The new Peugeot 308 2021 abandons its large petrol and diesel engines but welcomes for the first time a plug-in hybrid version of 225 hp at the top of its range. A new thorn in the side of the Golf, which has been offering such an offer since 2015 with the GTE.
Cars to test: Peugeot 308 vs Volkswagen Golf
| Peugeot 308 Hybrid 225 hp GT Pack e-EAT8 | |
|---|---|
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€ 44,900 € 1,000 bonus
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| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 eHybrid 245 hp GTE DSG6 | |
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€ 45,665 € 1,000 bonus
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Even if Peugeot came late to electrification, the brand has taken a 90 ° turn which contrasts with its most direct competitors. While the Volkswagen Golf 8, marketed in 2019, still offers petrol and Diesel engines of more than 130 hp in the catalog, you have to go through the plug-in hybrid box to benefit from such a level of power on the new 308. This development is all the more significant since the previous generation did not benefit from it. The compact Sochaux uses the PHEV engine already seen on the 3008 and the 508, but it adds a new more compact battery in order to reduce the grip on the trunk. Its original LG cells deliver 12.44 kWh, 0.8 kWh less than its big sisters.
The 308 Hybrid 225 GT Pack is the most powerful and upscale version of the new 308 range. Faced with its 225 hp, the Volkswagen Golf is advancing its GTE version, equipped with the plug-in hybrid system pushed to 245 hp and 13 kWh of capacity. battery. An unmissable opportunity to replay the famous “classico” of the compacts on unprecedented terrain.
Peugeot 308 price
The plug-in hybrid remains expensive, and the prices of the 308 testify to it. While it took € 34,650 to afford a 308 PureTech 225 GT EAT8 in 2018, some € 9,250 should be added to access the 308 Hybrid 225 GT Pack today. And this, in spite of the ecological bonus of 1000 € which still benefit from the plug-in hybrids. Of course, in the meantime, the Sochaux has changed generation and continued the famous move upmarket wanted by Peugeot officials. But this gap perfectly symbolizes how much the market has evolved in a very short time, pushed by the constraints of Brussels on CO2 and the penalty in France.
With its GT Pack finish, the 308 clearly plays the over-equipment : from semi-autonomous driving to the electric driver’s seat and massaging through the Focal audio system with 10 speakers and Matrix LED projectors, almost everything is there. To the point that the French made the Golf GTE blush, more expensive and less well equipped in series.
Volkswagen Golf price
Admittedly, the Golf claims 20 hp more than the Peugeot, but the price difference of € 1,650 imposed by its only GTE version seems high. Its standard endowment is indeed not as rich as that of its rival (see table on next page), and the German even skips certain equipment offered by its competitor. These include the massaging driver’s seat, the high-end audio system and the 7.4 kW on-board charger, optional at € 400 on the 308 and unavailable on the Golf. This allows the 308’s batteries to be recharged in 1.55 hours, whereas the Golf cannot, at best, regain all of its kilowatt-hours in 3 hours on a 3.6 kW Wallbox.
On the other hand, the Golf GTE retains the prerogative of the controlled DCC damping and the head-up display, of course optional. Finally, just like the Peugeot, the Golf benefits significant tax advantages, such as exemption from registration tax in most departments or even the elimination of TVS for businesses. Moreover, these two plug-in hybrid compacts are primarily aimed at corporate sales.
To drive
The 225 hp plug-in hybrid engine is well known to our departments since it is the one found on the 3008 and 508. However, this is the first time that we can enjoy it on such a compact car. and light. However, this mechanism is not transfigured on board the new 308. It is indeed characterized by its smooth operation, which has been further improved. Thus, the EAT8 transmission does not distill any more jerk. The pure electric mode does not conceal any surprises, the car showing a real nervousness in town without having to request the heat engine. We managed to swallow around forty kilometers in this mode, but we will verify this figure on our typical test route. Pleasant to drive, the 308 Hybrid appears particularly silent, and its mechanical operation is much more padded than that of its rival.
However, this positive result is spoiled in terms of performance. As usual, Peugeot reserves maximum power in Sport mode. But, even when this is on, the 225bhp doesn’t really seem to answer the call. At last, the response to the brake pedal of our test copy seemed to us to be a failure. It constantly generated variations in consistency, making fine dosing impossible whatever the type of soil. Hopefully before going into production, scheduled for the end of September 2021, Peugeot corrects this management. Always eagerly awaited in terms of road behavior, the 308 offers a positive overall balance, but significant sacrifices remain to be made compared to the 100% thermal versions.
Paradoxically, the filtering of small irregularities appears to be less effective while the damping is shown to be more flexible. Even if the 308 remains fun to drive and quite efficient, this version is no longer a “tool” like the old GT 225 hp. Its downforce is less straightforward, the inertia more marked and the limits of understeer more easily reached. Regarding consumption with the empty battery, the figure of 7.5 l / 100 km that we noted should be taken with a grain of salt given our very hilly course. Here again, we will come back to the subject soon with more precise statements.
The Golf much more toned
The 20 hp and 40 Nm of torque more claimed by the Golf are not just an abstract data sheet. From the first acceleration, its punch appears clearly superior to that of the 308. Especially since the 1.4 TSI is much louder, emitting almost sporty notes. This translates into performance figures since the 0 to 100 km / h is shot in 0.9 s better. Moreover, the acceleration clearly exceeds the capabilities of the front axle, which returns torque effects to the steering wheel when the pedal is crushed. This more energetic character is noticeable in all modes.
Too bad therefore that the Golf is less fun to drive than its rival, the fault of a more blurred and soft direction. However, its chassis is no less efficient than that of the Peugeot, thanks to a high level of grip. This is particularly noticeable with the DCC damping set in Sport mode, which noticeably tightens the suspension. Unfortunately, this dynamic philosophy pays for itself in fuel once the batteries are discharged. The data that we had noted during our test were again confirmed with a maximum of 7.9 l / 100 km on the motorway at legal speed, which is a lot. In town, the German proves to be gifted thanks to an efficient electric mode and, according to our measurements, this GTE is capable of ensuring a range of 45 km in mixed city and road use.
To live
While the Golf has significantly reduced its requirements in terms of finishes, we expected the Peugeot to turn in this area. Futuristic, its driving position is already winning the show battle, even though its rival has switched to “all screen” in 2019. With its 3D instrumentation, its dashboard stitching, its metal inserts and its central screen controlled by large touch controls, the Frenchwoman plays in the same court as the “premium”. The quality of the materials is in relation, even if we can still regret the important variety. Still, the Golf really has no lessons to teach in this area. It is only his driving position that appears to be better. Always forced to compromise by the i-Cockpit, the 308 indeed limits the steering wheel settings.
The new multimedia interface of the French, finally up to date, appears more intuitive thanks in particular to the large tactile reminder keys. Let’s not sulk our pleasure to finally drive in a Peugeot equipped with a real high definition reversing camera. The Golf system is no less complete, but it suffers from complex ergonomics of the menus, especially with regard to the management of hybrid modes, which is particularly unclear. We also regret the choice of both haptic and tactile buttons on the steering wheel, which are very annoying on a daily basis.
In terms of rear roominess, our two rivals admit to being very comparable, even if the German offers a much more generous headroom. Both suffer from a somewhat straight bench backrest and limited legroom. The opposition turns to the advantage of the Peugeot when it comes to examining the trunk. The choice of more generous dimensions and a new more compact battery paid off because, in the end, the 308 offers a volume greater than 88 the. In both cases, however, you have to put up with bulky charging cables that cannot be stored under the floor. Here again, the plug-in hybrid solution imposes its constraints.
