Faults:

The chain tends to stretch or loosen.

The high-pressure pump fails frequently. It causes a loss of power and triggers the check engine light on the dashboard.

Small leaks of coolant or oil from gaskets, hoses, or the thermostat housing are common.

Due to the direct-injection system, the intake valves accumulate carbon deposits, requiring cleaning at specific mileage intervals.

General Comments:

The best thing about the car is its excellent ride, a hallmark of Peugeots, which in this case combines all the strengths of its predecessors.

You get decent equipment for a modest price, even though the luxurious-looking 16-inch alloy wheels and chrome fog lights aren't paired with leather upholstery.

It's packed with innovative technological features, such as class-exclusive full-LED headlights, although, unfortunately, it lacks a rearview camera—offering only front and rear parking sensors instead.

It also comes standard with a large color touchscreen featuring internet access, 6.9 GB of internal music storage, and satellite navigation. Operation is simple and intuitive; however, the absence of dedicated physical climate control buttons means that changing radio stations or adjusting fan speed via the touchscreen may require multiple taps.

The screen is one of the many highlights of the Peugeot 308, which, despite being the lightest car in its class, boasts a superb interior finish and feels well-built.

It offers a calm and quiet driving experience. The small three-cylinder turbo engine is undoubtedly the quietest in its class, delivering exceptional smoothness and a subtle, distinctive growl under acceleration. Road noise levels are also remarkably low, even on coarse gravel surfaces.

It's evident that the suspension does not have to bear much weight, as the 308 offers excellent control on uneven roads despite its apparent softness.

Thanks also to steering that is quick and effortless, as well as precise and engaging, the 308 feels more agile than any other Peugeot compact.

At any speed and in any setting, the engine's agility was evident, thanks to its low weight and good power output. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just under 9 seconds, quite impressive for a car that isn't a sports car.

I think it is very similar to any Golf, Mazda 3, or Corolla, without a doubt, the best French car of recent years. Elegant, well-equipped, smooth, and quiet.

Faults:

Oil and coolant leaks.

Clutch judder.

Timing belt broke, wrote off engine. Scrapped - not worth repairing!

General Comments:

Pug 308 "Pure Tech" has a famous issue - a "wet belt" engine. I of course did not know this before I bought the car a few years ago, but it is a terrible design and leads to belt weakening and eventual breakage.

According to my car's detailed history the belt had been changed before I bought the car. Either this was a lie or it was not done right.

Shame really, as the first year or so I had the car it was fine. Comfortable, modern and economical, it was also pretty good to drive. The 308 is an OK car when it's working!

It's a shame about this terrible engine design. MAYBE I'd buy another - but only one with a better designed engine, shame on the "engineers" who made this. Plenty of videos and information about this engine online nowadays, it is undeniably bad. Avoid at all costs if you hear an engine has a "wet belt". Basically it is what it says it is - the timing belt does get wet with oil! Incredibly stupid!