Peugeot 305
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | February 26, 1810 in France |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Automobiles, motorcycles |
| Website | www |
The Peugeot 305 is a mid-sized automobile manufactured by the French company Peugeot between 1977 and 1989. It was available in three configurations: a four-door sedan, a five-door estate, and a three-door van.
Origins
During the mid-1970s, there was considerable anticipation regarding Peugeot’s plans to refresh its vehicle range to boost its global competitiveness. After the discontinuation of the Peugeot 404, expectations grew for a new model positioned between the Peugeot 304 and Peugeot 504. This vehicle aimed to rival competitors such as the Ford Cortina/Ford Taunus and Renault 12. Although initially rumored to be named the Peugeot 405, the new model was actually based on the mechanical components of the 304 but matched the size and price bracket previously occupied by the 404. The 304 continued to be produced for some time after the introduction of this new car. The choice to name it 305 instead of 405 led to some confusion among automotive journalists.
The 305’s dimensions were similar to those of its French competitor, the Renault 18, which was launched at roughly the same time. It occupied a segment straddling both the C- and D-segment categories. This placed it in competition not only with compact cars like those in the Golf class but also with larger vehicles such as the Ford Cortina/Ford Taunus, Vauxhall Cavalier/Opel Ascona, and Simca 1307/Chrysler Alpine.
Production
The Peugeot 305 was first introduced in November 1977, initially offered as a four-door saloon featuring two petrol engine options: a 1290 cc unit powering the GL and GR versions, and a larger 1472 cc engine for the upscale SR trim. Four months later, Peugeot expanded the range with the launch of the 305 GRD diesel model, equipped with a 1548 cc aluminium-block engine featuring a Bosch injector pump, producing up to .
In March 1980, Peugeot unveiled the 305 Break (Estate) and Break Service (van) variants at the Geneva Motor Show, which succeeded the earlier 304 Break and Fourgonnette models discontinued in May that year. Later that same year at Paris, a sportier version called the 305 S was introduced, boasting twin carburettors and increased power output. Following a facelift in 1982, the top-tier GTX model offered enhanced performance with . The 305 marked the beginning of Peugeot's "05" series generation, which continued until production ended with the Peugeot 605 in 1999.
This model featured front-wheel drive paired with a robust gearbox lacking a fifth gear; however, Peugeot claimed it could reach speeds up to when driven aggressively. At launch, engine choices included petrol units of 1.3 and 1.5 litres alongside a 1.55-litre diesel. After its facelift, the smaller petrol engine was replaced by a 1.6-litre variant, and both petrol and diesel options were upgraded with larger XU series engines of 1.9 litres—these diesel engines were shared with models like the Talbot Horizon following Peugeot’s acquisition of Chrysler Europe in 1979.
The second series facelift debuted at the Paris Motor Show in late 1982 as part of efforts to keep pace with rivals such as the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier/Opel Ascona. Changes included refreshed front-end styling, enhanced suspension and steering systems, an updated dashboard layout, and reorganization under the bonnet to accommodate XU engines coupled with a new five-speed transmission. This gearbox replaced the previous Mini-style in-sump design with an end-on configuration first developed by Fiat. Nonetheless, GL/GR trims and van versions continued using older XL/XR engines paired with four-speed gearboxes for several more years. The phase two diesel engine was notably fuel-efficient, exceeding 50 miles per imperial gallon, and was widely regarded as superior to competing diesel powertrains.
The Peugeot 305 enjoyed strong sales throughout France and other international markets. In Britain, it initially competed against vehicles like the Ford Cortina MK4, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1, Morris Marina, and domestic rival Renault 18. Later competitors included models such as the Ford Sierra, Vauxhall Cavalier MK2, Austin Montego, Renault 21, and Nissan Bluebird.
In 1979, this model earned What Car? magazine’s Car of the Year award in the UK; however, it did not receive recognition from European Car of the Year judges who selected the Chrysler/Simca Horizon instead.
Production of saloon versions concluded in 1988 following introduction of the larger Peugeot 405, which surpassed it in UK sales figures. Estate manufacturing ended in 1989 without an immediate successor until Peugeot launched its estate variant of the 306 in 1997. The three-door van (Fourgonnette/Break Service) remained available until June 1990 but was not replaced; only 86,413 units were produced making it by far the rarest body style.
Despite its once widespread presence on UK roads throughout the ’80s and ’90s, just seventy-six Peugeot 305 vehicles remained registered there as of February 2016.
Body design
The bodywork, crafted by the Italian design house Pininfarina, was completely redesigned and utilized an all-steel monocoque structure that bore a strong resemblance to the contemporary BMW 3 Series. Drawing inspiration from Peugeot's 'VSS' safety prototype, the body incorporated features such as front and rear crumple zones, side impact bars, a safeguarded fuel tank, and detachable front fenders. Three different body configurations were available: a four-door saloon, a five-door station wagon, and a three-door panel van.
VERA
Peugeot introduced the VERA series (Véhicule Économe de Recherche Appliquée, meaning "applied research in economical vehicles") in 1981 as an aerodynamic research project. The first version, the petrol-powered VERA 01, was equipped with a engine capable of reaching a maximum speed of . Later versions such as the VERA 02 were considerably lighter—weight was reduced from —and featured improved aerodynamics with additions like a prominent rear spoiler, enclosed rear wheels, and sculpted panels behind the front wheel arches. The drag coefficient (Cx) improved significantly from 0.44 to 0.319, resulting in fuel savings between 33 and 38 percent. At the 1982 Geneva Motor Show, the VERA 02 was showcased with a 1362 cc turbodiesel engine, followed by the more advanced VERA Plus later that year, which served as a conceptual precursor to the Peugeot 309.
Suspension
The 305 estate marked the introduction of PSA Peugeot Citroën’s fully independent rear suspension system utilizing trailing arms. This compact arrangement reduced intrusion into the spacious flat cargo area while improving both ride comfort and handling characteristics. Subsequent Peugeot models replaced the original horizontal coil springs of the 305 with torsion bars—a suspension setup similar to those long employed by Renault and Simca—and this innovation was instrumental in the commercial success of the Peugeot 205.