Australian pricing and specification of the 2023 Peugeot 308 hatch and wagon has been confirmed by the French brand’s local arm, with an entry price to the range that’s now well into premium territory.
With four main variants across the range confirmed for Australia, three hatches and a wagon, the Peugeot 308 kicks off at $43,990 before on-road costs, which is a hefty $9000 more than it did when it was last on sale back in early 2021.
The entry point to the range is the 308 GT hatch, which means the higher pricing comes with higher spec. No rental car specials here.
Where pricing for the range will top out however isn’t clear yet – the pricing and details for the much-hyped 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid Hatch are yet to be confirmed, as Peugeot plans to launch its first electrified 308 in the first half of next year.
For now, opting for the entry 308 GT means buyers will score a more highly specified hatch than before. Peugeot’s new i-Cockpit system and 10.0-inch multimedia screen replace an ageing system as part of an overall tech overhaul.
The 308 scores LED headlights and taillights, while the safety suite includes things like rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control across the range, with blind-spot monitoring too.
The shared drivetrain for all three non-PHEV variants is a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine making 96kW of power and 230Nm of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Moving up to the 308 GT Premium Hatch will cost $48,990, but nets the addition of leather seating, heated seats for the front occupants with an electric driver’s seat, while the sound system is upgraded to a Focal 10-speaker system.
A set of matt black 18-inch wheels also become part of the package, as does a panoramic sunroof.
On the safety front the 308 GT Premium adds a surround-view monitor, as well as “semi-autonomous” lane positioning assist.
The GT Premium Wagon (pictured below) gets the same features at a slightly higher $50,490 price, though details will be confirmed at the 308 launch before the end of 2022.
Finally, due next year is the Peugeot 308 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid Hatch, which has no locked price yet – we’d expect significantly more than the non-hybrid 1.2-litre engine versions.
This is because not only does the PHEV have an 81kW electric motor, but also a larger 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which alone makes 132kW. Total output is 165kW and 360Nm.
With a higher entry point to the range, and therefore higher pricing, it’s clear Peugeot isn’t looking for big sales figures here. The most recent peak of sales the 308 had in Australia was 2015, the first full year of sales for the previous generation.
Since then, sales dipped into the three figures, selling just 374 cars in 2019.
Keep an eye out for further local details of the incoming Peugeot 308 closer to its local launch later this year.
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