insideKENT Magazine Issue 27 - June 2014 | Page 142

MOTORS

PRICE AS TESTED: £22,265 (INCLUDING OPTIONAL RIOJA RED FINISH)
0-62 MPH: 12 SECONDS

ECONOMY: COMBINED 74.3 MPG

TOP SPEED: 118 MPH

PERFORMANCE: 115 BHP

as well as Blue HDi, this is a very efficient engine,
allowing a very decent 74.3mpg and producing
CO2 emissions of just 100g/km.
The engine has plenty of real world torque,
allowing you to nip in and out of traffic around
town, ride the windy country lanes, or cruise the
motorway with equal ability. And while dishing
out 0-62mph in under 12 seconds, and a pretty
impressive top speed of 118mph, with great
power, comes great efficiency.

screen provides your in-car information and
entertainment; and the sound system delivers
some very satisfying musical noises.
This is a car you will be very happy to ride in, as
well as drive. Fire up the 308 (using the keyless
ignition system), and you are treated to a
masterclass in engineering. The 1.6 e-HDi 115bhp
engine sounds lovely, providing just the right
amount of driver feedback (I like a bit of engine
noise personally), without drowning out your
conversations. Plus, with stop-start technology,

The 308 has a racing car-esque smaller steering
wheel, and its clutch and gearbox are wellbalanced, so it's an easy and rather relaxing car
to drive. Even on 18" wheels, the ride is beautifully
smooth – especially over the cobbled wharf
surrounding the Turner Contemporary. Peugeot's
suspension hasalways been, and continues to
be, one of the most brilliant things they do.
And that's where the art creeps in again, because
even if it's technically well put together, even if
there's a lot of cleverness behind its creation, art
simply isn't a functional thing.
You define art as art because it makes you FEEL
something. And that's what the 308 does. It
makes you feel just a bit more alive as you drive
it. It makes you actually happy that you have to

142

COMBINED CO2: 100 G/KM

go to work, and even happier if the drive takes
a bit longer than it should. Sitting in the cockpit
of the 308 is a nice place to be, and a hard place
to leave.
It was quite appropriate shooting the 308 outside
the modern Turner Contemporary. I found myself
wondering how a car like this would be received
if it was put on display in one of the exhibition
halls; I must confess that some of the art in the
gallery is rather confusing to a rapidly ageing
gent such as myself. You end up walking around
it and shaking your head in bewilderment trying
to work out what it is, and what it is about.
However, there are no such issues with the 308.
Thoroughly modern and eye-catching it may be,
but it is also a car that knows what it is, and
exudes classic style from one of the great masters
of motor engineering. I don't know about modern
art, but I know I like the 308!

Grand Garage
1-11 Harold Rd
Cliftonville
Margate
CT9 2HT
01843 227933
www.dealer.peugeot.co.uk