Written by Ever since the Peugeot 206 arrived on our shores some years back, Malaysians have began to appreciate French masterpieces on wheels. The 206 was dubbed the sexy looking entry-level car in its day and the unveiling of the Peugeot 308 pushes it’s meaning a little further. To me, the car clearly defines aesthetics inside out, no less.
Nasim Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor for Peugeot cars honored me the privilege to play with the Peugeot VTi for a couple of days – three, to be exactt.
A recommended fashion accessory for women, really
It can be puzzling to decipher what category the 308 belongs to. Some might say it’s a crossover and some said it is a hot hatch. I’d like to think the 308 VTi as a beauty with a touch of sport.
What I loved most about the car was the cockpit. It has got plenty of eye candy which makes one feel getting stuck in a jam isn’t that bad after all. The seating position gives the driver excellent viewing angle compliments to the near panoramic view of its windshield-door window arrangement. Of course, the car was created with women in mind – the driver seat gets a lever for adjusting seat height.
The driver will discover sport inspired hues in the form of the large meter clusters treated with silver linings and a white backlit display. There is lots of chrome finishing around but they don’t make the car look cheap.
It looks much better when night falls, actually
To sweeten the ride experience, a button with a letter “S” near the gear knob is what unleashes the true spirit of the 308. Bear in mind, this is not the Turbo version. Upon hitting the button, the car comes to life as you throttle deeper. It’s not the sort that pushes you into the seat but the light sensation of the car makes you want to put on your racing helmet as you press further.
With 120 horses to stop, the brakes on the Pug are the ones you can really rely on. A light tap on the brake pedal brings the vehicle to a soft halt. Step on further and the brakes bite harder to a complete stop effortlessly. Equipped with ABS and EBD, the 308 provides braking confidence whenever emergencies arise.
There is noise from the 308’s engine bay when hitting the 120km/h mark, or if pedaled hard, and it can be quite worrisome for first time Peugeot car owners. According to Nasim, it is completely normal for French cars to behave such a way. It took a bit of getting used to for me though.
Boot space doesn’t deserve commendation as it is a hatchback, but it gets the job done in fitting approximately two golf bags worth of load.
The 308 comes with an air-conditioned glove box but I don’t really see the point of it as it was not cold enough to chill my mineral water bottle. Maybe if you want to store a few cans of Carlberg in it wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.
The RM99,888 (on the road with insurance) is not a high price to pay if you like to be seen. Backed by a 3-years warranty, you can be sure peace of mind and all that glamour of driving the Pug.
Stocks are available, depending on colours. And now with the Hari Raya celebrations nearing, you can get a RM1000 petrol voucher and a RM500 Jusco shopping voucher when you book the 308 VTi now.
To test drive, type TEST DRIVE 308 and send to 0162054088 for an appointment. Don’t forget to state your name and location too.
And oh, the 308 Turbo with panoramic glass roof, is also available for test drive as well.
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