Peugeot 308 2021: hatch coming to Australia early 2022

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Peugeot has unveiled the 2022 308 small car which returns with a familiar formula and a new face but with a large emphasis placed on technology, safety and everyday comfort.

The third-generation 308 won’t make it to Australia until early 2022 and will slot into the popular small car class here in Australia and take on rivals such as the Mazda 3 and Hyundai i30.

How has Peugeot changed the design of the 2022 308?

Peugeot has placed a strong emphasis on aerodynamics for the third generation with a softer nose shape giving way to a long bonnet and heavily tilted windscreen before the air finally flows off the roof which uses a spoiler to prevent disturbance. 

The overall height of the Peugeot has actually been dropped by 20mm while the wheelbase has been extended by 55mm, primarily to add more legroom for those in the backseat. 

The face of the 308 is now sharper and sunken down, with the main LED headlights attached formed in a hook shape with the daytime running lights. 

At the rear Peugeot has kept things fairly traditional, with large exhaust outlets in the rear bumper and LED tail lights said to represent the three claws of the Peugeot Lion. 

Will the 2022 308 drive any better?

The 308 sits on an evolved version of the EMP2 platform underpinning the second generation but with structure changes to make the Peugeot more dynamically capable and safer in a collision.

And while the length has expanded by a significant 110mm, the 308 still remains agile around town with a turning circle of 10.5 metres, which slightly beats out popular rivals such as the Toyota Corolla at 10.6 metres. 

The engine lineup for the 308 largely remains unchanged for the new generation, with the availability of either petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engines with all driving the front wheels.

The engine most likely to make it to Australia is the 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine available in tunes making 81kW of power and 210Nm of torque or 96kW/230Nm.

A larger 1.2-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine is also offered, developing 97kW/300Nm with both options paired to either the six-speed manual or eight-speed torque converter automatic. 

Peugeot currently offers two plug-in hybrid options known as the Hybrid 225 and Hybrid 180 which are paired exclusively to the automatic.

The Hybrid 225 is found in the Peugeot 3008 small SUV and uses a 132kW petrol engine along with a 81kW electric engine that uses a 12.4kWh battery to provide 59 kilometres on electric-only range, according to WLTP.

The Hybrid 180 uses a less powerful 110kW petrol engine and the same 81kW electric motor but actually travels slightly further with 60 kilometres of electric-only range (WLTP).

Historically Australia has missed out on these hybrid options but the brand has been introducing a slew of hybrids recently in the 3008 small SUV and 508 sedan.

What has changed on the inside of the 308?

Peugeot has modernised the interior of the 308 with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster that has 3D graphics and sits further back into the dash than you might expect.

It joins an additional 10-inch touchscreen in the centre which features an adjoining bottom screen made up of configurable screen-badged buttons known as ‘i-toggles’.

This gives drivers the ability to program the apps and features they use the most along the bottom, instead of being stuck with whatever the manufacturer decides.

The multimedia system now features wireless smartphone mirroring but Peugeot could not confirm if this included both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, two phones can now connect to the system using Bluetooth.

Other niceties such as a wireless charger, USB C ports, an armrest and ambient light are features you may not find in every car in this segment. 

Is the new 2022 Peugeot 308 a safer car?

Along with improved occupant protection with an upgraded chassis, the Peugeot 308 has updated the existing driving aids to make commuting easier and safer.

Adaptive cruise control now has a stop and go function for use in traffic with other features such as semi-automatic lane change that will suggest when to change lanes and the system now has better judgement of how fast to take an incoming turn.

Other features such as automatic emergency braking can detect pedestrians and cyclists, driver monitoring, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera will make parking easier.

And if the worst does happen, Peugeot has fitted an ‘E-call’ system that can alert authorities and provide them with your location, direction of travel and number.

The exact specification of the Australia model will likely differ slightly but we’ll have more exact details and pricing as we get closer to the launch date in early 2022.