Fore! The Peugeot 308 GT Is A Driving Machine

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby explore the Algarve in the Peugeot 308 GT.

Test Drive: Peugeot 308 GT

Jeremy: They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. But if the vagrancies of the British winter are simply too much to bear, grab your passport and book a budget airline seat to the Algarve.

The winter months are best for avoiding the crowds on Portugal’s sunshine coast – everything is cheaper, including car hire. Chances are you will be handed the keys to a popular Peugeot 308, a hatchback with enough panache to rival old favourites like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.

Peugeot’s i-Cockpit display is very contemporary.

While the family hatchback market has been overtaken by SUVs, the sporty 308 has plenty in its favour – not least a smattering of French flair missing from key rivals. Check out the slimline LED headlights and ‘go-faster’ bodywork.

Our GT version adds a smaller steering wheel and larger 18-inch alloy wheels, which gives this 308 a more aggressive edge. Peugeot’s i-Cockpit display is linked to a 10-inch infotainment screen that boasts a very contemporary look.

Our destination is Vilamoura, a golfing mecca and holiday haven just 40-minutes west of Faro Airport. So close, in fact, that the 308’s three-cylinder, 1.2 engine has barely sipped enough petrol to register on the fuel gauge.

Vilamoura is a golfing mecca.

Victoria Golf Resort & Spa has an underground car park and, for those with an EV, guest chargers too. The Peugeot can’t quite keep up with a brace of McLarens owned by other guests, but it’s smart enough to keep its head above water.

While the Victoria boasts its own championship golf course, designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, the most prestigious venue to tee-off is the nearby Old Course – the Grand Dame of the Algarve. Even if your standard of play is purely pitch and putt like mine, the club offers lessons with a pro and an excellent restaurant.

Around town, the 308 comes into its own, a pleasant mix of comfort and sportiness. There’s not too much body lean on Vilamoura’s many roundabouts and the hatchback is great for tackling a sandy beach road to the Cabana Saas seafood restaurant, a hidden gem in a forest on the outskirts of the resort.

The hatchback is great for tackling a sandy beach road.

As the Mediterranean breeze whips in, the GT model offers heated and electrically adjustable seats as standard, with Peugeot’s Drive Assist Pack adding extra safety features, plus a 360-degree parking camera – great for squeezing into a tight seafront space.

Scooting along the coast road, vibrant Vilamoura stretches inland in all directions. The town has grown to become one of Portugal’s most popular holiday destinations. While yachties can moor up in the luxury marina, the old fishing port offers sandy beaches, fantastic food and, of course, lots of golf.

And if the Victoria hotel’s amazing spa and food doesn’t feel homely enough, Algarve lovers can choose to buy. Luxury Nobilus, a new-build of sustainable luxury properties, is perfect for eco-conscious golfers to park their Peugeot’s too.

The Peugeot 308 GT is smart enough to keep its head above water in Vilmoura’s sea of McLarens.

Jessica: At a squeak over £32,000, the 308 GT is a ‘warm’ hatchback, rather than a thrill-a-minute hot hatch. Stylish with a high-quality interior, this is a practical and cost-effective alternative to the pricier VW Golf. 

Portuguese roads can be a demanding mix of fast motorways and potholed streets. The Peugeot’s agile and light steering made it an engaging drive – far better than mine attempts with a golf on the Vilamoura practise range!

Find out more about the Peugeot 308 GT at peugeot.co.uk

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.