Peugeot 308 1.6 Turbo Allure Glassroof (A) Facelift Review
26 Jan 2012|32,155 views
There's an old saying that the happiest day of a car enthusiast's life is the day that he buys his favourite car, but we beg to differ. The merriest days of a car lover's life are those he spends on it, taking it out for a spin on the long and winding roads, spending peaceful and contented (even intimate) moments with a lovely someone while listening to their favourite tunes, and perhaps even seeking innovative moments by using the boot space of the car to have a picnic on a sunny afternoon, enjoying the freedom of the moment and the light of life.
But such a life, unfortunately, has slipped through our very own clenched fists as high prices of COE snatch the dreams off car enthusiasts as the anticipation of embracing a once-resented car for the sake of living the "dream" draws closer. I was never the guy who appreciated French cuisine, French wine or even French cars for that matter. But considering that one could "lounge" in the extremely airy cabin of the latest facelifted 308 with a dram of scotch in hand, the pug is an attractive promise waiting to happen.
There's nothing worse than driving a dispirited automobile on a sunny afternoon out on the roads of sophisticated Singapore, swallowing the presence of ignorant drivers and endless opportunities for revulsion, whether it's overtaking the pesky pick-ups or taxi drivers. That's where the Peugeot 308 comes into play. The French pug, for some rhyme or reason, has a sweet desire that will evoke drivers with feelings of easy holiness and relaxing emotions.
Granted that the Peugeot 308 has never been a car that set pulses racing, don't be duped by its understated looks that sit more comfortably with the fairer sex. Since its induction in 2007, the 308 has been selling well worldwide, hitting well over 250,000 units in 2009. But it wasn't until last year when the facelifted model was showcased at Geneva Motor Show, clearly showing that the French marque knows how to enjoy a good thing.
But such a life, unfortunately, has slipped through our very own clenched fists as high prices of COE snatch the dreams off car enthusiasts as the anticipation of embracing a once-resented car for the sake of living the "dream" draws closer. I was never the guy who appreciated French cuisine, French wine or even French cars for that matter. But considering that one could "lounge" in the extremely airy cabin of the latest facelifted 308 with a dram of scotch in hand, the pug is an attractive promise waiting to happen.
There's nothing worse than driving a dispirited automobile on a sunny afternoon out on the roads of sophisticated Singapore, swallowing the presence of ignorant drivers and endless opportunities for revulsion, whether it's overtaking the pesky pick-ups or taxi drivers. That's where the Peugeot 308 comes into play. The French pug, for some rhyme or reason, has a sweet desire that will evoke drivers with feelings of easy holiness and relaxing emotions.
Granted that the Peugeot 308 has never been a car that set pulses racing, don't be duped by its understated looks that sit more comfortably with the fairer sex. Since its induction in 2007, the 308 has been selling well worldwide, hitting well over 250,000 units in 2009. But it wasn't until last year when the facelifted model was showcased at Geneva Motor Show, clearly showing that the French marque knows how to enjoy a good thing.
 |
Exterior
And they have somehow extended the "goodness" of the car from its sales to its looks too. Its new body styling and defined lines give the pug an upbeat and positive vibe without losing its French flair.
In fact, the marque's latest styling codes has been so consistent with the past generation that designing cars must be a matter of just sitting down and getting started for the designers. Peugeot has been steadily pumping out well-designed cars from its factory of late and it can be instantly recognised from models such as the luxurious 508 and the desirable RCZ.
Up front, the lines on the bonnet creases to the centre, leading your eyes from the A-pillars right to the huge lion emblem taking centre stage while headlamps are boldly stretched out with the accompaniment of inverted L-shaped LED daytime running lights positioned below them. The tweaks are somewhat subtle but do add some much-needed visual attention. The 308's elegant and classy lines are instantly endearing and it will certainly not age over generations of time.
 |
To put it into perspective, the French pug is the type of car that would fit right into a music video (MTV), with scratches of worn-out film filtering over scenes of a shaggy-haired couple cruising towards sunset. Measuring at 4276mm x 1821mm x 1591mm (L x W x H), the 308 is shorter in length but wider and taller than its fellow French car, the Renault Megane Hatch. While the dimensions remain unchanged, the overall aesthetic changes to the car give the hatch a typically avant-garde design that marks an improvement over its predecessor.
