The majority of 308 grades are powered by a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine delivering 96kW of power and 230Nm of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels only. The GT Sport PHEV Hatch uses a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired with a li-ion battery and single electric motor for a combined output of 132kW and 250Nm.

The 308's interior is headlined by Peugeot's 'i-cockpit' which features a low-set, small steering wheel, instruments positioned close to the driver's hands and a a digital instrument cluster that sits above the rim of the steering wheel. The seats are comfortable and as well as having plenty of space up front, there is a surprising amount of space in the second row, even for adult passengers. The cabin has a premium look and feel in every model grade, thanks to high-end materials and a sense of quality. The digital multimedia system is not straightforward and takes some time to get used to but the rest of the digital instruments are top notch.

All 308 grades have an extensive safety features list including auto emergency braking (AEB) with low light pedestrian and cyclist detection, a forward collision warning, multi-collision braking, long-range blind spot detection, lane departure warning, lane positioning assist, driver attention alert and more.

It also comes with keyless entry and start, proximity key, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, automatic dual-zone air conditioning, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, paddle shifters, 10-inch touchscreen with 3D sat-nav, DAB digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ambient lighting, leather steering wheel, power-folding and heated door mirrors, acoustic glass, and a body-coloured rear spolier.

The 308 is a five-seater in both hatch and wagon guise. The rear seats can be folded 60/40 and it folds flat. in all but the GT Hatch the front seats are heated and have a massage function. The driver's seat is power adjustable in all but the GT Hatch. While the GT Hatch has Alcantara seats, the rest of the range has Nappa full-grain leather trim.

The GT and GT Premium Hatch cover the 0-100km/h dash in 9.7 seconds, the GT Premium Wagon in 9.9sec and the GT Sport PHEV Hatch in 7.5sec.

The theoretical driving range for the petrol 308s, which have a fuel use figure of 5.3L and a 52-litre fuel tank, is 981km.