√2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch plug-in hybrid review: Australian first drive
The Peugeot 308 is a beautifully designed hatchback inside and out. But does the commanding price premium for the plug-in hybrid stack up?
2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport
The plug-in hybrid version of the funky Peugeot 308 hatchback has arrived in Australia, jumping straight to the top of the range with its $64,990 (before on-road costs) price tag.
That pricing is a bold move from the local arm of the French carmaker, already a niche player in our market. Whether a car that costs north of $70,000 on the road will ignite Peugeot’s sales spreadsheet remains to be seen.
It does have exclusivity on its side, the 308 PHEV treading a path few small cars have navigated before in Australia. It’s not the first plug-in hybrid small car available locally (there’s the Cupra Leon VZe PHEV) but in terms of the passenger car PHEV space, there are only three options (the other is also a Peugeot, the 508 sedan-slash-liftback), although you could argue Ferrari’s plug-in hybrid 296 GTB is also a passenger car.
The rest of our local plug-in hybrid fleet is made up of SUVs, so on the points-of-difference side of the ledger, the Peugeot 308 PHEV is already ahead.
The 308 PHEV is the start of an electrified wave for the French carmaker in Australia, with the local arm confirming its first full battery electric vehicle will arrive here in the coming months. Don’t get too excited, though. It’s a delivery van, the e-Partner the first BEV from the French brand in Australia.
It will be joined by the all-electric e-2008 compact SUV as well as more plug-in hybrids before the end of the year, including the 508 Sportwagon PHEV. And teasingly, Peugeot Australia executives hinted – but didn’t quite confirm… yet – that the funky e-208 city car will make its way Down Under.
Today, though, it’s the 2023 Peugeot 308 PHEV that has our interest and we’ve sampled it at the model’s local launch in Sydney.
How much does the Peugeot 308 PHEV cost in Australia?
The Peugeot 308 PHEV is priced at $64,990 plus on-road costs. That equates to around $71,000 drive-away, give or take and depending on where you live. It’s a lot of money for what is a small car, even if, as Peugeot claims, it will use only 1.3 litres of unleaded per 100km.
That fuel figure is dependent on plenty of variables; how far you drive each day, whether you can plug the Pug in for charge regularly, and indeed, whether you will plug it in for a top-up regularly. Research in both Europe and the US has shown that owners of PHEVs aren’t as diligent as they could be when it comes to plugging in.
For its part, the 308 PHEV boasts around 60km of pure electric driving range with a battery that can be recharged in around 3.5 hours using a 3.7kW wallbox.
That $64,990 sticker price represents a healthy $16,000 premium over a non-hybrid Peugeot 308 which launched locally late last year.
Aside from the fundamental drivetrain differences, the level of equipment in the 308 PHEV is similar to that found in the GT Premium petrol variant. And it’s a decent level of equipment.
Make no mistake, Peugeot is edging ever close to a premium brand in Australia. It’s left behind the cheap and cheerful entry-level models – for the most part – and is focussing its energies and order books on the luxury end of the new car market. And the 308 plug-in hybrid reflects this.
Standard equipment highlights include a 10-inch touchscreen with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, a 10-inch digital 3D instrument cluster, 18-inch wheels, matrix LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and wireless phone charging.
There is also nappa leather seat upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating and massaging, a heated leather steering wheel, 10-speaker Focal premium stereo, 360-degree camera, and a full suite of advanced safety technology. You can read our full breakdown of the 308 PHEV’s specification here.
Options amount to colour choices only, with Olive Green the only no cost hue. The rest of the palette commands either a $690 (Artense Grey and Nera Black) or $1050 (Vertigo Blue, Elixir Red, Pearl White) premium.
