2021 Peugeot 308: 3rd generation — FR
Peugeot introduced the third-generation 308 hatchback in continental Europe during 2021, with an October French market arrival documented by the manufacturer. This is not the second-generation car that was still present in some dealer stock, and it should not be labelled a universally available 2021 UK model: UK order books opened late in 2021 with first deliveries expected in 2022. The new 308 carried Peugeot's revised design language, cockpit displays and infotainment, but its biggest consumer-research challenge is the range of gasoline, diesel and plug-in powertrains offered in different territories.
Documented 2021 market specifications
The following specifications are restricted to the identified market, model-year or sale-year and cited variant. They must not be applied to an unrelated region or trim.
- FR · Hybrid 180 / Hybrid 225: 1.6 L gasoline plug-in hybrid; e-EAT8; FWD; test: WLTP figures vary by homologation
Powertrain and model-year differences
The launch programme included plug-in hybrid systems marketed as Hybrid 180 and Hybrid 225, based on a 1.6-litre gasoline engine and an electric motor driving through an e-EAT8 automatic transmission. Peugeot's UK specifications for those versions cite a 12.4 kWh battery; figures published during homologation include ranges that are not directly transferable to every French or British wheel-and-trim combination. No single mixed-cycle number should be assigned to an unspecified 2021 308. The SW estate body deserves a separate article because luggage utility and body dimensions differ materially from the hatchback.
Who should consider it — and who should not
For a buyer in 2026, the regular gasoline or diesel versions are more appropriate to compare with conventional Volkswagen Golf, Opel Astra or Renault Mégane choices. The PHEV makes its best case where daily journeys can be charged routinely; otherwise the extra electric hardware may create complexity without meaningful gasoline savings. The cockpit's compact steering-wheel and elevated instrument arrangement is ergonomically divisive, so a seated trial matters more than a publicity photograph. The design feels more premium than earlier 308s, but practicality and sightlines remain individual judgments.
Used-buying checks and ownership trade-offs
Verify the actual national sale date, VIN, engine, emissions certificate and electric charging equipment before treating an advertisement as a first-year third-generation 308. Service records should cover both the combustion engine and relevant electrified components on a PHEV. Check trim-dependent infotainment features and any paid services still available, rather than assuming that a newer-generation interface works identically today. Avoid merging the 2021 hatchback with the later UK-delivered SW or the prior 308 simply because the nameplate is unchanged.