Road TestCar reviews - Peugeot - 308 - XSE HDi TouringPeugeot modelsOverviewPeugeot's diesel-powered 308 Touring ticks all the right boxes for the modern family21 Nov 2008 By CHRIS HARRIS PERFECTLY timed during an era of rising fuel costs and conscious carbon emissions, Peugeot’s 308 Touring is once again pitched as an upmarket alternative to thirsty SUVs and boxy MPVs. It is big – and clever – from the inside, yet small and maneuverable from the outside, while ticking all the right boxes for many families. So we threw in five noisy adults, two large and impatient dogs and some luggage into the range-topping XSE HDi to see how it copes with modern life. Powered by an unassuming 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine teamed with a slick six-speed automatic, this fully laden outing proved an effortless task for the Pug. We were impressed. Model release date: 1 August 2008 to 1 October 2014 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelJOINING a growing market segment of small cars to offer seven seats (such as Holden’s European-built Zafira), the 307 Touring offered clever interior packaging and seating flexibility without the sheer bulkiness and fuel appetite of a full-size SUV. Power came from an eight-valve 2.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 66kW and 205Nm (matched exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission) or a 16-valve 2.0-litre petrol unit offering 100kW and 190Nm, with either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual. May 2005 saw a welcome revision with new-generation turbo-diesel engines. The 1.6- and 2.0-litre engines (the latter exclusive to the Touring) were cleaner and offered more performance as well as improved fuel economy. In October 2005, the 307 gained revised interior and exterior styling (including Peugeot’s signature gaping bumper-level air intake), more standard equipment and the availability of two automatic HDi models. |
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