Judged by the norm of the class, the 308 is reasonably spacious, with adequate head- and legroom for four adults, or five at a pinch. The boot, on the other hand, is among the class best at 470 litres. You must take into account the fact that 35 litres of this is in an underfloor storage area, but it’s still good. A low loading sill and a wide opening allow access for large items, while the rear seat backs fold down, giving a maximum load space of 1,309 litres. In addition, there’s a 12-litre cooled glovebox and flip-out cup holder up front, along with door bins that can accommodate a 1.5-litre water bottle.
There are a few ergonomic quirks to be found in the cabin. The strange driving position (you look over the small steering wheel – rather than through it – to see the dials, meaning some drivers will have to set the wheel lower than is comfortable) won’t be to all tastes, and there’s also the fact that pretty much everything (even the air-con) is controlled by the slightly fiddly
touchscreen system, but this does result in a nice clean design for the interior which – along with the impressive standard of materials – helps make the cabin feel sophisticated.
On the road, the 308 feels comfortable enough most of the time, and it’s only on the very worst lumps and bumps that the suspension struggles to cope. You’re only exposed to a very low level of mechanical noise and vibration, too, which also helps make the 308 a very relaxed and civilised car to drive. It’s not the sharpest-feeling car of its type, with quite a bit of body roll, and steering that’s rather numb and slow, but it does feel stable and predictable in the bends.
The sportier GT models have lowered suspension to give sharper responses (and a slightly firmer ride as a result), but again, the remote steering and the body’s reluctance to change direction give the car a slightly languid character. The GTI, however, feels far more connected to the road. The suspension is firmer which brings stricter body control, and the car reacts to steering inputs far quicker than the basic models.