Savoir flair

Peugeot's 308 is hot on the heels of the French marque's answer to Volkswagen's Golf GTi, the excellent 207GTi. A revamp of its 307 mid-sized family car, Peugeot's latest five-door not only gets a new '8' suffix, but also an update in styling and mechanicals, retaining the familiar 'grinning' front grille, cat's-eye headlamps and a swept-back windscreen. The 308 is more sober-looking than the GTi, but Peugeot's designers have better integrated the rear hatch into the overall lines of the car to create a larger boot. On the same wheelbase as its predecessor, the 308 is 75mm longer and its track has been significantly widened to accommodate five passengers in a more refreshing, ergonomic interior. Inside, the 308 works well thanks to all that extra space and improved legroom, although a few millimetres have been shaved off the 307's out-of-style 'semi-tall' roofline to improve aerodynamics. In an effort to match its German rivals, Peugeot's designers have focused on up-rating the 308's interior and the cabin is more luxurious as a result. The two-tone trim is smart and durable, and the slanted, ergonomic centre console housing the dual-zone air-con controls and CD/MP3 player is easy to use. The chrome-plated sports instrument panel, aluminium-finish gear knob and hip mood lighting provide extra polish. Perhaps the most welcome addition to the cabin is a 1.26m panoramic glass roof that scoops all the way back to the back seats. For a second you could be forgiven for thinking Peugeot had scrimped and made the sunroof an optional extra, because all that glass is hidden behind a retractable screen. But once you locate the sunroof button in the console above your head, the light shines through. The athermic tinted glass increases the continuity of view and there's an option to reduce light or block it altogether using the electric screen. This feature isn't new to Peugeot, but the 308's clear roof bathes you in light. Cover the roof, and the 308's sweeping front windscreen and wrap-around rear glass panels still give you an airy drive. On the road the 308 is more visible than most cars. It's a taut drive and with a ride that's noticeably firm but sufficiently forgiving to smooth out the bumps. The suspension is sporty, with independent MacPherson struts and anti-roll bars up front and torsion beams at the rear. Some critics might think this setup over the top for a 140 brake-horsepowered car, but the kit pays off when you accelerate. The pick-up through the gears is rapid, thanks to the single turbo-charger on the four-cylinder engine, and all the power you'll need in everyday driving is pushed out at between 1,400 and 3,500rpm. You feel the power kick in most where you need it, in first through to third gear, whether you are trying to make the next set of lights or avoiding a reckless lane-changer. With such a narrow power band and close low gear ratios, the 308 is a hoot to drive - and not what you'd expect from a car that takes over 10 seconds to hit 100km/h. It's sufficiently perky for everyday needs and doesn't run out of steam for a zoom up to 110km/h on the highway. The 308's rigid sports suspension works well with electronic braking and stability systems (see At a Glance). All that is enhanced by the wide, gripping stance, making the 308 a more composed ride at speed than the 207GTi. The 1.6-litre engine emits 188 grams of CO2 per kilometre, an improvement on the 307 and a progressive figure for a mid-range petrol-driven car. And despite all that heavy glass (the 308 nevertheless weighs only 1,355kg) the lower roofline and sculpted design helps reduce drag. The power train for the new range is the product of an industry partnership with Ford, enabling Peugeot to tap the latest technology in lowering CO2 output. The Ford-derived 1.4-litre 308 model available in Europe emits just 120g/km of CO2, which pushes it close to hybrid-loving, Al Gore territory. All 308 models achieve a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Some may dislike the 308's styling, and leather seats may be an expensive option at HK$20,000, but the test car represents an important shift for the French marque that has made significant advances in engine downsizing and fuel efficiency. Safe, fuel-efficient and fun to drive, the 308 is a fine, well-finished ride for Hong Kong families. And it's easier to park and probably cheaper to run than a big seven-seater van that you may rarely fill. This Peugeot might save 'vannies' a fortune.