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Peugeot models, news & reviews
2
Handling
Performance
3
Usability
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
2.5
By Glen Waddington
First Drives
20 February 2009 11:00
Back in 2000, there were only two coupe-cabrios, and the Peugeot 206CC was one of them. Now there are 14 and Peugeot continues to lead the market by building two. The 308CC is the latest, taking over from the old 307, and acting as bigger brother to the baby 207CC – which outsells the second best-selling VW Eos across Europe by nearly 60%.
The new car is based on the sub-structure of the 308 hatch, with a cross-braced floorpan and strengthened sills to compensate for the electric folding hardtop. Rigidity is up by 8% over the 307, the roof will fold in 20sec at speeds up to 7.5mph (so you can tan in dense traffic) and the seats incorporate an ‘Airwave’ neck heater, as well as integrated head airbags.
Prices will start at around £19k when the 308CC goes on UK sale in March. We drove the 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel in best-selling SE trim (around £21,500), and the 148bhp 1.6 petrol turbo in top GT trim (£23,000). A 110bhp 1.6 diesel and 118bhp petrol will follow.
You might not be surprised to hear that Peugeot expects the majority to be private sales to female empty-nesters. And I think they’re going to like it. Safety and comfort have been prioritised (the CC scored a 5-star NCAP rating in the outgoing tests), so all models come with a head airbag integrated into the head restraint – a world first. Like in the 307CC, there are pop-up roll-over bars hidden in the rear head restraints too.
Peugeot has followed Mercedes’ lead in making sure your head and neck stay warm when you’re driving roof-down: the ‘Airwave’ is a vent in the seat at neck height that spews out warm air. It’s standard on the top-spec GT, and optional (packaged with leather trim) on the mid-range SE (expected to take 60% of sales).
One thing those empty-nesters need to bear in mind. If they’re thinking of trucking the grandkids about, better make sure they’re not of the lanky kind. Peugeot claims the 308CC is a genuine four-seater, but with the driving seat set for me (a stumpy 5ft 10in tall), the rear seat was hardly spacious: my knees were splayed and my head cranked forward. Lots of glass arcing over me too, thankfully athermically tinted.
>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Peugeot 308CC first drive
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Peugeot 308CC 2.0 HDi (2009) CAR review
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georgios1976 says
RE: Peugeot 308CC 2.0 HDi (2009) CAR review
Well... This is not a Peugeot after all! No handling, no steering feel, no finesse on motorway speeds. It looks awful too, cheap, very much unlike the stylish Peugeots of the 90's. A truly wasted effort, only to be appreciated by the clueless, who will no doubt buy this rubbish by the bucketload... And usually pay over the odds for the privilege!
21 February 2009 10:35
dzynrs says
I've got nothing against ugly cars (I once had an Citroen Ami)but to me the front end of the 308 seems to be trying too many things at once, a profusion of details that just makes it look a mess. It reminds me a bit of 70s Datsuns and Toyotas in the way that their detailing seemed at odds with the line of the car. At least as a whole the CC looks better than the hatch, however that's not saying much.
21 February 2009 09:36
ronwhite says
The great tragedy of Peugeot is that, with the advent of the 307, it completely abandoned the understated style which characterized so many of its post war models (with no small thanks to Sr Farina). Why on earth anyone, let alone a stylish empty nester, would want to be seen in this latest gum chewing lash up is beyond me. But then, there's no accounting for taste. Evidently there are some well heeled empty nesters who are seduced by the Lexus SC.
21 February 2009 09:09
Robby1977 says
Mirror mirror on the wall, Who's the fairest of them all? The mirror laughed and gave a shrug, It isn't you, you ugly Pug!
20 February 2009 21:30
philj says
If you're an empty nester save money & buy a Mazda MX5 the grandkids can go with their parents!
20 February 2009 15:41
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