Review of the new Peugeot 308 Millesim

If, like most of our readers, you're accustomed to regularly partaking of the finest vintage champagne, the term Millesime will be only too familiar. It's the French word for vintage and you'll have seen it on countless bottles of Bollinger and Cristal and probably used it in casual conversation with a number of snooty French wine waiters. Despite the slight spelling error, there's little doubt that Peugeot had the same meaning in mind when it devised these Millesim special edition versions of its 308 hatchback. The cars were introduced to celebrate the French brand's 200th Anniversary, so they should be of a particularly good vintage and a little champagne might well be in order.

Not many companies survive to see their 200th birthday but Peugeot has and who can blame the French manufacturer for wanting to celebrate? The cars of today would have looked completely alien to people in the late 19th century, a time when they were still coming to terms with the steam locomotive, but it was then that the Peugeot family sowed the seeds of its dynasty by going into business producing a range of steel household goods. Two centuries later and that move plus all that has followed is being commemorated by the thoroughly modern Peugeot 308 Millesim special edition. It's a sportier-looking 308 with a number of body styling accessories but the engines are chosen to keep running costs manageable.

The Millesim special edition isn't available with the 308's sexier engines. Instead, it's the less powerful and more environmentally-friendly options that get the nod. The range opens with the 98bhp 1.4-litre VTi petrol unit which is occupied for over 14s getting the 308 to 60mph from a standing start. The 1.6 VTi has 120bhp at its disposal and can cover the 0-60mph sprint in a livelier 10.8s while diesel customers are catered for by two versions of the1.6 HDi engine. The 90bhp model is the most affordable and has a 0-60mph sprint of 14s but substantially more torque than either petrol. Above that is the 110bhp option which produces a 12.7s sprint.

"Peugeot's hatchback is better as a comfortable cruiser than a sporty driver's car"

The 308 doesn't rank amongst the sharpest handling family hatchbacks. You can feel the car's weight, especially with the less powerful engines fitted to the Millesim models. It works best for drivers who prioritise comfort, with the engines remaining hushed and the ride reasonably composed on good roads. The car corners quite neatly, resisting body roll, but its firm suspension does let you know when the surface is less than pristine.

The styling of the 308 has a love it or hate it element to it. The long slits of the headlights and that massive frontal air-intake are nothing if not distinctive and the Millesim models enhance the look of the exterior with their 16" alloy wheels, fully body-coloured exterior sports front grille and sports rear bumper. They certainly look imposing and their exact vintage is highlighted by the presence of Millesim 200 badges.

The 308 interior takes a sober but classy approach. It feels notably more upmarket than the inside of the old 307 and even more spacious. All derivatives benefit from expensive looking plastics with the lighter colour options proving particularly eye-catching. The middle section of the dash slopes down into the centre console, bringing its controls closer to the driver and creating a snug cockpit effect, but you sit a long way back from the base of the steeply raked windscreen with a huge expanse of dashboard to look out across. This, combined with the 308's long front overhang, may present visibility problems when manoeuvring but the A-pillars, a constant impediment to the driver's view in the 307, are much thinner for improved visibility.

Customers taking a liking to the Millesim will have to make do with the five-door bodystyle as no three-door versions are offered. The specification of the cars is based upon that of the S trim level from the everyday 308 range but with a number of added extras. On top of the exterior styling enhancements, the Millesim adds Peugeot's Connect technology which incorporates a USB port for connecting MP3 players to the stereo and a Bluetooth telephone system. Other equipment highlights include remote central locking, air-conditioning, electric windows and front fog lights.

Being married to the more efficient engines in the Peugeot range, the 308 Millesim specification brings healthy running costs with it. The 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines both return around 44 mpg with CO2 emissions of 149 and 155g/km respectively. The diesels trump these with an outstanding 62.7mpg and 120g/km which gives significant tax advantages. You'll pay £750 more for the 90bhp oil burner than for the 1.6-litre petrol but it should be worth it, for higher mileage drivers in particular.

Peugeot is rightly proud of its 200 year history and the Millesim special edition models seem a fitting way to mark its bicentennial. There's nothing overly special about the cars themselves, just the generally sound 308 platform enhanced with some sporty styling add-ons and a welcome equipment boost, but attractive prices and economical engines make the Millesim range a great way to get into a 308.

Peugeot's hatchback is better as a comfortable cruiser than a sporty driver's car. It handles neatly but can't match the dynamic sharpness of leading rivals. Its cabin stands up well to scrutiny though, with good space and a classy feel. All of the engines mated to the Millesim models return good fuel economy for their type and performance is adequate, even if the less powerful options can feel somewhat sluggish at times.

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