Long-term test review: Peugeot 308 GTi ~ station of gear

Long-term test review Peugeot 308 GTi - header

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10 Jun, 2016 11:30am Richard Ingram

First report: From Le Mans to daily commute, hot hatch is a big hit

Our Peugeot 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport had just 650 miles on the clock when it arrived on the Auto Express fleet, but it didn’t take long for the miles to pile on. After only a week of pootling around London, I packed my bags and headed for the Channel Tunnel – for a three-day, 800-mile round trip through France.

We detailed our initial adventures as part of our Peugeot Sport Race to Road feature in the magazine, taking our GTi back to meet its maker at Peugeot Sport HQ in Paris, before visiting the legendary Le Mans race track.

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Long-term test review Peugeot 308 GTi - front cornering

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Since returning, the 308 has settled nicely into my daily schedule, which is far from routine. This can involve a stop-start journey into London, or an airport dash for an early morning flight. The car has even doubled as a small van on the occasional trip to the tip.

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The beauty of a hot hatchback is its ability to fit into your life without compromise. There’s a huge 470-litre boot and enough space in the back to seat adults comfortably. The Peugeot’s compliant suspension is soft enough to stop jolts from entering the cabin, yet it doesn’t feel sloppy under more power.

It has powerful 385mm race-inspired brakes, 19-inch alloys with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres and a limited-slip diff, too, transforming this from a family runaround to a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Well, almost.

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Long-term test review Peugeot 308 GTi - side tracking

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You see, our car’s two-tone Coupe Franche paintwork is hardly subtle. The front glimmers in a classy red metallic, while the rear third is a mean gloss black.

The idea first appeared on the Onyx concept in 2012, then was transferred to Peugeot’s quicker roadgoing models like the 208 and 308 GTi. It’s a £1,300 option, which strikes me as a lot to spend on a car designed to blend into the background.

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Otherwise, apart from the £240 Peugeot Connect SOS and Assistance package – which can call the emergency services in the event of an accident – this GTi is completely standard. It’s very well equipped, with touchscreen sat-nav, climate control and Bluetooth connectivity all included.

You’ll even find a pair of contoured sports seats – although why Peugeot has decided to fit a massage function ahead of any kind of heater element is beyond me. The car also features the now-familiar i-Cockpit interior, including the small steering wheel and raised dials to keep in your line of vision.

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Long-term test review Peugeot 308 GTi - Interior

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The fiddly touchscreen might take some getting used to, though, especially in the summer months when both driver and passenger require more frequent access to the air-conditioning controls.

Regardless of this niggle, as the miles roll under the Peugeot’s wheels, it’s shaping up to be a firm favourite on our fleet.

*Insurance quote (below) provided by AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

The colour scheme isn’t to all tastes, but the 308 is a fine addition to the fleet. Not only is it fast and fun, it has an interior that’s spacious and neatly designed. It’s already clear the GTi can be mentioned in the same breath as Peugeot’s eighties hot hatch icons.

Model: Peugeot 308 GTi THP 270 by Peugeot Sport
On fleet since: April 2016
Price new: £28,455
Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo petrol, 266bhp
CO2/tax: 139g/km/£130

Options: Coupe Franche paint (£1,300), Peugeot Connect SOS and Assistance (£240)
Insurance*: Group: 34 Quote: £562
Mileage/mpg: 2,883/33.9mpg
Any problems?: None so far

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