Peugeot

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Does the Peugeot 308 GT have more to offer than just a sound bite?

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First impressions of the GT suggest it’s a lot more ‘sporty’ on the inside than out. The interior is top quality but the exterior styling is rather less inspiring.

Slip behind the wheel though and this 308 has a few surprises. It moves along at a fair old pace, although not in the same league as the Focus ST or Renault Megane RS.

This is a warm hatchback rather than a hot one but for many people, it will be the perfect compromise between daily commute and weekend sporty fun.

This is best ‘amplified’ by the Sport button on the dashboard. The GT sounds like any other 308 on start-up. But depress the Sport button and a more growly exhaust note is pumped through the car’s speaker system.

It’s an odd world we live in when you have to fake the exhaust note isn’t it but as everybody else wants to offer acoustic exhausts in their cars these days, why shouldn’t Peugeot?

Let’s see if this 308 GT has more to offer than a sound bite…

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Wednesday – Cute & Curvy

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I’ve just spent the evening with my new neighbours – two complete petrol heads who know more about cars than any motoring writer I have ever met. One has a Toyota Supra track car that has an incredible 550bhp under the bonnet!

What was interesting is what they thought of the RCZ. Neither had driven it but both made favourable noises about how well the car looks. They liked the curvy shape, the cool interior and the contrasting roof pillars.

Both would have been even more excited if our test car was the 270bhp model, which should give the Audi TT RS a decent run for its money.

I think the RCZ would have been regarded as a truly great sports car IF Peugeot had launched a high performance model first, when the model first appeared four years ago. Sadly, because it had a range of lesser engines at the start of its life, it has never been regarded that highly.

Can’t wait to try the 270 version later this year…

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Tuesday – A Sophisticated Lion

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No offence to Peugeot but I never thought I would claim a Peugeot could be sophisticated. They’ve built some incredible hot hatchbacks over the years but sophisticated? No.

Before I drove the RCZ for the first time last year, I would have put it in the bling category – plenty of flash but not much substance.

There is, however, a lot more to the RCZ than meets the eye. The devil is in the detail and after sitting in the cabin for ten minutes, it’s quite clear that this is a luxuriously equipped, well built car with all the trimmings.

Does it compete with an Audi TT? I think it does. The original TT was a masterclass in design – the latest model borrows to many parts from across the range. The unique, design-led feel of the first model has gone.

In that respect, the RCZ wins hands down. It’s better on the inside and, some will think, prettier on the outside too. However, the ride and handling aren’t as good as the Audi and the premium brand TT badge alone will be enough to sway most buyers.

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Monday – Navigation

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I’m still baffled as to why so many car manufacturers struggle with the user-friendliness of their sat nav systems. The Peugeot unit appears straightforward enough but it has some frustrating traits that remind me of when BMW first brought out the iDrive system about ten years ago.

Keying in a destination int he RCZ requires true dexterity because the rotating dial used to select numbers and letters is super sensitive. It’s very easy to mess up – especially if the car is moving.

It’s possible to find an address using the postcode alone but again, it’s not blindingly obvious finding this facility when, let’s face it, it should be.

Perhaps the most awkward feature is the control dial, which is on the dashboard. It’s a good arm’s length away and would be better situated down by the handbrake.

Never mind – at least the screen folds down and out of sight with the press of just one button, Jessica’s pet hate is when the screen cannot be turned off easily…

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Sunday – Back To Front

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If I could have found my camera this morning you would have seen a wonderful photo of a frozen Peugeot RCZ. The sweeping curves of the coupe looked nothing short of beautiful when covered in ice.

I’m particularly smitten by the rear of the RCZ. It’s not so much the styling of the bodywork, it’s more the line of the roof and rear screen. The metal and glass have an indention which are unique and rather eye-catching.

Whether it appeals to you will depend on your taste but in the sub £30,000 bracket, I’m not sure I can think of another vehicle that exudes the same flare.

The design of the RCZ is so good that in profile and from a distance, it would be hard to say which is the front and which is the back. Very few cars manage that, although the Porsche Boxster comes close.

 

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Saturday – Peugeot RCZ

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I used to enjoy moving – seven times in the last six years. I planned it down to the last detail but when the removal lorry is five hours late, even the best plans can go horribly wrong.

So, it was that at 3am on Thursday night, the same removal lorry was stuck in a ditch outside my new house, digging an ever deeper rut for itself and me to get out of! All I had to look forward to the next day was driving the RCZ, Peugeot’s concept car in real world clothing.