Interior
And the utilitarian interior follows suit as well, with dreamy beauty thrown into the cabin blueprints for good measure, thanks to the huge panoramic glass roof with UV-reflective surface that allows all occupants on board to have a sense of spaciousness. The French has also eschewed the often bland and unimaginatively narrow windscreen often associated with hatchbacks for an "open" style that reminds you of the Citroen C3, allowing drivers to face a wider windscreen with excellent visibility. This has also got to do with the view-friendly A-pillars which appear rather slim too.
Interior
And the utilitarian interior follows suit as well, with dreamy beauty thrown into the cabin blueprints for good measure, thanks to the huge panoramic glass roof with UV-reflective surface that allows all occupants on board to have a sense of spaciousness. The French has also eschewed the often bland and unimaginatively narrow windscreen often associated with hatchbacks for an "open" style that reminds you of the Citroen C3, allowing drivers to face a wider windscreen with excellent visibility. This has also got to do with the view-friendly A-pillars which appear rather slim too.
That said, nothing much has changed in the cabin. The French style is immediately evident - materials used are of lasting quality while chrome-ringed dials and gear lever and a soft-touch dash all add up to form a car that is distinctive from the German rivals. The benches, although upholstered in fabric, are nicely sculpted and supportive and with its high roof, the 308 offers sufficient headroom for a maximum of five occupants. And should the time calls for a family outing, the boot space, measuring at 430 litres, won't disappoint.
The only complain though is the fact that cruise and audio controls aren't located on the steering wheel but on stalks that are mounted behind it. It doesn't take long before you get use to it, simply because more often than not, you'll just be using the main controls on the factory fitted system. Speaking of system, the "entertainment" system is and has always been a user-friendly machine. While buttons may appear a tad too small, they are easy to reach and clearly defined. This makes it so much easier for drivers to have their cell phones connected to the system via Bluetooth.
The only complain though is the fact that cruise and audio controls aren't located on the steering wheel but on stalks that are mounted behind it. It doesn't take long before you get use to it, simply because more often than not, you'll just be using the main controls on the factory fitted system. Speaking of system, the "entertainment" system is and has always been a user-friendly machine. While buttons may appear a tad too small, they are easy to reach and clearly defined. This makes it so much easier for drivers to have their cell phones connected to the system via Bluetooth.
 |
The Drive
Mated to a silky six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, the pug is powered by a 1.6-litre twin-scrolled turbo-charged powerplant that will sprint to the 100km/h mark in 8.8 seconds. Find a long and empty stretch of straight and drivers will be able to hit a maximum of 212km/h with the hatch. As a result, the car is infectiously fun and energetic, giving Peugeot a long lead time over the Renault Megane Hatch and Kia Forte Hatch.
Despite churning out a maximum of 156 horses and 240Nm of torque, there's certainly plenty of punch from the 1.6-litre turbo-charged engine. Keep your right foot mashed on the accelerator and the Peugeot 308 feels like a hot hatch, tackling straights with ease and corners with confidence. The engine pulls nicely at low revs, with a good amount of torque building up as the needle on the tachometer rises. Once the tacho hits 3,000rpm, there is a burst of energy from the powerplant, allowing the 1.4 tonne French hatchback to overtake slower vehicles on highways effortlessly.
Mated to a silky six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, the pug is powered by a 1.6-litre twin-scrolled turbo-charged powerplant that will sprint to the 100km/h mark in 8.8 seconds. Find a long and empty stretch of straight and drivers will be able to hit a maximum of 212km/h with the hatch. As a result, the car is infectiously fun and energetic, giving Peugeot a long lead time over the Renault Megane Hatch and Kia Forte Hatch.
