Peugeot, though absent from the American market, is one of the most successful brands in Europe, and it looks like this year’s 308 is one of their best models yet. Read on to see why the 308 was nominated for the prestigious 2022 Car of the Year Award in Europe.
The French automaker, Peugeot merged with Fiat Chrysler in 2021 to form the new Stellantis Automotive Company. The new global conglomerate includes car brands from countries all over Europe.
Under Stellantis, Peugeot has continued working on its own brand, and this year their 308 model is up for a 2022 Car of the Year Award. What does the 308 offer and who else is competing against it?
How Peugeot came to be one of Europe's best automakers
states that Peugeot originally started out in 1810 as a steel foundry that produced non-vehicle products, like coffee grinders and umbrella frames.
It wasn't until 1889 that its first vehicle was introduced, which happened to be a steam-powered three-wheeler. One year later, though, the manufacturer dropped steam for gas and built a four-wheeled car instead.
The brand's first mass-produced vehicle came in 1929, which was the 201. That was the start of Peugeot's numbered system for its models, consisting of three numbers and a zero in the middle—a practice that continues today.
The brand continued to build vehicles over the years, making a few that would ultimately become classics later on. Some of them are even in car museums, like the 1914 L45 model. These days, it's one of the best-selling vehicles in the European market.
The 308 comes in a hatchback version, the SW Estate (station wagon), or the new plug-in hybrid model.
On the interior, you get the i-Cockpit system that includes a 10-inch touchscreen with the brand's i-Toggle shortcut buttons for ease of control. An unusually shaped steering wheel that, according to
, looks like a TIE fighter spacecraft from Star Wars.
There are a few different powertrains offered with the 308. You can choose a 1.2-liter PureTech 130 or the 1.5-liter Blue HDi diesel engine. With the Hybrid model, you get a 1.6-liter gas engine paired with an 81 kW electric motor.
When it comes to acceleration, the Hybrid model wins out with a time of 8 seconds on a 0-to-62 run. The 1.2-liter PureTech engine can do the same run in 10 seconds.
What other vehicles are up for Car of the Year in Europe?
Winners will be announced in Geneva, Switzerland and online on February 28th, 2022.
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