It has changed little, but changed well. The Peugeot 308 2026 is its most complete ever.

It has changed little, but changed well. The Peugeot 308 2026 is its most complete ever.

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The Peugeot 308 continues its successful run. It has been one of Portugal’s best-selling cars in its segment for four years, and it has every chance of remaining so. Or almost every chance… because the arrival of the 2026 version has improved everything except its price.

Part of the reason for that price rise sits beneath the bonnet. Every engine has been electrified. Even the new 1.2 Turbo engine is now a 48 V mild hybrid - in other words, a fully petrol-powered engine given a small boost from an electric motor to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

That electrification, combined with the automatic gearbox, has pushed the price of this model up substantially. As we explain in this video, there are further reasons for the increase, some of which are very familiar to us:

These changes have undeniably made the Peugeot 308 better. That goes some way towards offsetting the higher price.

For this first test, we will focus specifically on the 1.2 Turbo mild-hybrid version, which has the potential to become Portugal’s best seller. The fully electric and plug-in hybrid versions will have to wait for another occasion. Hatchback or estate? The choice is yours.

New year, new face

Telling the Peugeot 308 2026 apart from its predecessor will not be difficult, as its front end is completely new. The lighting now has a split arrangement, with the light signature positioned at the top and running across the full width, while even the badge is now backlit.

Elsewhere, only the wheels have changed. On the GT version I tested, they are 18-inch items fitted with low-profile tyres - I was concerned that comfort might suffer, but it did not.

Inside the Peugeot 308, the changes are more restrained. The i-Cockpit remains the defining feature, and one that continues to divide… opinion. It has won me over from the start, although I recognise that not everyone will adapt to this unusual layout.

Otherwise, it remains what it was before: one of the segment’s most robustly built and well-finished models, with carefully chosen materials, plenty of room - for both passengers and luggage - and one of the most comprehensive standard-equipment offerings.

Changes you cannot see

There are further updates to the Peugeot 308 2026, although they are hidden beneath the bonnet. All powertrains are now electrified - either partially or fully - but the main focus must be the unit I drove in the video above: the 145 hp Hybrid.

It is the entry-level powertrain - despite what its name might suggest, it is a 48 V mild hybrid - and it is likely to be the choice most Portuguese buyers make. It uses a 1.2 Turbo petrol engine, but there is no need for concern: it is not a PureTech. It therefore has no oil-bathed timing belt, instead gaining a timing chain - an important change, not least for buyers’ peace of mind.

Its 145 hp output is achieved with the assistance of a small electric motor producing 29 hp and 50 Nm. That may not sound like much, but it helps cut emissions by 17 g/km and reduce fuel consumption by almost one litre per 100 km. The benefits can be even greater in urban driving, where up to 50% of journeys are powered solely by the electric motor.

A winning formula needs no more than minor changes

On the road, the updated Peugeot 308 remains true to itself: predictable, solid, stable, comfortable and sufficiently dynamic, particularly in this range-topping GT specification. The 18-inch wheels and low-profile tyres contribute greatly to that, yet they still provide good family-friendly comfort. After all, this model was “educated” in the French school.

The Hybrid 145 may be the least powerful engine in the range, but I never felt it lacked performance, despite having only a small 1.2 Turbo ahead of me. It will not win any traffic-light races, but it carries out its role effectively, even with the car loaded with passengers and luggage.

The new engine is also more pleasant to use than the previous one, with the dual-clutch automatic gearbox - the only transmission available - playing its part in that improvement.

What I could not assess during this first drive on Portuguese roads was fuel consumption - for that, we will need to wait for a longer test. The brand quotes just 5.0 l/100 km on the combined WLTP cycle (for the 308 SW), an excellent figure that I would like to put to the test.

It is more expensive, but there are reasons why

The Peugeot 308 2026 may not look dramatically different, but it has changed considerably where it cannot be seen - and where it is felt most sharply, in the wallet: the price has risen significantly. The entry-level version costs more than €6,000 more than its predecessor, with prices starting from €33,535 for the Hybrid 145 Style.

Excessive? Perhaps. But the entry-level version is no longer what it once was: the purely combustion-powered engine with a manual gearbox has been left behind, replaced by an electrified (mild-hybrid) powertrain paired exclusively with a dual-clutch gearbox. That alone accounts for several thousand euros of the increase.

It also comes with more standard equipment, both for comfort and technology, because the range now begins with the Style trim rather than the former Active grade, which has been discontinued. Not even the 15% cut in emissions, which reduces the impact of Portugal’s outdated vehicle taxation, has managed to narrow the price gap.

In the case of the GT version I tested, the highest trim level, the price comes uncomfortably close to €40,000. That is a great deal of money, but it leaves virtually nothing on the options list.

For companies and sole traders, it may make more sense to choose the 308 Plug-in Hybrid 195, with up to 85 km of range, or the E-308, with up to 450 km, which are more expensive still but bring several tax advantages, including VAT recovery in the case of the electric model.

Verdict