Now we both loved the RCZ last year when we tried the 156bhp model. If only it had a little more power we thought… Well, Peugeot has just launched the R model, squeezing 270bhp from a 1.6 litre unit. It replaces the old ranger topper, the 1.6 200bhp version we have this week.

Compared to last year’s 156bhp model, this car is a a big step up. It still only has a modest 0-60mph time of 7.6 seconds but the power delivery is smooth, refined and quiet. It’s very good indeed and yesterday, I somehow managed 52mpg driving it – above the official consumption figure!

So, the stats look promising and the RCZ is as gorgeous as ever. Join us tomorrow for more words…

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Wednesday – A Pug That Bites

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Just occasionally a car comes along that truly surprises. The Peugeot 2008 is just that. Even though it can only pretend to be a 4×4 with raised ground clearance, scuff plates and beefy looks, it has turned out to be a capable machine.

Crossover vehicles try to be all things to all people – which is what makes them so popular with family buyers. However, sometimes the good things get diluted in an attempt to tick all the boxes.

The 2008 has some faults, like the pointless light display integrated into the roof lining, an annoying handbrake design and a rather lifeless drive but overall, the good points far outweigh the bad.

Here is a small family estate that will easily achieve 68mpg in everyday driving, is cheap to tax, can carry five adults AND their bags, and still manages to look pretty stylish on the outside. For £17,245, our 1.6 diesel looks like a great buy.

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Tuesday – Slippery Customer

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The very thought of using a two-wheel drive car effectively in mud, sand and snow is a tough one to get your head around. That’s especially true if it’s a modest family estate from Peugeot with model names live Active, Allure and Feline!

This week I’ve been trying to find some suitable ‘dirt’ to put the 2008 to the test. There’s a long, rutted track that I use to run down near Warminster and so I’ve used it to try out the car’s Grip Control dial.

The system is designed to maximise traction in low grip conditions. It adapts the 2008 to the terrain – just like a traction control system on a ‘proper’ 4×4.

My off-road route isn’t blessed with sand and snow (yet) but in mud mode, the 2008 scrambled along with remarkable agility, even if the rear end wandered a little in the process.

If you want a full-on four-wheel drive car, there are plenty to choose from. But let’s face it, how often do you actually use 4×4? It’s such a long time since I slipped my Land Rover into four-wheel drive that when I do, I have to read the instructions first!

So, for occasional, light off-road use, the Peugeot 2008 shouldn’t be written off as just a tame estate car pretending to look macho. It also has the benefits of remarkable fuel economy – something you won’t find in a full-time 4WD.

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Monday – Space Talk

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If you have a tape measure to hand, here’s an interesting statistic. The Peugeot 2008 is 20cm longer than the 208 supermini. I mention that because the 360 litres of space in the rear is a lot more than the profile of the 2008 suggests.

And what gives the 2008 the edge over other crossover vehicles is the low loading lip. I was up at Longleat forest this morning, buying supplies of wood for the winter. As brilliant as my old Land Rover is for carrying large bags of wood and coal, you do have to swing the sacks high to get them into the rear. The Peugeot is granny-friendly in that respect at least.

And while we are on the subject of practicality, the 2008 somehow manages to seat three, tall adults in the rear too, with a decent amount of legroom as well.

Less encouraging is the lack of storage in the centre console. There is a large space that takes a bottle of water behind the handbrake but the two cupholders are useless because of their positioning under the dashboard. A smaller tray for keys is also made inaccessible by the handbrake!

 

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Sunday – A Man From Down Under

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One of the Australian branch of Jessica’s extensive family is in England at the moment. Young Freddie is a twentysomething chap who lives in Perth and works out his fuel economy in miles per kilometer. What better person to cast a youthful eye over the 2008?

I have to admit, I truly thought Freddie would dismiss the Peugeot at first glance – after all, he’s used to driving proper 4x4s and utility vehicles. But surprisingly, Freddie seemed to like the pseudo off-road image of the 2008.

Australian’s also aren’t used to stop-start engine technology, designed to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. I suppose that’s because once you are out of an Australian city, you don’t have to stop very often.

Freddie was pretty amazed by the 67mpg we managed in the Peugeot today, although we couldn’t quite work out what it was in kilometres.

The 2008 is continuing to go up in my estimations too. It feels more comfortable on the road than the Nissan Juke and there is less wallow on fast corners. I think noise levels and general refinement would improve with a six-speed gearbox and the larger diesel engine – otherwise it should be on your list to test drive if you are searching for a crossover vehicle.

Freddie won’t be buying one though. He couldn’t fit his surfboards in the back.