Despite churning out a maximum of 156 horses and 240Nm of torque, there's certainly plenty of punch from the 1.6-litre turbo-charged engine. Keep your right foot mashed on the accelerator and the Peugeot 308 feels like a hot hatch, tackling straights with ease and corners with confidence. The engine pulls nicely at low revs, with a good amount of torque building up as the needle on the tachometer rises. Once the tacho hits 3,000rpm, there is a burst of energy from the powerplant, allowing the 1.4 tonne French hatchback to overtake slower vehicles on highways effortlessly.
Around town, the car is relatively nimble too. The steering, although can be more precise and sensitive, is quite quick to directional changes. Flicking the car left and right in tight spots is as easy as a walk in the park with the 308. And like most line-ups in Peugeot's stable, the car is quiet at the wheel, suppressing outside noises well and soaking up ruts and bumps without fuss.
Conclusion
Known for its avant-garde styling and delicate sheet metal, the Peugeot 308 is like taking a weekend trip to the French countryside when you're fed up with the frantic pace of stressful Singapore. The lifestyle-oriented interior captures a pastoral quality to it, making it one of the best places to be on our roads.
The hatch is almost the perfect city car for the dreamers and romantics out there. Once you give it a chance, it's a fun and refreshing escape from the norm.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Conclusion
Known for its avant-garde styling and delicate sheet metal, the Peugeot 308 is like taking a weekend trip to the French countryside when you're fed up with the frantic pace of stressful Singapore. The lifestyle-oriented interior captures a pastoral quality to it, making it one of the best places to be on our roads.
The hatch is almost the perfect city car for the dreamers and romantics out there. Once you give it a chance, it's a fun and refreshing escape from the norm.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
There's an old saying that the happiest day of a car enthusiast's life is the day that he buys his favourite car, but we beg to differ. The merriest days of a car lover's life are those he spends on it, taking it out for a spin on the long and winding roads, spending peaceful and contented (even intimate) moments with a lovely someone while listening to their favourite tunes, and perhaps even seeking innovative moments by using the boot space of the car to have a picnic on a sunny afternoon, enjoying the freedom of the moment and the light of life.
But such a life, unfortunately, has slipped through our very own clenched fists as high prices of COE snatch the dreams off car enthusiasts as the anticipation of embracing a once-resented car for the sake of living the "dream" draws closer. I was never the guy who appreciated French cuisine, French wine or even French cars for that matter. But considering that one could "lounge" in the extremely airy cabin of the latest facelifted 308 with a dram of scotch in hand, the pug is an attractive promise waiting to happen.
There's nothing worse than driving a dispirited automobile on a sunny afternoon out on the roads of sophisticated Singapore, swallowing the presence of ignorant drivers and endless opportunities for revulsion, whether it's overtaking the pesky pick-ups or taxi drivers. That's where the Peugeot 308 comes into play. The French pug, for some rhyme or reason, has a sweet desire that will evoke drivers with feelings of easy holiness and relaxing emotions.
Granted that the Peugeot 308 has never been a car that set pulses racing, don't be duped by its understated looks that sit more comfortably with the fairer sex. Since its induction in 2007, the 308 has been selling well worldwide, hitting well over 250,000 units in 2009. But it wasn't until last year when the facelifted model was showcased at Geneva Motor Show, clearly showing that the French marque knows how to enjoy a good thing.
But such a life, unfortunately, has slipped through our very own clenched fists as high prices of COE snatch the dreams off car enthusiasts as the anticipation of embracing a once-resented car for the sake of living the "dream" draws closer. I was never the guy who appreciated French cuisine, French wine or even French cars for that matter. But considering that one could "lounge" in the extremely airy cabin of the latest facelifted 308 with a dram of scotch in hand, the pug is an attractive promise waiting to happen.
