very safe car, achieving the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP in 2013. It scored particularly well for adult occupant protection, with an excellent score of 92%. It comes with all the essential safety kit, including multiple airbags and electronic stability control, making it a secure and reassuring choice for family transport.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The 308 is available in a range of trim levels, starting with Access, and moving up through Active, Allure, and the sporty-looking GT Line. The entry-level Access is a bit basic, so we’d recommend stepping up to the Active model, which adds features like an upgraded touchscreen with sat-nav and lumbar support for the seats. Allure adds front and rear parking sensors and an electric parking brake.
GT Line gives you the sporty looks of the top-of-the-range hot hatch but with the lower running costs of the standard engines. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels and full LED headlights. The range-topping GTi is the full hot hatch experience, with a powerful engine, a unique body kit, 19-inch wheels, and special bucket seats.
Engines
The engine range is broad, with something for everyone. The petrol lineup is centred around the excellent 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder engine, available with 81bhp, 109bhp, or 129bhp. The performance-focused GTi model uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 268bhp.
The diesel range consists of a 1.6-litre engine with 98bhp or 118bhp, and a larger 2.0-litre engine with 148bhp or 179bhp. All are incredibly economical. The engines are paired with either a five- or six-speed manual gearbox, or a six-speed automatic.