First Drive: Peugeot 308When Peugeot brought out the current 307, it was welcomed with open arms by the public and the press alike. It received plaudits aplenty, including the coveted car of the year title for Europe in 2002.
Then things started to go wrong. A series of recalls dented the image not only of the 307, but of the brand itself, to such a degree that a car once lauded as a potential challenger against the dominance of the Ford Focus slithered down the sales tables.
Just like certain stock market shares of late, it went from hero to - if not quite zero, then off the top ranks of the family hatchback segment - within several months.
The truth was that it suffered some faults that were quickly ironed out, and after the initial phase the car was back to a decent reliability record. Its reputation, however, never recovered from the initial hit. Yet the strengths of the model that won it such initial plaudits were never really a part of the recall issues.
So, it's hardly surprising that Peugeot has opted to build on those strengths rather than start on the new 308 from scratch. Other firms have done the same, but with far less to work with.
What the French firm has undoubtedly done is make every part going into this new model as solid and reliable as possible. Just like the "new" Renault Laguna, it has gone back to the drawing board with several established concepts and ideas that worked well with the first model, while scrapping the parts that didn't cut muster. The end result is a car that is well worth a test drive for those seeking a family hatchback.
The look has been updated to bring it into line with the rest of the range, including a larger body and a more prominent badge.
The bad news is the car - just like the supposedly smaller 207 - has got heavier. The good news is that while the big fish-mouthed grille doesn't sit well on the new 207, it looks right on the 308. Similarly the large body doesn't seem too big for the chassis on which the car sits. Unlike the 207, the proportions, for once, are right for a Peugeot.
Even though it looks big on the outside, the interior is still surprisingly spacious, helped in part by the deep windscreen and low-set dash that give really impressive visibility from all seats in the car. Compared to several of its rivals, the driver gets a great view of the road ahead and the overall fit and finish is really impressive for its class. The soft-touch plastics are of a quality that makes the rest of the Peugeot range seem rather ordinary. It certainly puts the entry-level interiors from rivals such as the VW Golf into perspective.
Admittedly it still features those awkward and fiddly controls on the central console, but you're more willing to forgive them, due to the overall effect. Owners be warned, however: be sure that steering wheel controls are fitted as standard on your model, for the sake of your sanity.
The best news, however, is that Peugeot's engineers have honed the suspension to be one of the most adept in its class. While the Ford Focus remains the most agile in the hatchback market, the 308 comes closest of the new arrivals to mimicking its ability. We tested it over both motorway and rutted roads and found it pliant on all surfaces.
While it may not offer the sort of pin-point accuracy of the Ford Focus or VW Golf, for those who put comfort above agility it is a serious challenger.
The test car we drove had 16" alloys, and those are the preferred wheels for owners in Ireland. Any bigger and the car starts to lose its suppleness.
And it's this trait that is the reason we like the 308.
What Peugeot has managed to do is close the agility gap slightly on the likes of the Focus and VW Golf, without compromising on its comfort rating.
The end result means that passengers won't complain about the ride while the person behind the wheel can still enjoy the drive.
We have to admit, we didn't come to the 308 with a lot of confidence. Our dominant memory of the outgoing model was a car that flattered to deceive.
Just to be sure, we took out the Toyota Auris, Kia C'eed, Fiat Bravo and Nissan Tiida on back-to-back tests against the 308.
AFTER A LONG DAY'S DRIVING, the 308 won the battle and that's perhaps the greatest plaudit the new car can receive. Where the outgoing model could be choppy on back roads, the new car is agile and yet able to cushion occupants from the worst excesses of poor road surfaces.
The 1.6-litre 110bhp diesel was also the most pliant to our driving conditions, offering plenty of torque for take-off, but with ample soundproofing. All round, the car won us over. That was an impressive feat, for when we arrived to test it, the memories of upset customers loomed large.
The downside to the 308 is that it's big and heavy. However, both the 1.6-litre engines - in petrol and diesel format - are up to the task at hand. The petrol engine is the same unit created in partnership with BMW that features in the current Mini range, but it's the diesel 1.6-litre that we found the most impressive.
It comes in two formats, and though we only got a chance to drive the 110bhp, given the extra weight we would steer away from the 90bhp version. A diesel hybrid is due in 2010.
The 308 might not be able to topple the Ford Focus or VW Golf in terms of driving dynamics, but it traded that against a very comfortable ride quality and a premium-level interior trim that will keep every occupant in the car content.
Peugeot are back in the serious reckoning for the family hatchback market: something we didn't expect to be writing before we got behind the wheel.
Engines: Two petrol engines: both 1.6-litre in either 150bhp or 120bhp format. Three diesel variants: 2-litre 136bhp or 1.6-litre in either 110bhp or 90bhp
Arriving: At dealers this month
Prices: Starting at €20,000 for the entry-level three-door S model. A 5-dr 1.6-litre HDi 90bhp will come in at just under €23,500