Peugeot 308

The French manufacturer bursts out of the gates with a five-door hatchback that aims to steal thunder from VW Golf, Ford Focus and Skoda Octavia. The 308 has a range of engine options, including 1.2-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel, and two plug-in hybrids, one of which produces 222bhp (brake horsepower – a measurement of how rapidly the car’s engine canwork), and covers up to 37 miles of electric-only driving.

Inside the vehicle, an infotainment system is presented on a 10-inch digital panel, which passengers can navigate via shortcut buttons. Settings can be customised to your specific needs  – whether you want to set the sat nav to direct you toward the local supermarket, tune the radio to a specific station, or switch on the air conditioning at full blast.

The 308 has space for junk in the trunk. Its 470-litre is a palatial mansion compared to the bedsit boot of the VW Golf or Ford Focus. An all-electric model is due to follow in 2023.

See the full feature in the current issue of Hot Press – out now: