The Peugeot 308 and its estate sibling, the 308 SW, have had a facelift, and let me reassure you right off the bat: this isn’t some half-hearted spruce-up with a few chrome strips slapped on for show. No, the French have given their compact mid-ranger a proper kick up the backside, with a sharper look, a slightly beefier battery, and a few clever tweaks that make you wonder why every carmaker doesn’t do this. Let’s dive in, with the flair this car deserves, but without the usual fluff you find in press releases.
First, that new face. The 308 sports a front end that looks like it’s been hitting the gym for a few weeks. Bigger air intakes, which not only look tough but also channel airflow to the wheel arches for better aerodynamics. That’s tech-speak for “it slips through the wind a bit easier.” The headlights have gone subtler, tucked into the bumper as if they’re shy about being seen when they’re not lit up. Above it all sits the Peugeot logo, now illuminated, like some proud Gallic badge shouting, “Yeah, I’m French, so what?” The daytime running lights have been slimmed down to sleek lines above the grille, and at the rear, all models now get those slanted LED strips that were once reserved for the pricier trims. New wheels – 17-inch for the GT, 18-inch for the GT Exclusive – round off the exterior. It’s not a revolution, but it’s like the 308 has put on a new suit and carries it off damn well.
Inside, things are a touch more understated but still worth a look. The digital dashboard now boasts 3D graphics that look like they’re straight out of a sci-fi flick, and the infotainment system has been freshened up with some extra connectivity. Don’t expect a massive Tesla-style screen; it’s still a modest 10 inches, which, frankly, feels a bit small in 2025. But those i-Toggles, the little customizable buttons under the screen, remain a stroke of ergonomic genius. New fabrics, some ambient lighting in trendy colors, and a three-part rear seat for the SW (giving you 1,487 liters of boot space) make the interior a bit more practical and pleasant. Oh, and there’s an electric tailgate for the lazy – and let’s be honest, who isn’t?
But the real fireworks are under the hood, or rather, in the battery. The fully electric E-308 has had an upgrade that makes it a bit more serious. The battery’s grown from 50.8 kWh to 55.4 kWh, bumping the range from 416 to 450 kilometers on the WLTP cycle. It’s not a Tesla-killer, but it’s enough to get you from Brussels to Amsterdam without sweating over a flat battery. The electric motor stays at 156 hp, fine for daily driving, but nobody’s calling this a rocket on wheels. Fast charging hits 100 kW, which is decent, and there’s now V2L tech, so you can plug in your coffee machine at a festival car park. The plug-in hybrid version, with a 17.2 kWh battery and 195 hp, offers up to 85 kilometers of electric range, perfect for those not quite ready to ditch the petrol pump. For the old-school crowd, there’s still a 1.2 Hybrid with 145 hp and even a 1.5 BlueHDi diesel with 130 hp, because apparently, some folks still swear by diesel.
Pricing? Nothing official yet, but the rumor mill suggests the 308 and 308 SW won’t cost much more. And that’s good news, because Peugeot has already shown they can make a car that looks good, drives well, and doesn’t bankrupt you. It’s not a car that sets your pulse racing like an old rally machine, but it does what it needs to with a dose of French charm and a sprinkle of practical magic.
For those ready to go fully electric, head to our marketplace, where you’ll find a wide selection of 100% electric cars. Check out the range at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/ and find the EV that suits you.
