Skip advert
Advertisement

Peugeot 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport review (2014-2021) – performance and 0-60 time

An exciting hot hatch with typical French quirks

Evo rating
RRP
from £29,000
  • Sophisticated dynamics, performance, style inside and out
  • Interior layout may completely rule the car out for some

The 308 GTi’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine may not be as large as its rivals but it certainly produces the numbers. It puts out 266bhp at 6000rpm and 243lb ft of torque between 1900-5500rpm.That’s enough to propel the 308 from 0-62mph in 6 seconds.

It feels every bit as strong as the figures suggest, too. Driven around on the ample mid range torque, the engine feels muscular and helps you make brisk progress. Rev the engine to its 6500rpm limit and it exposes another, more rabid side to its character; the last quarter of the rev range makes the 308 explode forward.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There is an elastic feeling to the engine’s delivery, but the wave of torque that the turbocharger adds comes in a predictable fashion. This means you can easily use the throttle to either stay on the engine’s more placid side, or unleash its full potency whenever you choose.

The 308 can often feel traction limited on cold and wet tarmac and you frequently hold back from deploying the full boost. However, you can anticipate the wave of torque from the engine well and that means you can modulate the throttle, easily keeping wheelspin to a minimum.

The 308 GTi also has a sport mode that adds more noise into the cabin while also turning the dials red, altering the steering weight and changing the throttle map. Sadly the noise that’s generated with the mode activated sounds synthetic and the all red dials make it difficult to instantly see where the rev limit is.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Honda Civic Type R for £5k off – save 10 per cent on the ultimate hot hatch
Honda Civic Type R deal
News

Honda Civic Type R for £5k off – save 10 per cent on the ultimate hot hatch

The Civic Type R is not long for this world and there are deals to be had on Honda’s pricey but near-perfect hot hatch
26 Jun 2025
Frontline MGA Factory Edition review – a quaint classic with a modern heart
Frontline MGA Factory Edition
Reviews

Frontline MGA Factory Edition review – a quaint classic with a modern heart

The MGB restomod specialist turns its attention to the B’s pretty predecessor. The result is compelling
26 Jun 2025
Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?
Lotus factory
Opinion

Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?

Lotus’s latest troubles are grabbing headlines, but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
28 Jun 2025