Peugeot 308

The 25bhp power increase is a welcome addition to the 308 GT, but it’s the new gearbox that makes the biggest difference to the driving experience. Don’t be lulled into thinking this is a genuine hot hatch, though. While it’s comfortable and offers decent pace, the 308 is too much like the 307, and at £18,995, the GT is overpriced. Peugeot bosses haven’t yet ruled out launching a 308 GTi, but it would have to be a significant improvement over this version to come anywhere close to the current class leaders.

Peugeot has a great track record of making hot hatches – you only have to look at past masters such as the 205 GTi or 306 GTi-6 for proof.

In more recent times, though, the company has failed to reignite its glory days. Take the 207 GTi, for instance, a car that was massively hyped, but equally underwhelming.

It seems the firm is shying away from building pocket rockets, which is strange, given their popularity in the UK. But could Peugeot be back on form with the new 308 GT?

The most powerful engine in the range to date has been the 150bhp 1.6-litre turbo, but the firm has now introduced the 175bhp unit that appears in the 207 GTi.

As a result, the 0-60mph time drops from 8.8 to 8.3 seconds. That doesn’t sound much, but the extra power is a welcome boost. What’s more, the new engine gets a six-speed gearbox that replaces the slack five-speed unit which has been a mainstay of Peugeots for some time.

With a positive and precise shift, it’s a marked improvement and ensures the 308 is more enjoyable to drive. It also helps make better use of the engine’s power, and in-gear acceleration is impressive. Yet while the motor is urgent, it never feels truly quick or responsive. And although Peugeot is selling the GT as a sports model, the package is subtle and it certainly can’t be considered an out-and-out hot hatch. But it’s more comfortable than some rivals, and makes for a good long-distance cruiser, even if at high revs the unit is noisy.

When pushed, the 308’s chassis reveals its limitations, too. The suspension has been lowered by 10mm and stiffened, but there’s still too much body roll. The steering lacks feel, too. That doesn’t prevent it from providing a well judged balance of ride and handling. Yet while it has grown-up road manners, the Peugeot is far from engaging.

The GT is not particularly exciting to look at, either. The panoramic windscreen is neat, but aside from new alloys and a subtle rear spoiler, there is little to differentiate the car from lesser models. We’ve criticised the 308 hatch in the past for not improving enough on the 307, and that’s still the case. While the gearbox gives the GT a shot in the arm, it does not move the game on enough and it’s outclassed by more involving rivals.

Then there’s the price. At £18,995 for the three-door model and another £600 for the five-door, it’s up against some tough competition. For that money, you could get your hands on the more exciting Ford Focus ST, Mazda 3 MPS or SEAT Leon FR.