Peugeot 308 GTI 1.6M Turbo Glass Roof 5-dr Review: Lion Heart
With a 200bhp heart under the bonnet, the 308 GTi certainly has the performance on paper. Mark Yeo finds out if it goes like a proper GTi.
The GTi gets the obligatory go-faster bits on the inside – it comes with sports seats with the GTi logo stitched onto the backrests, alloy foot pedals, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with GTi logo and a racy looking alloy gear knob, bits that are similar to those found in the RCZ THP 200. Disappointingly the instrument cluster features the same white dials as found on the 308 turbo.
Utility wise, there are a variety of storage spaces inside the car to store odds and ends like the large door bins, the compartment under the arm rest and so on. The glove compartment on the other hand, seems to be devoid of useable space. At the rear, passengers will enjoy leg and headroom that is up there with the class best. The boot also a well-shaped load area that is flat and deep – it should be useable enough for common chores.
As the range topping 308 variant, the GTi has been equipped with more standard kit than lesser models. These additional kit include bi-Xenon headlamps and a panoramic glass roof with an electrically operated blind.
The 308 GTi undoubtedly is a better drive than run-of-the-mill 308 models but ultimately it just doesn’t seem to be hot enough in many areas. A ‘GT’ or ‘XSi’ moniker for this 308 could well be more appropriate than giving it the evocative ‘GTi’ moniker that came from the iconic and still irreplaceable 205 GTi.
In a market where drivers need not learn how to drive a manual car if they opt to have a Class 3A license, means that the 308 GTi’s appeal is somehow limited here in Singapore. It is precisely the Golf GTI’s two pedal nature that makes it so useable and appeal to such a wide variety of audience here.
Credits: Story and Photos by Mark Yeo
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