We know the big question ringing in your head: Is Peugeot’s latest GTi a vain effort to capture a slice of VW’s pie, or is it a really competent competitor?

Photos: Azfar Hashim

 

It begs this question: does it have what it takes to be a “GTi”? After all, most of us are too used to the German rendition and what it can offer. Which then leads to another question: why call it a GTi?

But before we get all carried away shooting this GTi (yes, with a small ‘i’ to not be confused with the other GTI) down, let’s put this into perspective: a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. Sounds good. 200 bhp and – here’s the better part – all that 275 Nm worth of torque kicking in from as low as 1,700 rpm.

For comparison’s sake, the Golf GTI (yes, the regular variant) has 210bhp and almost similar 280 Nm that also kick in at 1,700rpm. Difference is, the German has a 2.0-litre engine that’s mated to a sophisticated 6-speed DSG ‘box. And it gets to 100km/h faster – 6.9 seconds, compared to the Pug’s 7.7 seconds. Also, at 1,351kg, the GTI is a significant 48kg lighter than the French.

All figures aside between the GTI and GTi, let’s get an answer to the first question earlier: does it have what it takes to be a GTi?

To be honest, it definitely does. Sharing the same mechanicals as the 200 bhp RCZ we reviewed last year, the 308 GTi does feel properly fast. Not only does it catapult you forward to the next traffic light in a jiffy, but you don’t feel any sort of resistance coming from the car – the weight doesn’t bog it down, and the engine does rev all the way to its 6,000 rpm redline willingly. To make it even sweeter, the gear changes from 1 all the way to 5 precisely; the same can be said when you shift it down from 6 back to 3. So far so good...

But the modern fast hatch can’t only be fast; it must rate very well along the expressway too. Surprisingly though, the 308 GTi doesn’t have any problems keeping up with traffic in the fastest lane: better still, shifting from 6 down to 5 isn’t necessary most of the time. Worth mentioning also is the light clutch, pretty similar to that of the Renault Megane RS’s. And that’s a good thing, especially in stop-go peak hour traffic. Another bonus? The rather quiet cabin. Keeping the NVH level low is obviously high up in Peugeot’s list of priority, so much so wind noise only intrudes past 120km/h. The downside? It’s a pretty muted affair, with no engine or exhaust note to accompany you. Now if only they added some sound, like that of the Golf GTI E35’s.

It’s when the road turns twisty that you start to realise some of the 308 GTi’s Achilles heel. At 1,591mm, it’s still considered tall for a GTi (the Golf GTI stands 90mm lower), which did affected its overall handling capabilities; body movements are more pronounced here.

While the steering feels meaty and adequately weighted, feedback isn’t exactly as sharp as you would expect from a fast hatchback – the electro-hydraulic steering can still be tweaked to communicate more with the driver, as it will come across as a tad numb when driven enthusiastically. That said, the 308 GTi feels at home when driven along a set of sweeping bends, and you really need to add more speed just to reach its grip limit.

Grip from the set of 225/40 R-18 Continental ContiSportContact2 rubbers definitely complimented the car, seeing how it doesn’t shriek like an excitable cheerleader until you drive with no safety nanny and under-steer sets in.

In an era of interior, the 308 GTi’s substantial cabin space and airiness are properly matched to the overall modern design. Comfortable sports seats and a full glass roof adds a nice touch for sure. However like the same problem faced by BMW, Audi and VW, the centre console design is starting to feel dated – probably due to the fact that we’re far too familiar with it.

At the rear, three adults will sit comfortably with a good amount of leg, head and shoulder room – one thing that has always been the 308’s forte. Additional air-con vents do come in very useful for our climate.

Peugeot’s 308 GTi is a cracking car. This is a multi-talented car, one of the very best churned out by the company. First and foremost, it’s an easy to operate urban roundabout. Secondly, there is a big cabin with a cavernous boot space, and also controls that are light and easy to operate. Even the low-speed daily driving experience is near painless.

But by the way of a neat party trick, the 308 GTi is also a talented tarmac-gargling hatch that blurs the lines between warm and hot. So while it may not handle as good as the Golf GTI, that asking price and how practicality scores highly, made sure it deserves the 'GTi' suffix.