2023 Peugeot 308 GT Premium Wagon review

Is there a place for a small wagon in 2023? The Peugeot 308 GT Premium makes its case

The new Peugeot 308 range debuted in late 2022 featuring hatch and wagon variants.

This might seem unusual, considering SUVs are so popular in Australia, but buyers in Europe still flock to wagons (known as estates there), and Peugeot believes it can garner additional sales here.

What price is the Peugeot 308 GT Premium Wagon?

Peugeot execs see the new 308 sitting between the mainstream and premium market segments and that’s reflected in the pricing, with the GT Premium wagon (our test vehicle) priced at $50,490.

The carmaker has worked hard to address concerns its vehicles are expensive to maintain, offering a service plan of $1800 over five years.

How is the Peugeot 308 GT’s power, torque and fuel efficiency?

The wagon’s PureTech 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo engine develops 98kW and 230Nm, and is matched to a new eight-speed auto transmission.

Claimed fuel consumption is just 5.3L/100km.

European brands lean toward smaller capacity turbo engines in their small cars, while the Japanese and Koreans opt for larger naturally aspirated four-cylinder designs.

Peugeot’s diminutive 1.2-litre three-cylinder is a perfect example of the former, making 230Nm from relatively low revs.

Mated to a slick-shifting auto, the package provides plenty of punch and is quiet and largely free from the vibration inherent in three-cylinder engines.

There’s also a payoff at the bowser, with the wagon returning 6.5L/100km over a range of driving conditions on test. 

How does the Peugeot 308 GT Premium Wagon drive?

The steering is lightly weighted, sharp and direct.

While more weight might be preferable in some situations, this makes it a breeze to park and navigate tight spots.

The steering underpins a balanced chassis setup and the low profile 225/40x18 tyres deliver excellent grip and response through the bends, with the springs and dampers balancing body control and ride comfort superbly.

Only on severely degraded sections of road does the suspension struggle with some thump-through and shock.

How are Peugeot 308 GT Premium Wagon’s design and features?

The all-new design, incorporating a longer bonnet, more aggressively raked front windscreen and ‘lion fang’ daytime running lights, is certainly eye-catching and nicely proportioned.

With its higher roofline, the wagon is just as striking as its hatch siblings.

Further enhancing the proportions are 18-inch alloys and a 55mm longer wheelbase, increasing cargo volume from the hatch’s 384 litres to 608 litres.

Standard features and safety tech include matte black alloys, panoramic opening sunroof, electric tailgate, Nappa leather, heated driver and passenger seats with massage function, active lane positioning, and a 360-degree camera.

How is the Peugeot 308 GT Premium Wagon’s interior and tech?

Peugeot’s take on interior design continues to set it apart from the pack.

A small, thick-rimmed sports steering wheel set low in the dash is designed to provide an unimpeded view of the instrument cluster and, for drivers accustomed to a conventional setup, it can take a while to acclimatise.

The new 3D instrument cluster, where primary information is displayed in the foreground, works well from both a visual and practical perspective; as does the new 10-inch infotainment display, which features shortcuts for key functions such as air-con and audio.

A toggle-style gear selector in the centre console enhances the slick presentation and feeling of spaciousness.

Our only criticism is that the large pillars restrict rearward vision, especially compared to the hatch.

Final verdict

While certain design elements won’t appeal to everyone and its price pitches it towards premium buyers, the 308 wagon provides an interesting and legitimate alternative to an SUV.