Peugeot 308
| Company type | Automobile model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Peugeot 307 |
| Founded | June 2007 |
| Headquarters | Mulhouse and Sochaux , France |
| Products | Compact family car (C-segment) |
The Peugeot 308 is a small family car classified within the C-segment (known as a compact car in North America), manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot. It was first revealed in June 2007 and made available as a hatchback in September 2007. The lineup later expanded to include a station wagon variant (308 SW) introduced in March 2008, a coupé cabriolet model (308 CC) launched in February 2009, and a sedan version (408) released in February 2010. This model succeeded the Peugeot 307 and is positioned between the Peugeot 208 and the Peugeot 508 in Peugeot’s range.
The initial generation, which was derived from the 307 platform, incorporated revised drivetrain and chassis elements. The second generation arrived in 2013 and earned the title of 2014 European Car of the Year. The third generation, unveiled in 2021, introduced hybrid powertrain technology.
Design
Conceived as the successor to the Peugeot 307 across most regions, this model retained the chassis architecture of its predecessor but adopted new exterior styling while slightly increasing its length and width. Developed under the internal codename "Project T7", it achieved an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.29, which was improved to 0.28 following a facelift in March 2011. The vehicle earned a five-star rating from Euro NCAP for safety.
The 308 HDi set a Guinness world record for fuel efficiency among mainstream vehicles, averaging over . Despite this achievement, Peugeot encountered advertising limitations in the UK concerning claims about fuel consumption.
Production takes place primarily in France at Mulhouse and Sochaux plants, with additional assembly facilities established in Kaluga, Russia (since 2010), and El Palomar, Argentina (since 2011) to cater to local markets.
In right-hand drive regions, some criticism emerged due to the retention of the windscreen wiper design from left-hand drive versions, resulting in a larger area on the driver’s side that remains unwiped.
Hatchback
The core offering of the 308 was a five-door hatchback, though a three-door variant was made available in select markets. In May 2010, Peugeot reintroduced the GTi trim (marketed as GT in the UK), equipped with a turbocharged 1.6 L engine delivering .
SW (Estate)
The Peugeot 308 SW Prologue, a station wagon concept car, was first shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. The production version of the 308 SW debuted at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and became available for purchase that summer. It was offered with either five or seven seats. In Australia, this model is sold under the name 308 Touring.
Cabriolet
Replacing the 307 CC in February 2009, the 308 CC is a cabriolet featuring a retractable hardtop roof that folds into the trunk within twenty seconds at speeds up to . The boot capacity measures 465 litres with the roof closed and decreases to 266 litres when retracted.
Saloon
In September 2011, Peugeot introduced a four-door saloon variant of the 308 specifically for the Chinese market, manufactured by Dongfeng. Although based on the facelifted version of the European model, it incorporates distinct features such as a larger front grille, enhanced chrome detailing, and redesigned LED rear lights while retaining the interior design from Europe.
Engine choices include a petrol-powered 1.6 16V producing 110 hp and a 2.0 16V engine with an output of 143 hp. The trunk capacity stands at 502 litres. Over three years, approximately 160,000 units were sold. This saloon serves as a complement to the higher-end Peugeot 408 within China’s competitive C-segment market.
Facelift
The refreshed 308 was released in May 2011 following its presentation at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, showcasing a revamped front fascia along with subtle modifications at the rear. Peugeot launched the 308 e-HDI micro-hybrid variant, which incorporated stop-start functionality, energy recuperation during braking, and a hybrid battery that supplied additional power during engine startup.
At the same time, Peugeot revealed a fully hybrid version of the 3008. The facelifted design was also adopted for the South American 308, including updates applied to the 308 SW and 308 CC models.
Second facelift
Since the EMP2 platform was not introduced in South America, the original first-generation 308 continued to be sold there, receiving a second design refresh in 2015. The revised front bumper took cues from the European second-generation 308, featuring smaller headlights, refreshed Peugeot badging, fog lights, and a more streamlined bonnet.
Inside, enhancements included elements borrowed from the 308 II, such as a touchscreen embedded within the center console that replaced conventional CD and MP3 controls.
For several years, Argentina offered both the first-generation 308 and the European-built second-generation model, marketed locally as the 308 S. Production of the first-generation 308 and its sibling, the first-generation 408, continued in Argentina until they were discontinued in 2021 without direct successors produced or imported locally.
308 Hybrid
In June 2007, Bosch announced its collaboration with Peugeot to supply diesel-electric hybrid technology for the 308. A prototype equipped with this system was displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, followed by the 'Prologue' concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. This concept combined a 1.6-litre HDi engine powering the front wheels with an electric motor driving the rear axle.
308 RCZ Coupé
Peugeot introduced a 2+2 coupé concept based on the 308 platform—the 308 RCZ—at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. This coupé was lowered by 18 mm compared to the standard model and had proportions reminiscent of the Audi TT. The production version debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show as simply the RCZ, dropping the 308 designation, and entered commercial production in spring 2010.
Awards
In November 2007, Germany’s Goldene Lenkrad (Golden Steering Wheel) award recognized the 308 as best compact family car after it topped nine out of fifteen evaluation categories assessed by automotive specialists.
