Peugeot 308 Turbo 1.6 Glass Roof Review: No Pug intended

In terms of handling, the 308 is a marked improvement over the 307 – now, the steering not only feels hefty but at the same time, offers decent feel and feedback as well.

Body control is commendable too for a soft riding French – you can confidently attack bends and corners slightly faster than usual with all that feedback you are getting from the steering wheel. Another point to note is this - for a car this size, capaciousness and weight, it is indeed impressive when barreling down the straights. It’s a joy to drive at speeds!

Ride quality is excellent at keeping occupants happy - the suspension goes over bumps with aplomb, perfectly isolating the occupants from any sort of road irregularities. Despite running on performance 225/45 R-17 rubbers, the 308’s ride is still comfortable.

Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is now a standard feature too - and that's a nice surprise.

As with the 207, the 308 has moved upmarket in terms of positioning and pricing over its predecessor, putting it right into Volkswagen Golf’s territory.

It’s hard not to make comparisons with the Golf here (the closest variant in terms of pricing and specifications), especially now that it has the newly introduced 1.4 TSI variant. In terms of engine refinement and gearbox performance, the Golf has gotten the 308 trounced.

But it isn’t so clear cut in other areas though. In the build quality department, the Pug has finally caught up with the mighty VW – the 308’s cabin is now pretty close to the Golf’s, in terms of perceived luxury and build quality. And when it comes to utility, the 308’s talents start to shine through. Cabin space is as good, if not better, than the class best and the clear view out of the cast windscreen will certainly appeal to family types.

Safe to say, the 308 will give the likes of the Golf a run for its money.

But that gearbox still bothers me somewhat…

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai, pictures by Azfar Hashim