Glamour and Refinement in Peugeot’s 308CC
Style – the critics say you’ve either got it or you haven’t. No one would deny Peugeot’s 308CC cabriolet has real style, with a capital ‘S’.
The soft-top 308 joined the effervescent 207CC in the French importer’s lineup and combined, the two cabrios account for one in ten Peugeots sold in this market.
What You Get
We tested the entry-level 308CC powered by Peugeot’s 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine and driving through a six-speed manual transmission. The automatic option is four-speed.
Also available is the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and there is an upmarket version called the ‘S’, which gains leather seats and extra tech.
It’s a four-seater although naturally passengers in the rear get a little cramped – that didn’t deter the Car Showroom juniors who squealed with delight riding in the back with the top down …cabrios have that effect on children and adults alike.
Priced at $48,990, the 308CC isn’t the price leader in the cabrio segment but it sure has some French cachet in its look and interior.
Under The Hood
Peugeot’s 1.6-litre HDi four-cylinder turbo diesel has been a three-time winner of the International Engine of The Year Award. It delivers 110kW/240Nm in manual form (as tested) or 103kW/240Nm when mated to the four-speed auto.
That almost matches Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre diesel EOS (103kW/320Nm) but is ahead of the 2.0-litre petrol engine in Renault’s Megane Cabrio and the 1.6-litre petrol engine in Audi’s soft-top A3 Cabrio.
Combined cycle fuel economy for the 308CC is 7.5l/100kms and the exhaust emissions are 177g/km.
We liked the response of the 308CC when pressed – zero to 100km/h takes 9.8 seconds (10.3 seconds for the EOS diesel) and the Peugeot’s slick six-speed manual delivered closely-spaced sporty ratios for handy acceleration around town and on rural roads.
The Interior
First things first – the soft top. A simple push-button operation has the roof closed or open in 20 seconds at speeds up to 12 km/h.
Like all contemporary convertibles it’s an ingenious operation that commences with all four windows lowering by 50mm and then lots of whirring and buzzing as electric motors govern the complex operation. The roof closes with a reassuring clunk as it locks into place on the windscreen pillar.
Inside the 308CC overwhelms with sophisticated style wherever you look – starting with the beautifully styled one-piece seats, which not only look superb, they’re also very supportive. The steering wheel is a nice thick, leather wrapped sports design with the modern D-shape.
Instruments are the conventional two-dial binnacle and controls for the audio (single CD, MP3 compatible) plus climate control air are in the center console which is also an elegant design and layout.
Rear seat passengers secure nicely sculptured seats.
We liked the glovebox and center console storage boxes which lock automatically so you can park the 308CC with the roof open.
The front seats also house the world’s first side head airbags. Stored in the head restraints, these nine litre airbags deploy laterally and combine with chest/pelvis side airbags also mounted in the front seats.
Naturally there is a rear alloy roll bar which is activated in 20 milliseconds if sensors detect a rollover is imminent.
In the trunk is a clever system for storing the folding roof however with the roof down, capacity is limited to 266 litres (465 litres with the roof up).
Exterior & Styling
From any angle, the ‘Wow Factor’ inherent in the 308CC’s styling is maxed. It’s a glorious design with real substance.
At the front, the large air intake, steeply raked bonnet, sharp headlights and sculptured fenders are a superb piece of craftsmanship. ‘S’ models gain directional xenon lights.
The sculptured look continues at the rear where the 308CC delivers a broad stance that is noticeably more muscular and sporty than most rival cabrios. The LED rear lights are enormous and bright.
Speaking of lights, the 308CC delivers a chic look at night thanks to LED lights in the exterior mirrors which shine downwards providing subtle highlights of the cabrio’s sculptured sides.
Our test car rode on nice 17-inch alloy wheels but some other models gain 18-inch wheels which do enhance the appearance.
On The Road
Peugeot engineers worked hard to give the 308CC chassis rigidity without the roof. This is vital, not only for handling but also for safety.
For example the passenger compartment floor is extra thick and there have been reinforcements for the doorsills, A-pillar and wind screen pillar.
The suspension also received some workovers. At the front, it’s a MacPherson strut design with drop link anti-roll bar while the rear is the modern 5mm or 6mm (depending on the engine) torsion beam with integral welded hollow anti-roll bar.
For the cabrio, the front dampers are beefed up and the ride height lowered by 12mm at the front and 8mm at the rear.
Our test car tipped the scales at 1587 kgs and 2.0-litre models are even heavier at 1695 kgs – that’s a tad more than the EOS, while Audi’s A3 is only 1362 kgs. And the 308CC did feel a little heavy when asked to quickly change directions through the tight corners in our usual test route.
But it remained poised and balanced with good levels of grip and just the usual understeer right at the limit. Around town, refinement levels were high and Melbourne’s train/tram track crossings did not upset things.
Challenges
Apart from its heavy feel on tight, twisty roads, the 308CC only lost points for its rear seat access – people who frequently use the rear seat would appreciate Peugeot developing an improved system of seat relocation.
Verdict
Style points carry extra credence in cabrios and that is the area where the 308CC scores ahead of the EOS, Megane and A3 soft tops. This is a superb looker inside and out.
The Competition
But style comes at a price with the 1.6l 308CC we tested listed at $48,990.
Volkswagen’s 2.0l turbo-diesel EOS is a folding hardtop and it starts at $47,990 while the soft top Audi A3 cabrio (1.6l petrol) starts at $43,900.
Renault’s Megane CC only comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, doesn’t match the 308CC for cachet, but at $44,990 is very good value.
Another worthy competitor is the Italian-styled Ford Focus CC – also only with a 2.0-litre petrol engine – priced at $45,490. The Focus has superior interior space.
Thumbs-up:
You will not find a cabrio with nicer styling inside and out
Thumbs-down:
A little cumbersome in tight corners; rear seat access