There's nothing worse than driving a dispirited automobile on a sunny afternoon out on the roads of sophisticated Singapore, swallowing the presence of ignorant drivers and endless opportunities for revulsion, whether it's overtaking the pesky pick-ups or taxi drivers. That's where the Peugeot 308 comes into play. The French pug, for some rhyme or reason, has a sweet desire that will evoke drivers with feelings of easy holiness and relaxing emotions.
Granted that the Peugeot 308 has never been a car that set pulses racing, don't be duped by its understated looks that sit more comfortably with the fairer sex. Since its induction in 2007, the 308 has been selling well worldwide, hitting well over 250,000 units in 2009. But it wasn't until last year when the facelifted model was showcased at Geneva Motor Show, clearly showing that the French marque knows how to enjoy a good thing.
|
Exterior
And they have somehow extended the "goodness" of the car from its sales to its looks too. Its new body styling and defined lines give the pug an upbeat and positive vibe without losing its French flair.
In fact, the marque's latest styling codes has been so consistent with the past generation that designing cars must be a matter of just sitting down and getting started for the designers. Peugeot has been steadily pumping out well-designed cars from its factory of late and it can be instantly recognised from models such as the luxurious 508 and the desirable RCZ.
Up front, the lines on the bonnet creases to the centre, leading your eyes from the A-pillars right to the huge lion emblem taking centre stage while headlamps are boldly stretched out with the accompaniment of inverted L-shaped LED daytime running lights positioned below them. The tweaks are somewhat subtle but do add some much-needed visual attention. The 308's elegant and classy lines are instantly endearing and it will certainly not age over generations of time.
|
To put it into perspective, the French pug is the type of car that would fit right into a music video (MTV), with scratches of worn-out film filtering over scenes of a shaggy-haired couple cruising towards sunset. Measuring at 4276mm x 1821mm x 1591mm (L x W x H), the 308 is shorter in length but wider and taller than its fellow French car, the Renault Megane Hatch. While the dimensions remain unchanged, the overall aesthetic changes to the car give the hatch a typically avant-garde design that marks an improvement over its predecessor.
Interior
And the utilitarian interior follows suit as well, with dreamy beauty thrown into the cabin blueprints for good measure, thanks to the huge panoramic glass roof with UV-reflective surface that allows all occupants on board to have a sense of spaciousness. The French has also eschewed the often bland and unimaginatively narrow windscreen often associated with hatchbacks for an "open" style that reminds you of the Citroen C3, allowing drivers to face a wider windscreen with excellent visibility. This has also got to do with the view-friendly A-pillars which appear rather slim too.
Interior
And the utilitarian interior follows suit as well, with dreamy beauty thrown into the cabin blueprints for good measure, thanks to the huge panoramic glass roof with UV-reflective surface that allows all occupants on board to have a sense of spaciousness. The French has also eschewed the often bland and unimaginatively narrow windscreen often associated with hatchbacks for an "open" style that reminds you of the Citroen C3, allowing drivers to face a wider windscreen with excellent visibility. This has also got to do with the view-friendly A-pillars which appear rather slim too.
That said, nothing much has changed in the cabin. The French style is immediately evident - materials used are of lasting quality while chrome-ringed dials and gear lever and a soft-touch dash all add up to form a car that is distinctive from the German rivals. The benches, although upholstered in fabric, are nicely sculpted and supportive and with its high roof, the 308 offers sufficient headroom for a maximum of five occupants. And should the time calls for a family outing, the boot space, measuring at 430 litres, won't disappoint.
The only complain though is the fact that cruise and audio controls aren't located on the steering wheel but on stalks that are mounted behind it. It doesn't take long before you get use to it, simply because more often than not, you'll just be using the main controls on the factory fitted system. Speaking of system, the "entertainment" system is and has always been a user-friendly machine. While buttons may appear a tad too small, they are easy to reach and clearly defined. This makes it so much easier for drivers to have their cell phones connected to the system via Bluetooth.
