Peugeot 308 hatchback

Drive

The Peugeot 308 is good to drive and feels safe and composed in corners. It doesn’t handle as well as the class-leading Ford Focus, but there's very little body roll and the brakes are strong. A number of electronic driving aids helps keep you safe, too. There are three petrol engines and three diesels. The 1.4-litre petrol is sluggish, but the rest are more than sufficient. The 108bhp 1.6 HDi diesel offers a decent mix of performance and economy, while the new 112bhp 1.6 e-HDi has a very smooth stop-start system.

Comfort

WHEN it comes to smoothness and comfort on the road, the Peugeot 308 has the competition licked in the family car market. There's very little in the way of wind or road noise at any speed, while the engines – and the diesels in particular – are very quiet. The ride is generally smooth, although the 308 can become slightly unsettled when driving over rough surfaces. The seats are comfortable and there's more than enough room for adults in the back.

Reliability

Safety isn’t an issue for the 308, as it's one of the best-performing family cars in Euro NCAP crash tests. It was awarded five out of five stars for adult occupant protection, four stars for child occupants and three stars for pedestrians. Each model has a minimum of six airbags, while deadlocks and remote central locking are standard. Reliability hasn’t always been Peugeot's strongest point, and the company was ranked 28th out of 30 manufacturers in our sister title Auto Express's Driver Power 2012 satisfaction survey.

Practicality

A 347-litre boot is about average for a mid-sized hatchback like the 308. The high bootline hampers loading, though, which can be a problem. Fold the rear seats and a lot more space becomes available – 1,398 litres in total. Top-spec models get storage drawers under the rear seats and there's a handy covered area on the parcel shelf, too.

Value for money

The 308 is priced to compete with rivals such as the Ford Focus and Honda Civic, so while it isn’t overly expensive, it isn’t particularly cheap, either. Entry-level Urban models don’t have huge amounts of equipment. You get electric windows, a CD stereo and not much more. Things improve with Sport spec, which adds cruise control, a leather-covered steering wheel, electronic stability control and 17-inch alloy wheels. Resale values aren’t great, as the Peugeot sheds its value quite quickly second-hand.

Running costs

The large array of engines in the 308's arsenal means there's something for everyone – and thanks to a recent round of revisions, they’re all very economical. The best of the bunch is the new 112bhp 1.6-litre e-HDi, which features a very smooth stop-start system, emits 109g/km of CO2 in Oxygo trim (98g/km when mated to the EGC automated manual box) and promises 67mpg fuel economy.