Peugeot 308 GTi long-term test review: sibling competition

Our Peugeot 308 GTi 270 is the crème de la crème of the range, but there is a cheaper sibling to consider: the 308 GTi 250.

The 266bhp GTi 270 covers 0-62mph in 6.0sec, versus 6.2sec in the 247bhp GTi 250, and its list price is £28,990 compared with the 250’s £27,290.

The GTi 270 wins hands down on the aesthetics front, ticking far more boxes on the ‘what a hot hatch should look like’ list than the 250. As for equipment, our 270 has 19in ‘Carbone’ alloy wheels, while the standard 250 gets 18in ‘Diamant’ alloys (although our 250 test car had the 19s fitted as an £675 option).

Our car gets GTi bucket seats with red stitching and Peugeot Sport branding. The 250 has sports-style seats with no Peugeot Sport logos, although I hardly noticed the difference. Other additions for the 270 are red brake calipers with 380mm front discs and a limited-slip diff.

So how noticeable are the changes behind the wheel? The most immediate contrast is the considerable extra poke in the 270. The 250 certainly isn’t slow, but even below 2000rpm it feels notably less potent than its big brother.

The absence of the diff on the 250 makes for a less taxing experience, with less torque steer. In many ways, the 250 makes more sense, because it’s a little bit more relaxed. But the diff is well suited to the 270, pulling you towards the apex in a corner. By comparison, the 250 is more inclined to understeer. True, you need to be going for it to really appreciate the extra agility and traction provided by the diff, but in a car designed for press-on driving, the higher level of cornering ability counts for a lot.

So if it were my money, I’d go for the 270. If you want a fast, goodlooking Peugeot, the 250 will do just fine. But if you’re a driver looking for that final 4-5%, you’ll appreciate the 270 more. The extra power and focus and beefier looks make it worth the extra £1700. And the sales figures agree: three-quarters of UK 308 GTi buyers opt for the 270.

PEUGEOT 308 GTI 270

Price £28,990 Price as tested £29,320 Economy 35.4mpg Faults None Expenses None Last seen 24.8.16

Read our previous reports:

First report 

Versatile hot hatch

One tough hot hatch