The 307 had acquired a rather ropey reputation; happily, it’s replacement, the 308, does much better on all fronts. Whilst its firm chassis has a tendency to convey every jolt into your backbone on bumpy terrain, on good road surfaces it’s better than fine.
It’s more spacious than the 307, although this seems to have been used to good effect in the cabin with little left over to improve appreciably on the boot space, which remains a little miserly. The interior spec of the cabin, however, is a vast improvement in quality on the 307. It’s stylish without quite making it to ‘classy.’
Whilst it doesn’t handle spectacularly, it is by no means poor and is certainly above average; it’s just that the competition for this range of vehicle is getting better and better, not least from Korea, and Peugeot needs to deliver more than ‘good enough’ to stay ahead. For a French hatchback, the steering is not as taught and responsive as you might have come to expect but it is respectable and it would be exaggerating to suggest that it is poor.
There are a range of engines available but the most solid and reliable are the diesels; the model is a fairly bulky beast so it might be wise to opt for the 2.0 litre HDi, which delivers both power and smooth running.
