2018 Peugeot 308 Wagon Review

Small station wagons are quickly disappearing, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the Peugeot 308.

One of the impressive new breed of cars/SUVs from Peugeot/Citroen, the 308 is a nicely sized and enjoyable vehicle to drive.

Available in just the one model grade, Allure, the Peugeot 308 Wagon features a whole stack of standard gear too, and is a great alternative to an SUV.

External

Wagons might not be the first word in style according to many, though the current edition 308, in my opinion, looks just as good in wagon form as it does as a hatch.

There’s a solid look and feel about the car with the alloy wheels, tasteful use of chrome and nicely rounded edges completing the package.

Interior

The first thing you notice when you slip behind the wheel of the 2018 Peugeot 308, and indeed every other Peugeot today, is the tiny little D-shaped steering wheel.

I like it, it just seems to work and with a relatively light steering feel you find yourself easily maneuvering the car at low speeds.

There’s decent legroom front and back and enough space in the back for three adults to sit in reasonable comfort.

As is the case with the other Peugeot/Citroen models in the range today the cruise control stalk is hidden behind the steering wheel, its OK once you know which button is which, until then you’ll be fumbling around (and possibly distracted).

Everything throughout the cabin has a quality feel and look about it, it’s all simple and straightforward (except the cruise control).

There’s no traditional climate controls, instead all that is handled on the centre infotainment screen.

Cabin storage areas aren’t the Peugeot 308’s strong suit – the glove box in particular is tiny and doesn’t even fit the owners manual in!

Features

The standard gear in the 2018 Peugeot 308 Allure includes:

• Reverse camera
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Tilt and reach steering adjust
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Sat-nav
• Electric park brake
• 17″ alloy wheels
• Height adjustable front seats
• Push button ignition
• Blind spot monitor
• Auto headlights and wipers
• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

You’ll need to come up with some extra dollars for the glass roof ($1,000), 18″ alloys ($700), Premium/Pearl paint ($1,050) and Nappa leather ($2,500).

Drive and Engine

Just the one specification level is offered, and just the one powertrain too – a 2.0 litre turbo-diesel.

Diesel-powered cars aren’t getting the love they were getting a few years ago, however that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider one.

The 110kW/370Nm engine in the Peugeot 308 is a willing performer that is just as happy to do its thing in the city as it is at higher speeds on the open highway.

True, it is a touch noisier than a petrol engine at idle.

There’s a stop-start system that will also help you save fuel (though I must admit I frequently turned this off as it can be a bit too enthusiastic for my liking) and there’s a standard drive mode and then the sportier ‘S’ mode.

As mentioned above, the Peugeot has a solid look about it, it has a really solid and planted feel on the road too.

This ‘bank vault’ type feel helps the car handle much better than you might think a station wagon could, conversely the Peugeot engineers have also done a really good job of keeping the ride acceptably comfortable.

The 308 is slanted more towards a sporty feel, but this doesn’t make it an uncomfortable vehicle to get about in.

Chunky A pillars provide some unwanted blindspots to the front and side so be careful with those.

Safety

It’s great to see the Peugeot 308 coming as standard with AEB, there’s also a range of other safety gear packed in including lane departure warning and a driver attention system too.

At this stage though there is no official ANCAP safety rating for the car.

Good Bits

• On-road feel
• Simple, comfy interior
• Torque from diesel engine
• Station wagon convenience
• Standard features
• Five-year warranty

Not So Good Bits

• Prohibitive pricing
• Cruise control stalk positioning
• Small cabin storage areas

Summary

There’s a lot to like about these new offerings from Peugeot and Citroen.

The Peugeot 308 is a small car that hits a lot of home runs for buyers looking for a car that has really good on-road dynamics (in both hatch and wagon).

Today’s French cars still have some flair, but are also mainstream enough to make them much more than just an ‘enthusiasts’ car.

Facts and Figures: 2018 Peugeot 308 Allure wagon

• Engine: 2.0 litre turbo-diesel producing 110kW/370Nm
• Transmission: Six-speed automatic
• Safety: Not tested
• Warranty: Five years
• Origin: France
• Price: from $37,990