2010 Peugeot 308 Malaysia Reviews & Ratings, Expert Car Reviews on LIVE LIFE DRIVE

With good refinement, a quality cabin and strong engines, the 2010 Peugeot 308 represents good value for the money. But the 2010 Peugeot 308 disappoints in too many other areas for it to stand a chance against class-leaders.

2010 Peugeot 308 quick specs

Body Style	Hatchback
Class	Mid-size Family
Assembled	CKD / CBU

Engine Range	1598 cc
Fuel Options	Petrol
Seating Capacity	5

2010 Peugeot 308 ratings (overall rating : 3.5/5.0)

Styling
Handling
Comfort
Quality + Reliability
Performance

Roominess
Running Costs
Value for Money
Equipment
Environment

Styling

The 2010 Peugeot 308 can be described as unique, different or quirky... well, you get the idea. Because at the end of the day, the French do not believe in designing boring cars. The Peugeot 308 is a good example of French quirkiness toned down somewhat. You will be hard-pressed to find someone who might find the 2010 Peugeot 308 to be pretty or beautiful in the Italian sense. With a lowered front bumper, a rear spoiler and aluminium finishes on the gear lever and pedals, the Peugeot 308 GT succeeds in looking sportier.

Handling

Despite having loads of grip and good body control, the 2010 Peugeot 308 falls way short of the class-leaders in providing driving fun. That boils down to the car's substantial weight, and how it impedes responses, making the 2010 Peugeot 308 feel rather cumbersome. The steering is responsive, accurate and nicely weighted, but lacks the feedback that class-leaders provide. The suspension has been lowered and stiffened in the Peugeot 308 GT, which brings even more grip and tighter body control. But nimble it is still not.

Comfort

The over-stiff suspension translates into a ride that feels unsettled on imperfect Malaysian roads. Hit a bump or transverse ridge mid-corner and the resulting impact is more noticeable than in most rivals, especially so on the steering. The Peugeot 308 GT's stiffer suspension makes worse everything. Refinement, on the other hand, is one of the 2010 Peugeot 308's key strengths. Wind, road and engine noise are minimal while cruising. The airy cabin provides a generally good driving position, thanks to two-way steering and seat-height adjustments. But some of the buttons/switches are too small for ease of use.

Quality + Reliability

Yet another of the 2010 Peugeot 308's strengths lies in its cabin quality. The cabin showcases the apparent advantages of using existing components in an altogether more refined manner. Along with the soft-touch dash covering, all materials and textures are much higher in quality than in the Peugeot 307. Fit-and-finish have received more attention than before, too, and the switchgear operates with precision. Reliability-wise, the 307 was on the end of much criticism, so the Peugeot 308 will need to improve in this regard.

Performance

Buyers get to choose between a 118 bhp 1.6-litre, a 138 bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre, and a 173 bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre. Standard for the first two engines is a four-speed automatic adaptive Tiptronic Porsche gearbox with Auto, Manual or Sport modes. The 173 bhp 1.6-litre comes mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Even the base 118 bhp 1.6-litre gives a smooth and strong performance on the roads, and while the range-topping unit is not quite explosive, it is eager to rev, responsive and torquey.

Roominess

The 2010 Peugeot 308 is roomy enough by class standards, providing good legroom for the front and ample headroom front and rear. But rear legroom is not great like in either the Honda Civic or Nissan Sylphy. And perhaps more significantly, the rear feels less airy due to a smaller window area. Cabin storage areas cater to most needs nicely, and the 430-litre boot is usefully large.

Running Costs

The 118 bhp 1.6-litre, 138 bhp 1.6-litre, and 173 bhp 1.6-litre (M) have fuel economy of 13.7 km/litre, 12.7 km/litre and 13.1 km/litre, respectively. Servicing and repair costs should be reasonable. Depreciation could be the biggest running cost of all, as the Peugeot brand is hardly the most reliable or most desirable. That said, being in relatively small numbers will surely give the Peugeot 308's resale prices a boost.

Value for Money

Although based substantially on the previous 307, the Peugeot 308 has proven itself to be more competent in more areas than one. The cruising refinement and quality cabin are key strengths, while all engines deliver strong performance. Equipment levels are comprehensive, too. But the 2010 Peugeot 308 disappoints in too many other areas for it to stand a chance against class-leaders. The handling is decent, but the ride quality leaves a lot to be desired. Rear legroom is not great, and depreciation is likely to be heavy. Among the three variants, the Peugeot 308 GT makes the least attractive package for the money.

Equipment

The base 308 model is well-equipped, having as standard alloy wheels, daytime running lights, automatic headlight and wipers, air-conditioning, radio/MP3/CD player with remote control and AUX input, 6 speakers (2 tweeters, 2 front speakers and 2 rear speakers), 4 airbags (front and side), ABS, EBD and EBA. More expensive models add electric folding mirrors, rear air-con vents, auto-dimming rear view mirror, 2 curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control (ASR) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) among others.

Environment

The most polluting drivetrain emits a mere 188 grams/km. Sure, some rivals are even “greener”, but in the grand scheme of things, the 2010 Peugeot 308's various drivetrains are reasonable in terms of both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

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2010 Peugeot 308 Review

2010 Peugeot 308 at a glance