With only one natural rival (the Cupra Leon VZe PHEV from $59,990), it’s the world of full battery electric cars that also clamour for attention. Tesla’s Model 3 in its most basic trim is slightly more affordable at $63,900, an entry price matched by the entry-level Polestar 2. All prices are before on-road costs.
| Key details | 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid |
| Price | $64,990 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Pearl White |
| Options | Premium metallic paint – $1050 |
| Price as tested | $66,040 plus on-road costs |
| Drive-away price | $72,000 (estimated, NSW) |
| Rivals | Cupra Leon | Tesla Model 3 | Polestar 2 |
How much space does the Peugeot 308 PHEV have inside?
One area where the Peugeot 308, both plug-in hybrid and regular petrol driven, stands tall is in interior presentation.
There’s a beautiful design philosophy at play. Everything, from the sculpted dash to the designs of the seats, the ambient lighting and the thoughtful layout presses hard on the ‘premium’ button.
The fine grain nappa leather looks and feels plush, while the seats themselves – electrically adjustable with lumbar support and massage function – are comfortable and supportive.
We like the low-slung driving position, although the seats are height adjustable and, in this iteration of Pug, we’re fans of the Peugeot signature small steering wheel which just feels right in a car of this size. It’s adjustable for reach and height and will – with some trial and error – frame Peugeot’s neat i-Cockpit digital instrument cluster nicely.
The 308 doesn’t lack for storage options either, with a decently-sized central storage bin, large door pockets that can swallow bottles, a pair of cupholders and a large cubby forward of the centre console that houses the 308’s wireless smartphone charging pad.
The second row is where things get a little less friendly, certainly in terms of space. I had no trouble fitting in behind my 173cm tall driving position, but there wasn’t a lot of room left over. That means if you’re seated behind a say, 183cm driver, then things are going to get pretty cramped, pretty quickly back there in the second row.
And thanks to that 12.4kWh battery pack, boot capacity is, unsurprisingly, down on the regular 308 hatchback, measuring in at 361 litres against the GT Premium’s 412L. Folding the back seats away releases 1271 litres of available space, measured to the height of the roof.
The plug-in 308 is also a considerably heavier car (those pesky batteries again), tipping the scales at 1611kg against the regular GT Premium’s 1258kg.
| 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 361L seats up 1271L seats folded |
| Length | 4365mm |
| Width | 2062mm (including mirrors) |
| Height | 1465mm |
| Wheelbase | 2675mm |
Does the Peugeot 308 PHEV have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
A 10-inch infotainment touchscreen anchors the 308 PHEV’s infotainment system. It’s the same as found in the rest of the 308 range and this is an excellent thing.
With sharp graphics, an uncluttered and customisable display, the Peugeot’s in-car setup is a delight to use.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both wired and wireless, is standard as is satellite navigation, DAB+ radio along with the regular AM/FM bands. A premium 10-speaker Focal audio system provides decent sound clarity.
The touchscreen is super-responsive, whether pressing icons or swiping through the various screens. It can also be customised, creating a home page with your favourite widgets within easy reach.
Pleasingly, an array of climate control shortcut toggles live under the screen. They access the AC functions found withing the touchscreen, a step up from some systems where several clicks and/or swipes are sometimes needed to access climate functions.
And there’s an old school dial for adjusting the volume. Love it.
Peugeot’s connected services adds information such as fuel pricing on the navigation screen, parking availability, and up-to-date weather information. It’s bundled in for the first three years but requires a subscription after that.
Peugeot’s digital driver display, dubbed i-Cockpit is a gem. It projects a wealth of driving data in 3D, gimmicky sure, but it looks cool and doesn’t detract from the information available.
A wireless charging pad helps keep devices topped up while four USB-C plugs (two in the front and two in the second row) add to the charging options.
Is the Peugeot 308 PHEV a safe car?
ANCAP awarded the new Peugeot 308 range a four-star safety rating in November 2022 with scores of 79 per cent for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent for child occupant, 68 per cent vulnerable road user and 82 per cent for safety assist.
