Peugeot 308 GTi (2015 - 2017) 1.6 THP (270bhp) GTI by Peugeot Sport 5d Owner Review

Ace hot hatch, unfairly overlooked, and there are some super-cheap deals out there. The Torsen limited slip differential is what persuaded me to buy - it grabs and pulls you round corners at speeds which feel entirely unnatural for a front driver. Acceleration, esp in gear, is very strong. I've even clocked my own 0-60mph time at 6.2 seconds with a laden car in the wet vs a claimed dry time of 5.8 seconds (6.0 seconds to 62mph). It's the lightest car in its class, with the best power to weight ratio, which shows as it matches the pace of the 50bhp more powerful Type R in a straight line. 308 GTI is also alarmingly practical - huge boot, comfy massage seats, loads of space, and 43mpg on a long-distance cruise (I get 36mpg mixed which includes mostly town driving and B road blasts). The brakes are also a stand out feature: the ventilated Alcon discs are very powerful and yet feel completely normal - they aren't at all grabby. Be warned though as the front discs cost £1k each to replace if they fail outside of the warranty period. The car's overall character is more mature than playful - it's difficult to swing the back out in corners for example, though you largely don't need to due to the level of grip available, and the styling is relatively subtle. A proper Q car, and one that needs no excusing. They're also available for sub-£22k new if you shop around...