Peugeot 308

Steadfast family car gets a new lease of life with fresh looks and revised engines On sale January 2026 Price from £29,550

- GEORGE HILL [e-mail]

REGARDLESS OF THE script or storyline, a film with striking visuals or a charismatic lead can still draw big crowds at the box office. You could say the freshly updated Peugeot 308 is aiming to do a similar thing, because it’s a distinctive, low-slung hatchback that seeks to win over style-conscious family car buyers.

Along with a heavily revised nose, the 308's power options have been updated, with a new mild hybrid petrol engine and a bigger battery for the plugin hybrid (PHEV). For high-mileage drivers, the diesel alternative is unchanged.

The Hybrid 145 model is powered by a 143bhp 1.2-litre engine with mild hybrid electrical assistance to bolster performance and fuel economy and allow brief bursts on battery power alone at low speeds. While it isn’t quite as quick from a standing start as the Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI, it'll be nippy enough for most buyers, and the new six-speed automatic gearbox is smoother and quicker shifting than the old eight-speed unit.

The energy-harvesting regenerative braking system can make for slightly jerky progress around town, though; it slows the car aggressively when you lift off the accelerator.