Those scores were based on testing undertaken by ANCAP’s European counterpart, Euro NCAP.
The lack of a centre airbag, a relatively new technology that mitigates head-clashes between occupants in the event of an accident, and a lower adult occupant protection score (79 per cent) were determining factors.
ANCAP’s assessment stated “Dummy readings indicated weak protection for the driver’s chest, and marginal protection for the lower legs”.
| 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid | |
| ANCAP rating | Four stars (tested 2022) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Peugeot 308 PHEV have?
A full suite of Peugeot’s advanced safety technologies are on board the 308 PHEV. Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection is standard, as are lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, tyre pressure monitoring, and a driver attention monitor.
There’s also adaptive cruise control with stop and go function along with speed sign recognition.
The airbag count runs to six across both rows although as already noted, there is no centre airbag.
The safety systems remained largely unobtrusive although the 308’s system was quick to flash up ‘Brake’ warnings several times while navigating bends on a tight street lined with parked cars on either side.
For those with little ones, ISOFIX child seat mounts are fitted to the outboard rear seats along with three top-tether anchors across the rear seatbacks.
How much does the Peugeot 308 PHEV cost to maintain?
Peugeot covers the 308 plug-in hybrid with its standard five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. The battery itself is covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty. There’s also five years’ of roadside assistance.
Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km whichever comes first and can be prepaid at time of purchase. A three-year plan asks for $1200 while five years will run to $2000.
If you prefer to pay-as-you-go, the total over five years will run to $2960, broken down into $425 at 12 months, $771 (two years), $425 (three), $900 (four) and $439 at year five.
We were unable to obtain a quote for comprehensive insurance, the 308 PHEV too new in the market for reliable pricing.
| At a glance | 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid |
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 20,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1200 (3 years) $2000 (5 years) |
| Energy cons. (claimed) | N/A |
| Energy cons. (on test) | 6.1kWh/100km |
| Battery size | 12.4kWh |
| Driving range claim (WLTP) | 60km |
| Charge time (max rate, 3.7kWh) | 3.5h (0-100%) |
Is the Peugeot 308 PHEV fuel efficient?
This is the tricky part of the plug-in equation. Peugeot claims the 308 PHEV will, over time and in varying conditions, consume just 1.3 litres of unleaded per 100km. The fine print at the bottom of the specification sheet claims this is under NEDC standard testing, which isn’t as indicative as the more realistic WLTP numbers.
And so it proved, our time at launch with the plug-in 308 returning an indicated 4.2 litres per 100km over a short range of mixed driving conditions.
To be fair, that’s still a decent return, and a number one could rightfully expect with prolonged use. And to be even fairer, the 308 PHEV had only 16km of electric range on the clock when we stepped inside at the Australian launch, meaning we spent a chunk of our time driving in Hybrid mode.
There is an e-Save mode selectable via the touchscreen which ensures the engine harvests electricity for future use. It means, though, you’ll be driving purely on petrol power for a spell, hauling that extra weight of the batteries around with the commensurate bump in fuel consumption.
Here’s how it played out over our short launch drive. In electric only mode, the 308 used exactly 0.0L/100km, as we’d expect. Once depleted, we switched on e-Save to regenerate some more energy, that target 20km.
It didn’t take long to hit that number, maybe 20 minutes behind the wheel of regular driving in traffic. It also saw fuel consumption climb to 7.1 litres per 100km. Once we had 20km of electric range on board, I switched over the Electric mode and completed the rest of the launch program using only the battery and electric motor to finally arrive at that first-mentioned 4.1L/100km.
Now, consider that 60km of driving range, and that seems an accurate range based on our experience, is more than the average person will need for their daily drive. That means the ability to use zero fuel is possible, providing the 308 PHEV’s battery is recharged every night, saving the petrol tank and petrol engine for longer trips.