The only complain though is the fact that cruise and audio controls aren't located on the steering wheel but on stalks that are mounted behind it. It doesn't take long before you get use to it, simply because more often than not, you'll just be using the main controls on the factory fitted system. Speaking of system, the "entertainment" system is and has always been a user-friendly machine. While buttons may appear a tad too small, they are easy to reach and clearly defined. This makes it so much easier for drivers to have their cell phones connected to the system via Bluetooth.
|
The Drive
Mated to a silky six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, the pug is powered by a 1.6-litre twin-scrolled turbo-charged powerplant that will sprint to the 100km/h mark in 8.8 seconds. Find a long and empty stretch of straight and drivers will be able to hit a maximum of 212km/h with the hatch. As a result, the car is infectiously fun and energetic, giving Peugeot a long lead time over the Renault Megane Hatch and Kia Forte Hatch.
Despite churning out a maximum of 156 horses and 240Nm of torque, there's certainly plenty of punch from the 1.6-litre turbo-charged engine. Keep your right foot mashed on the accelerator and the Peugeot 308 feels like a hot hatch, tackling straights with ease and corners with confidence. The engine pulls nicely at low revs, with a good amount of torque building up as the needle on the tachometer rises. Once the tacho hits 3,000rpm, there is a burst of energy from the powerplant, allowing the 1.4 tonne French hatchback to overtake slower vehicles on highways effortlessly.
Mated to a silky six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, the pug is powered by a 1.6-litre twin-scrolled turbo-charged powerplant that will sprint to the 100km/h mark in 8.8 seconds. Find a long and empty stretch of straight and drivers will be able to hit a maximum of 212km/h with the hatch. As a result, the car is infectiously fun and energetic, giving Peugeot a long lead time over the Renault Megane Hatch and Kia Forte Hatch.
Despite churning out a maximum of 156 horses and 240Nm of torque, there's certainly plenty of punch from the 1.6-litre turbo-charged engine. Keep your right foot mashed on the accelerator and the Peugeot 308 feels like a hot hatch, tackling straights with ease and corners with confidence. The engine pulls nicely at low revs, with a good amount of torque building up as the needle on the tachometer rises. Once the tacho hits 3,000rpm, there is a burst of energy from the powerplant, allowing the 1.4 tonne French hatchback to overtake slower vehicles on highways effortlessly.
Around town, the car is relatively nimble too. The steering, although can be more precise and sensitive, is quite quick to directional changes. Flicking the car left and right in tight spots is as easy as a walk in the park with the 308. And like most line-ups in Peugeot's stable, the car is quiet at the wheel, suppressing outside noises well and soaking up ruts and bumps without fuss.
Conclusion
Known for its avant-garde styling and delicate sheet metal, the Peugeot 308 is like taking a weekend trip to the French countryside when you're fed up with the frantic pace of stressful Singapore. The lifestyle-oriented interior captures a pastoral quality to it, making it one of the best places to be on our roads.
The hatch is almost the perfect city car for the dreamers and romantics out there. Once you give it a chance, it's a fun and refreshing escape from the norm.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Conclusion
Known for its avant-garde styling and delicate sheet metal, the Peugeot 308 is like taking a weekend trip to the French countryside when you're fed up with the frantic pace of stressful Singapore. The lifestyle-oriented interior captures a pastoral quality to it, making it one of the best places to be on our roads.
The hatch is almost the perfect city car for the dreamers and romantics out there. Once you give it a chance, it's a fun and refreshing escape from the norm.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Photos by Julian Kho
Car Information
Peugeot 308 1.6 Turbo Allure Glassroof (A)
CAT A|Petrol|12.9km/L
Horsepower
116kW (156 bhp)
Torque
240 Nm
Acceleration
8.8sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Peugeot 308
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