The e-308 takes the third-generation 308’s interior wholesale, the regular hatchback itself having been introduced only in 2021. It has quite a boldly sculpted fascia dominated by a central touchscreen infotainment system, with the car’s primary control layout conforming to Peugeot’s i-Cockpit ergonomic regime (which makes for a small, low-sprouting steering wheel, a high-set digital instrument pack and a driver’s seat positioned so you can see the latter over the upper edge of the former’s rim).
Even lower-tier, Allure-trim cars get Peugeot’s impressive i-Connect 10in touchscreen infotainment system, with its driver-selectable i-Toggle shortcut controls. Allowing you to set your own quick-access permanent menu shortcuts for things like navigation, audio and driver assistance functions, these are a great aid to usability.
Driver comfort is good, the quirky control layout working better in the 308 than in other Peugeots, both larger and smaller.
Material quality is high in places, but some harder, cheaper mouldings rob the car of a really consistent high level of fit and finish. On the eye at least, the impression of apparent quality is convincing enough, though.
Second-row space is limited, even by mid-sized hatchback standards, but growing kids or young teenagers would be happy enough back there, and that’s precisely the compact-second-car vibe that Peugeot has always pursued with its Golf rivals.
Boot space is class competitive for the hatchback. There’s 361 litres below the load bay cover, which is acceptable, but it’s smaller than in the ICE version.
The figure rises to 505 litres for the longer-wheelbase e-308 SW estate. Once again, this is smaller than in the ICE equivalent, but it is usefully larger than the boot found in the MG 5.