On recharging, the maximum charge rate is capped at 3.7kW meaning fast-charging is off the table. A home-installed wallbox will see the battery replenished in around 3.5 hours while using a regular 2.3kW household plug will take around 5.5 hours.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Usage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 1.3L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 4.1L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 40L |
What is the Peugeot 308 PHEV like to drive?
Those who have been waiting for a warm-ish version of the new Peugeot 308 need look no further, because the plug-in hybrid hatchback is it.
It shares a powertrain with the brand’s larger 508 plug-in hybrid and that means a turbocharged 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and a front-mounted electric motor.
On its own, the 1.6-litre petrol makes 132kW and 250Nm while the electric motor is good for 81kW and 320Nm. Peugeot quotes combined outputs of 165kW and 360Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.5 seconds, over two seconds faster to the benchmark sprint than either of the regular 308 hatchbacks.
Peugeot’s e-EAT8 automatic transmission, fitted with a wet, multi-plate clutch, replaces the regular torque converter. It sends drive to the front wheels.
There are three drive modes – Electric, Hybrid and Sport – each offering a different experience from the behind the wheel.
As you’d expect Electric is quiet and refined and the 81kW and 320Nm from the electric motor are more than enough to get the 308 moving and moving quickly. It feels zippy and light, belying its extra weight.
Hybrid mode is arguably the pick of the bunch, both forms of motivation working together for fuel efficiency. The 308 certainly feels quick off the mark, and quicker still when accelerating on the move.
Equally, it’s happy to let the electric motor do the hard work when crawling through traffic and slower driving, the petrol engine only firing up at higher speeds or when a burst of acceleration is needed. The transition between the two is seamless, and the 1.6-litre remains quiet. On more than one occasion I had to strain my ears to hear if the petrol engine was indeed running (it was).
Sport mode unleashes the full potential of both sources of power and while it’s not a hot hatch, the 308 plug-in hybrid does a good impression of one.
Acceleration is zippy and there’s a satisfying growl from the engine and exhaust under harder throttle application.
The ride errs on the side of firm, and felt a little jarring over some of the scrappier surfaces encountered on our launch route. It’s by no means bad, but it is notable.
Things evened out on smoother surfaces, and over speed humps, the little Pug behaved much better, cushioning the cabin and settling quickly back on its wheels.
The steering feels nice and direct and while we weren’t really afforded the opportunity to test its dynamic abilities, a couple of faster corners did highlight that the Pug could be a capable weekend adventurer on some winding roads.
Overall, the 308 plug-in hybrid is fun to drive, and mostly refined, the only bugbear the jarring effect of the stiff-ish suspension on pock-marked roads. For the main part though, it felt zippy without being silly, and like it was capable of more.
| Key details | 2023 Peugeot 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid |
| Engine | 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol, plug-in hybrid |
| Power | 132kW @ 6000rpm petrol 81kW electric @2500rpm 165kW combined |
| Torque | 250Nm @ 1750rpm petrol 320Nm @500-2500rpm electric 360Nm combined |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed wet multi-clutch automatic |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 102kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 1611kg |
| Spare tyre type | Tyre repair kit |
| Tow rating | 1500kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Should I buy a Peugeot 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid?
The premium the 308 plug-in hybrid commands over the regular hatchback in the French brand’s line-up won’t be recouped through fuel use so if you’re thinking a PHEV will save you money over the long run, think again.
Instead, view the Peugeot 308 GT Hatch Plug-In Hybrid as style statement that plays its part in helping to reduce emissions.
Peugeot Australia says early interest has been strong in the electrified Pug. But with such a hefty price premium over the non-hybrid 308 range, it’s hard to see this ever becoming a volume seller for the brand.
Which is a shame because the 308 PHEV is a sleek, stylish and comfortable hatchback that is also a lot of fun to drive. And it can be incredibly fuel efficient if you play the plug-in game properly, with the added bonus of that sweet little petrol engine as insurance should you venture further afield than work, shops and local playhouses.
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