Second generation (T9; 2013)
The second-generation Peugeot 308 was revealed on 13 May 2013 alongside refreshed versions of the 508 and 208 models and later displayed at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Peugeot implemented a new naming convention assigning '8' as the final digit for mainstream vehicles and '1' for emerging market models like the Peugeot 301. Constructed on PSA’s EMP2 platform shared with the Citroën C4 Picasso, this generation achieved a weight reduction of roughly , contributing to improved fuel efficiency.
Facelift revisions included repositioning daytime running lights and integrating turn signals within them to enhance pedestrian visibility and signaling effectiveness.
GTi by Peugeot Sport
The Peugeot 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport was available with engine outputs of 250 hp and 270 hp. The 250 hp version came equipped with full LED headlamps, an electronic limited-slip differential, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless access, stop/start functionality, a suspension lowered by 11 mm, a coloured reversing camera, and dual exhaust pipes.
The higher-performance 270 hp model featured upgraded 380 mm Alcon front brakes, leather and Alcantara bucket seats with massage functions, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and lightweight 19-inch alloy rims.
2017 update
The 2017 facelift introduced a redesigned hood and front bumper incorporating scrolling indicators, alongside a new grille adorned with the Peugeot Lion emblem. Except for the Active and GTi variants, all versions were fitted with a Panoramic roof. At the front, fresh LED daytime running lights (DRLs) were added, complemented by continuously illuminated LED Claw-style taillights at the rear.
September 2017 saw the arrival of a more potent 1.5 HDi engine delivering 130 bhp. Additionally, every model gained standard TomTom satellite navigation and an upgraded central touchscreen interface.
2020 update
In July 2020, Peugeot refreshed the 308 lineup with new trim options and colour schemes while integrating the digital i-Cockpit technology first seen in the Peugeot 3008.
Production of the second-generation 308 concluded in May 2021.
Third generation (P5; 2021)
Revealed in March 2021 and launched in May that year, the third-generation Peugeot 308 is built on the revised EMP2 platform shared with the second-generation DS 4 and sixth-generation Opel Astra. This platform extended the wheelbase by , lowered the vehicle height by , and improved aerodynamic efficiency to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.28. Marking a new era, it debuted Peugeot’s updated logo and began production on September 29, 2021, at the Mulhouse Plant in France.
Standard across all variants are LED headlights featuring vertical daytime running lights; GT and GT Premium trims further include Peugeot Matrix LED Technology. The vehicle offers a suite of advanced driver assistance features either as standard or optional extras: adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go capability, lane keeping assist, semi-automatic lane change functionality, speed recommendation systems, curve speed adaptation, long-range blind-spot detection, surround-view parking via four cameras, rear cross-traffic alert, heated windshield and steering wheel, along with an E-call+ emergency response system.
Powertrain options encompass petrol engines—a 1.2L PureTech turbocharged three-cylinder—and diesel—a 1.5L BlueHDi four-cylinder—plus plug-in hybrid variants combining a 1.6L petrol engine with an electric motor delivering up to PS in the GT model. The plug-in hybrid provides an estimated WLTP electric-only range of about , supported by a 12.4 kWh battery pack.
The estate version debuted in June 2021 to broaden appeal within the wagon segment. Furthermore, a crossover model was launched as the Peugeot 408 in June 2022.
In September 2022, Peugeot introduced the fully electric e-308 featuring a state-of-the-art 54 kWh battery utilizing advanced nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry. This electric variant offers a WLTP range between , aligning Peugeot’s compact car portfolio with Europe’s increasing demand for zero-emission vehicles.
Sales and production
| Year | Europe | Brazil | Global Production | Global Sales | Remarks | |
| 2007 | 43,256 | — | 106,056 | 82,500 | ||
| 2008 | 231,804 | — | 304,131 | 290,100 | ||
| 2009 | 225,949 | — | 233,700 | 252,100 | ||
| 2010 | 180,575 | — | 226,600 | 226,200 | ||
| 2011 | 155,272 | — | 201,929 | 203,998 | Cumulative production totaled 1,072,551 units. | |
| 2012 | 119,143 | 12,016 | 179,200 | 184,300 | Cumulative production reached 1,251,700 units. | |
| 2013 | 99,697 | 10,922 | ||||
| 2014 | 161,515 | 5,474 | ||||
| 2015 | 213,764 | 3,264 | ||||
| 2016 | 194,650 | 2,272 | ||||
| 2017 | 157,422 | 965 | ||||
| 2018 | 153,651 | 434 | ||||
| 2019 | 141,060 | 55 | ||||
| 2020 | 90,324 | 1 | ||||
| 2021 | 53,356 | — | ||||
| 2022 | 90,160 | — |
Awards
In March 2014, the Peugeot 308 earned the prestigious European Car of the Year title, surpassing contenders such as the BMW i3 and Tesla Model S. Additionally, it was awarded Car of the Year by Italy's Auto Europa, Switzerland's Schweizer Illustrierte, along with accolades from four other automotive publications.
The Peugeot 308 SW was honored as 'Company Vehicle of the Year' during the 2022 Automobile Awards.