Peugeot's New 308 GT Looks Fast And Sexy, But It Fails To Satisfy Me As A Petrolhead

Think of a hot Peugeot hatchback, and it’s unlikely that anything other than the 205 GTI will come to mind. That little box of 1980s brilliance was so good, it acted/always will act as a millstone around the company’s neck.

However, there is another less celebrated hatchback - 306 GTi-6 - that hasn’t yet been replaced by Peugeot. Until now. Sort of. About the closest thing to a 306 GTI-6 successor is the new car you see here, the 308 GT.

‘All the right boxes are ticked: grip is decent, body control is tidy, and performance is suitably brisk’

Up until now, the 308 (arguably one of the prettiest cars in the viciously contested C-segment) has made do with eco-friendly low-power petrol and high MPG diesel engines. But with genuinely decent performance cars like the 208 GTI 30th Anniversary and RCZ R coming to the fore, Peugeot’s clearly got its fast car mojo back and has seen fit to give the 308 a small steroid jab. Peugeot’s done this by giving the new GT a choice of two pokier engines: a 177bhp 2.0-litre turbo diesel, and a 202bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol.

The chaps at Peugeot haven’t stopped there, though. The exterior’s snazzier thanks to some new 18-inch alloy wheels, meatier vents at the front and a pair of chrome tailpipes which are - rather upsettingly - entirely fake. The suspension, meanwhile, has been stiffened and dropped by 7mm at the front and 10mm at the rear.

The result of all this work is a pleasant car, but not an exciting one. All the right boxes are ticked: grip is decent (although you don’t need to nudge the boundaries too far to find understeer), body control is tidy, and performance is suitably brisk with a 7.5-second 0-62mph sprint in the petrol. It’s just lacking a little sparkle, particularly with the relatively laid-back 1.6, which gives you a mild shove between 4000 and 5000rpm, but little else of note. If anything, the torquey diesel gives a more satisfying drive when you press on.

This performance would be fine if the GT was billed as just a 308 with a little extra performance, but the car - especially inside the cabin - seems to think it’s well and truly into hot hatch territory; the materials behind the dials have a chequered texture - because race flag - red stitching is present on almost every surface, and there’s a button behind the gear lever marked ‘sport’.

Press this, and the steering firms up, the dials turn red, and the cabin is filled with noise. Fake noise. Yep, just like BMW, Peugeot has resorted to piping a synthesised engine note through the speakers.

This is apparently a recording of the induction noise that’s been reproduced and amplified, but the result is a horrible warbly mess which sounds like a five-pot gone wrong. I’m not a fan, in other words…

What I’m also not fond of is the 308’s decluttered dash, which sees key features like climate control hidden within the touch screen.

What is also hidden in the new 308 GT is the availability of an automatic gearbox in the petrol car, or a manual ‘box in the diesel. That’s right, opt for the petrol and your only option is a six-speed manual. Go for the diesel, and you’ll have to settle for the auto. Bizarre. Oh, and much of the GT’s snazzier styling is now available as a ‘GT Line’ option on lesser 308s, making the quicker car less distinct.

It’s not overly cheap, either, with the petrol weighing in at £24,095 and the diesel £25,945. A similarly powerful version of Seat’s Leon FR will be cheaper and much more fun to drive, but we mustn’t despair, as this isn’t the end-game as far as spicier 308s go. It may not be confirmed, but it’s a badly-kept secret that a production version of the 308 R concept (below) is imminent, almost certainly with the 267bhp 1.6 found in the RCZ-R. Based on what we’ve seen with the GT and its commendable chassis, the R will be a riot to drive.

For now, the GT provides a modestly-powered range-topper that’ll suit those drivers who want to look good in the fast lane. Silly decluttered dashboard aside, it’s a well-rounded enough car, if a little pricey.

If you’re seriously into driving, however, hold off until the aforementioned R goes on sale; the GT makes for an intriguing appetiser, sure, but the imminent main course of hot hatch goodness should be worth the wait.