Peugeot 308 hatchback - MPG, running costs & CO2

While weight savings make the Peugeot 308 much more fun to drive than the car it replaced, they also mean it’s much cheaper to run than its predecessor. The result is a family hatchback that can achieve over 65mpg in its most efficient guise.

Peugeot 308 MPG & CO2

This Peugeot 308 weighs 140kg less than the old model, making it extremely economical when combined with the company’s latest engines.

The 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 diesel is particularly frugal, making it best suited to higher mileage drivers: it can return an impressive 65.6mpg, and emits from 113g/km of CO2, for a reasonable Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax liability.

Peugeot's higher-powered 2.0-litre diesel engine (only available on top-spec GT models), has now been discontinued. With 178bhp and an automatic gearbox, it was able to return just over 50mpg, according to official figures.

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Choosing a petrol Peugeot 308 doesn't mean high running costs, either - the basic 108bhp 1.2-litre can achieve fuel economy of up to 54.9mpg. The clever 1.2-litre PureTech 130 is more powerful and almost as economical, managing up to 53.7mpg with CO2 emissions from 119-147g/km depending on the trim level.

The automatic-only 308 GT was more powerful, with 221bhp, but could return just 40mpg with CO2 emissions of 133-137g/km, and isn't currently available. The range-topping 308 GTI has 268bhp, but Peugeot estimates that it will return 37.8mpg in mixed driving. However, the model costs around £30,000, which brings excellent rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Cupra Leon and Renault Megane RS into play.

After the first year's CO2-based road tax (generally included in the on-the-road price), all Peugeot 308s cost the standard rate in VED (tax).

Insurance

Insurance runs from group 14 for the basic petrol model up to group 30 for the top-of-the-range 2.0-litre diesel and 36 for the GTi. Ignore the high-performance R model and the Volkswagen Golf’s insurance costs are broadly similar -it runs from insurance groups 14, while the GTI is in the 30s.

Warranty

Peugeot’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty is bettered by the seven-year/100,000-mile cover you get on a Kia, but that doesn't necessarily mean the 308 will be costly to maintain.

Servicing

Peugeot offers all-inclusive monthly maintenance, while its Originals maintenance scheme fixes the price of consumables such as the clutch (around £500 depending on model) and front brake pads (£125).