New Peugeot 308 Oxygo Special Offers

Peugeot's prettier 308 finally seems to be firing on all cylinders. Andy Enright takes a look at the super-frugal e-HDi.

The Peugeot 308 improves again, this time getting smarter styling and cleaner, more economical engines to boot. Otherwise the formula is much the same - plenty of space, a well-styled cabin and road manners that are perfectly acceptable for all but the most demanding.

The development of Peugeot's family hatches has quite a common bond with spinning plates. Just as it gets one thing right, another facet to the car drops away. Think back to the 306. This was a car that looked good, drove brilliantly but was offered sub-standard quality and practicality. Its replacement, the 307 was the polar opposite, Peugeot devoting so much resource to creating plenty of space and improving the finish that it was deathly dull to drive and its bottom-feeder face was hard to warm to.

With the 308, Peugeot tried to bring all the elements together and nearly succeeded. Despite being built on the same platform as the 307 it was better to drive and had more efficient engines. Thing is, it was hardly much better looking. Until now that is. Peugeot has given the 308's styling a thorough reworking and the look is far more successful. Has the French company finally cracked it?

Engine-wise, arguably the most interesting powerplant is the110bhp 1.6-litre diesel teamed with what Peugeot calls its 'e-HDi micro hybrid system' - essentially a 5V super capacitor that stores electric power and supplements the car's battery when performing its stop-start duties via a reversible alternator, a system that allows super-quick restart times (400ms) and no judder.

Driven at 7/10ths, the 308 feels decently composed, but push any harder and the limitations of its torsion beam rear suspension make themselves felt, not least by letting mid-corner bumps be felt through the cabin. It's a more supple car than the old 307 and there's far less kickback through the steering, but the 308 has never been the most invigorating drive. But if you're not interested in hustling it along, there's not too much to offend.

The controls are well weighted and the brakes excellent, but the windscreen pillars are a bit chunkier than is ideal, something you'll notice on very twisty roads or at roundabouts. Peugeot has also optimised the 308 to return decent economy and emissions and as a result the upper gears are usually very long, diluting the engine's flexibility.

Enthusiasts may be drawn to the GT model with its 200bhp THP petrol engine but it's not a sporty as the power figure might suggest. As a vehicle with a trick up its sleeve, however, there's a lot to commend it. Most will flock to the diesel cars and the efficient HDi FAP 92 entry level unit is bound to be popular.

The gaping mouth school of design has thankfully been consigned to history and the latest 308 is a far cleaner looking vehicle than its predecessor. Gone is the proboscis nose of the old 308 too, replaced by a less ostentatious bonnet. Also ditched is the incongruous plastic bar that ran across the grille. LED headlights and running lights feature for the first time in a look that's more minimalist but still clearly Peugeot.

The basic dimensions remain largely unchanged, with the high-rise roof line creating a roomy and airy interior. The long front overhang of the 308 helps hide the impression of a short, tall car, creating a wedge-shaped profile that brings a sportier element to the car's shape. The rear of the 308 has more of a bulbous look to it, helping to maximise luggage space that runs to 430 litres and can be extended to 1,398 litres by folding the rear seats. If you need more room, there's an SW estate version with up to 2,149 litres of space. Build quality is better than many give it credit for and the design effort that's gone into making the interior look interesting is a welcome relief from the usual black and grey treatments favoured by German manufacturers.

There's a huge range of engines, trims and body styles to choose from. As well as the familiar hatchback body, there's also an SW estate and a CC coupe convertible. Peugeot's jaw-dropping RCZ coupe was also spawned from the 308 floorpan and that drives extremely well, demonstrating that if Peugeot had a mind to, it could make the hatchback a bit naughtier. Prices start at just over £15,000 and there are four diesel and four petrol engines to choose from, ranging from a 92bhp diesel right up to the 200bhp petrol unit.

Equipment levels are strong across a completely revised trim structure with Access, SR, Active and Allure and GT levels. All models feature air conditioning, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), anti lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, emergency brake assist, front and rear electric windows with child security, remote control central door locking with deadlocks and six airbags.

Aside from the styling, the biggest changes come from improving the efficiency and driving down the cost of ownership. Peugeot's micro-hybrid e-HDi Stop & Start technology catches the eye and when combined with Peugeot's 1.6 litre HDi FAP 112 diesel engine reduces carbon dioxide emissions to 98 g/km. This engine option is offered with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed electronically controlled manual gearbox (EGC), giving the 308 the lowest emissions in its segment.

Other measures aimed at improving efficiency include a mean weight reduction of 25 kg across the range, the fitment of 16" ultra low rolling resistance tyres , Euro V certification for all petrol and diesel engines and a drag coefficient of just 0.28 for the low consumption models, again a record for the class. Depreciation is about average for a mainstream family hatch as is insurance, so there are no really big surprises to dent the monthly budget.

The Peugeot 308 is a car that has evolved to the point where it's now a vehicle that merits a place on your shortlist if you're in the market for a spacious, stylish and efficient family hatch. After the rather awful 307, it's uplifting to see Peugeot returning to form. British buyers have warmed to the 308, with 84,000 finding homes here since it was introduced in 2007. The latest model should keep customers interested, arguably being the first really handsome Peugeot hatch since the 206.

It's a vehicle that seems right for the moment, with fantastic safety systems and efficient engines coupled with ever improving quality. While I'd love to see it fulfil a more entertaining role, doing the sensible things well is the 308's bread and butter, leaving cars like the RCZ coupe the task of restoring Peugeot's reputation amongst keen drivers.