Built to last - Peugeot 308 test drive

PEUGEOT said that when designing the new 308 hatchback its aim was to produce a car that will be like new after three years of driving.

Well, it's too early to comment on that but it is possible to be sure that the carmaker started off on the right foot.

Inside it is tough yet plush, with a scratch-resistant dashboard and high quality leather seating. And that sentiment is replicated in the bits you can't see - the steel chassis is made using a new welding process, so the result is a strong yet luxurious family hatchback.

There's so much luxe, it's hard to know where to start.

One of my first impressions when getting behind the wheel is now minimal the dash is. Sure there are dials on the dashboard and everything but instead of an array of buttons and knobs commonplace in other cars, many of the 308's functions are controlled through the frankly massive info touch-screen which Peugeot has called i-Cockpit.

One reviewer of the 308 that I read moaned about the screen and yearned for a control knob, but I have to disagree with that. The screen is so easy to use – it's not 100 miles away from using an i-pad or other tablet - and everything you need is in the one place. It would be a good discipline to make sure that the temperature and radio station are selected before driving off, however, to avoid fiddling while you're meant to be watching the road.

It's not just the screen that makes a good impression. The plush interior finished with shiny metal detailing, the steering wheel, the gear knob, the electric handbrake, the parking sensors, the panoramic glass roof add up to real refinement.

It was a genuine surprise to learn that the model I tested was in the Active range, one level up from the basic model. I'd assumed that from the quality of the finish and array of features that I was in the Allure, or even Feline, the top of the 308 range.

Driving the new 308 is a doddle - Peugeot have made the new model lighter than the previous one with a lower centre of gravity. New electric power steering makes manouevering very simple and smooth.

Acceleration in the model I tested, the 1.6 e-HDi, is smooth and quick, like snowboarding through very, very soft butter and just as enjoyable to drive. I found no lag with the acceleration that can be a complaint with a diesel engine.

The colour options may not please the 'yoof' market fashioned as it comes in tones of grey, white and black with a Rioja Red, a Twilight Blue and a Rich Oak nudging the palette away from purely monotone, but I find it refreshing that Peugeot is confident enough in the car to not rely on a huge range of bright colours. It feels grown-up in a good way.

What is impressive is the amount of kit that comes as standard. The model I tested came with LED daytime running lights, an electric handbrake, pear parking sensors, auto headlights and wipers and an electric lumbar support for the driver. It also came with the option to upgrade to 17" Rubis alloys. And for £17,645 on the road, that's an impressive amount of car.

Fast facts:

Peugeot 308

Model tested: Active 1.6 e-HDi 115 6-speed manual stop-start

Engine: 1,560cc

Price of model tested: £17,645 OTR

Range starts at: 12,916.50

Max speed: 121mph

0-62mph: 10.2 secs

fuel efficiency

urban: 67.3 mpg

extra urban: 85.6 mpg

combined: 76.3 mpg

CO2 emissions: 95 g/km