Should you buy one?

It’s hard to say. The Peugeot 308 does a lot of things very well, but its suitability to your lifestyle will ultimately depend on your body shape and your preferred driving position. Our six-foot tall tester couldn’t entertain the hatchback’s high seat, low steering wheel driving position – and if you’re a similar size, chances are you’ll find the same problem. We’ll reiterate; make sure you get a long test drive before you buy to ensure the car fits your body.

We think the 1.2-litre petrol model is the sweet spot in the range, as it offers the best blend of power and handling. The plug-in hybrids offer good performance, but they’re heavy and they’re not as economical as Peugeot claims in the real world – especially if you let the battery run flat. We’re interested to see how the electric version performs when it arrives in 2023.

What we like

The 308’s new 10-inch infotainment system is slick and easy to use. Peugeot’s i-Toggle widgets look great – and they make navigating the myriad of functions on the touchscreen simple. There’s also loads of boot space, lots of room up front and the build quality is excellent. Peugeot’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is refined and willing.

What we don’t like

The driving position. Choosing between being comfortable and seeing the dials is unacceptable. The ride is also quite firm; the suspension is unsettled on uneven road surfaces and we’re struggling to see the point of the most expensive 225hp hybrid model, as it’s barely any faster than the cheaper 180hp variant.