Peugeot 308 review

Overview

A 2018 facelift 308 Allure with the 1.6-litre BlueHDi 120 and six-speed EAT6 automatic is a coherent used choice for a small household covering regular longer distances. It is not the later 1.5-litre BlueHDi or an eight-speed car, despite similar badges appearing in advertisements. The attraction is a comfortable, compact family hatchback with useful equipment and a luggage compartment that can serve more than a purely urban brief. RoadMatch's conclusions are original desk-researched judgements, not claims of personal driving. Independent assessments support its comfort and cabin appeal while raising questions about ergonomics and rear accommodation. Those trade-offs matter more than an ambitious diesel economy headline.

Exterior and interior

The T9 facelift's understated exterior disguises an unusually arranged driving position. You view the instruments above a small steering wheel rather than through its centre, and your height, seat position and preferred hand placement determine whether that arrangement works. Sit in the actual car and check the whole instrument display without accepting an awkward posture. Allure's cabin has more visual interest than a basic fleet specification, but the condition of touch surfaces, seat cushions and switchgear matters more after years of use. Inspect the panoramic glass and powered blind carefully. A tidy appearance should be supported by dry carpets and consistent panel fit, especially after any recorded body repair.

Practicality

Peugeot's T9 body literature quotes 470 litres using its volume convention, with 420 dm³ under the VDA method. Those are different ways of describing luggage space, not proof that every car provides a uniformly shaped 470-litre box. A spare wheel and underfloor arrangement can alter what is available for bags. Try your pushchair or suitcase beneath the parcel shelf rather than relying on the headline. The rear bench also needs a separate check: a useful boot does not automatically produce generous legroom behind tall front occupants. Fold and relatch the seatbacks, inspect the ski flap and confirm that any child restraint can be fitted exactly as both manuals require.

Driving experience

The research-led case for this Allure is everyday comfort, not the sporting reputation of the GTi. Published assessments are broadly favourable about refinement and ride but less unanimous about the steering and driving position. Our interpretation is that the car suits a buyer who values a relaxed journey more than detailed feedback through the wheel. The EAT6 can reduce effort in congested traffic, although its behaviour must be evaluated warm as well as during the first few minutes. Include rough surfaces, a tight parking manoeuvre and an ordinary hill on the demonstration route. Any pull, vibration or suspension knock should be investigated instead of attributed to the model's character.

Performance

The selected diesel is rated at 120 PS, approximately 118 mechanical bhp. Peugeot's March 2018 UK table gives a 10.2-second zero-to-62-mph figure for the 17-inch automatic configuration; its smaller-wheel performance column differs. The useful conclusion is adequate family-car performance rather than a hot-hatch acceleration claim. Check that the engine responds cleanly after warming and the transmission selects lower gears without excessive delay or slipping sensations. Additional passengers and luggage will affect how much acceleration reserve is available when joining a busy road. A standard, identifiable drivetrain is preferable to an undocumented remap, particularly where tuning or emissions alterations could complicate insurance and future maintenance.

Fuel economy

Official figures in period material belong to the older NEDC certification system and vary with wheel specification, so we omit a single catalogue mpg value. A large number taken from the smallest-wheel table would be a poor promise for an individual used automatic. Our ownership model assumes 50 mpg, explicitly an editorial scenario rather than a measured outcome. Short cold journeys, traffic and a heavily loaded holiday trip may produce substantially different results. Diesel makes most sense here when the car frequently reaches full operating temperature on longer runs. Compare the likely fuel saving with emissions-system upkeep; a cheaper petrol hatch can remain the better total-cost choice for occasional local use.

Reliability

The reliability score is a moderate-confidence editorial assessment, not a failure rate or a borrowed publisher rating. On this diesel, evidence for servicing and the condition of exhaust treatment deserve close attention. Ask whether AdBlue-related repairs have been required and insist on invoices explaining the diagnosis and remedy rather than vague assurances that a warning was reset. Peugeot's individual maintenance schedule should control timing-drive and fluid requirements. A specialist scan can reveal issues hidden by a clean dashboard during a short viewing, but it cannot guarantee future trouble-free use. Allow a repair reserve and favour consistent maintenance over low mileage unsupported by dated paperwork and MOT history.

Safety

The relevant historical reference is Euro NCAP's 2013 second-generation 308 assessment, not the 2022 successor's result. We link that record without reproducing protected ratings, scores or images, and a historical assessment should not be read as a comparison under today's test protocol. This Allure's assistance equipment depends on its original specification and options; conventional cruise is not adaptive distance control. Confirm optional systems from the build record and investigate any persistent warning or evidence of a badly repaired windscreen installation. Check tyres, seatbelts and child-seat anchorages directly. Run the registration through GOV.UK's recall service and obtain Peugeot's VIN-specific evidence that applicable work has actually been completed.

Technology and features

The March 2018 UK Allure guide lists Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through Mirror Screen, conventional cruise and front and rear parking sensors. A reversing camera, heated seats and adaptive cruise remain conditional in this record rather than being silently inherited from richer derivatives or optional packs. Connect your own phone using a suitable cable and try navigation, calls and audio. The screen also deserves an everyday usability test with climate settings, because a feature's presence does not guarantee you enjoy accessing it while driving. Connected navigation subscriptions from the original sale are not assumed active. Check the unit, ports and powered roof blind before agreeing an equipment-based premium.

Running costs

Our £6,500–£10,500 purchase band is a RoadMatch planning estimate dated 3 October 2026, not a live valuation or a survey of listings. At 8,000 miles, assumed 50 mpg and diesel at £1.55 per litre, fuel is approximately £1,128 using 4.54609 litres per imperial gallon. Add a rounded £200 tax allowance and £600–£1,100 for routine servicing, MOT and tyre wear to produce roughly £1,900–£2,500 annually. Actual tax must be checked by registration and personal insurance obtained separately; insurance groups are not asserted. Finance, depreciation and major repairs are excluded. In particular, the routine budget should not be mistaken for protection against an expensive emissions-system fault.

Advantages and disadvantages