FRENCH POLISH

The family hatchback market is hotly contested. Peugeot's 308 is the latest entrant to the sector, how will it stack up in 1.6-litre VTi petrol guise? Jon Elliott finds out.

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On open roads, the drive is utterly tactile; you can feel enough, yet not so much that it becomes tiresome, the steering is responsive and there is plenty of feel through the wheel. So much so in fact that the 308 manages to gain your trust almost immediately. The front of the car always seems to go where you point it, feeling well and truly stuck to the tarmac. In truth, Peugeot hatches have always managed to do this and this characteristic is carried on in the 308.

Overall, the ride is impressive. The 308 doesn't feel too much like a hatch as it soaks up bumps and camber changes in the road with ease. It may come as a shock to some, but this car is really pretty good. It seems to do all things well, rather than exceeding at any one facet at the expense of another.

The driving position seemed excellent for my tall frame. You could argue the A pillar gets in the way a little, and somewhat disconcertingly I did find the apex disappearing from view while navigating a roundabout. Otherwise though, it's as impressive to live in as it is to drive. The seats are comfy, offering just enough stability, and they're fully adjustable too. There is a real air of space in the car; the driver never feeling cramped or confined when behind the wheel.

There's also plenty of places for your bits and pieces in side pockets and alike, although some of the glove box space has been stolen by the airbag. The interior plastics are solid, and there is no excess of joins that creak as you go round a bend. Another surprise is the rear leg room, which, while not excessive, is more than enough when your likely passengers are the kids. The boot is also large enough for most, although I would fear for a mother with buggies and shopping to transport. There is though, seven airbags to keep everyone safe. Bodyshape choice currently runs between three and five-door hatchbacks, plus an SW estate version with the option of a third row of seats.

The 308 is in no way awash with gizmos and gadgets to keep the ardent techie nut amused. It does though offer a compelling argument with a concise range of trim levels available. The 1.6 S includes Air Conditioning, a CD player, electric mirrors and electric front windows. The car can be tailored further though with all manner of options available, the pick of which should prove to be the panoramic roof which can be specified throughout the range.

If you desire a higher level specification on the 1.6-litre petrol VTi variant we're looking at here, then the SE version brings an extra level of added refinement, crucially offering the panoramic roof option. You'll pay £13,895 for the S and £16,295 for the SE - broadly comparable to rivals like Ford's Focus, Vauxhall's Astra and Renault's Megane.

As you would hope from a 1.6, the engine is economical. The 120bhp unit returns a combined MPG figure of 42.2 and should reach over 50mpg when driven frugally. CO2 emissions in a manual car are rated at 159g/km. Adding to the cost effectiveness, insurance premiums shouldn't scare potential suitors too much, as the 1.6 VTi is rated at just group 6.

Interestingly these statistics are practically identical to that of the equivalent Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, creating an interesting three way battle in the family hatch market, a market mainly utilised by company car owners. The choice therefore, comes down to personal preference or brand loyalty - something Peugeot have a fair proportion of after the good looks and dynamics of some of their previous hatchbacks.

The 308 makes a compelling case for itself here. The 1.6 VTi offers just enough of what potential owners will look for. It's well built, practical and comfortable. As a result, in essence, the 308 epitomises what you would hope to see in a family hatchback. Safe in the knowledge that they know how to build a likeable model of this type, Peugeot have used their skill to excise virtually all the problems that plagued the old 307, now creating a vehicle that unassumingly manages to tick all the right boxes.

The 1.6-litre VTi engine harnesses just enough power to keep it in touch with any rival and is equally at home in town or on a motorway. Overall, the 308 offers a package which is hard to fault and that will undoubtedly leave many buyers rightly feeling smug with their purchase.