Drive Review: Peugeot 308 GT Line Automatic

It has been a long wait for those wanting a Peugeot 308 with an automatic gearbox but now our prayers have been partially answered. I say partially because of the five Peugeot 308 variants currently on sale in South Africa, only the 1.2-litre GT Line is available with the six-speed automatic gearbox. This combination does however help Peugeot cover most bases without needing to divide its models into even smaller shares.

For an extra R15 000 over the manual equivalent, you get a car that feels nearly as energetic for a lot less effort. The rest of the Peugeot 308 GT Line auto is a facsimile of chic styling, taut proportions and outstanding build quality wherever you look. Large alloys, detailed light clusters and tasteful chrome garnish create an impression of a car that is lavishly equipped.

With a 1.2-litre capacity split across three cylinders and turbo charged, the 308 GT Line automatic is a willing performer and this multiple Engine of the Year winner remains smooth with this latest drivetrain pairing.  With 96kW and 240Nm fed through six ratios you get a fine balance between peppy performance and fuel consumption – our model averaged around 8l/100km.

Thumbing the Sport button immediately injects a bit more fizz into proceedings with a sharper throttle response but the gearbox is not designed to deliver thumping changes so it still slurs between cogs in a fairly docile manner. It’s never troublesome or really noticeable but Volkswagen’s dual clutch gearbox is the more decisive of the two. The Peugeot 308 is blessed with a fun chassis and we’re particularly fond of the steering accuracy just off the centre mark, although there’s not much meaningful weight behind it.

Our initial musings about Peugeot’s i-Cockpit haven’t changed; we still find it irritating that all the features need to be handled through the centre touch screen. Tapping the climate control button takes about three times longer than a conventional rotary switch and you do find yourself having to stretch for those buttons located down the left hand side – all the important ones as it so happens. The graphics are a tad basic and the interface can be laborious but it shouldn’t detract from the excellent materials and premium build quality that surrounds you. With the 308 GT Line you get electrically adjustable seats finished in Alcantara and they definitely are well suited to the South African climate.

Automatic gearboxes are the preferred choice in this segment and its benefits can’t be over stated. Sometimes the simplest thing can transform a car’s appeal and we believe that is the case here; now the Peugeot 308 GT Line can compete in a far larger end of the market.