Peugeot 306 Hatchback 1993 - 2001

With the 306, Peugeot managed to make a car that was solid and reasonably reliable.  It offered an engaging drive, that was probably beyond it’s cost, and with a wide range of models on offer had the ability to fit almost any requirement.

On the inside the 306 was pretty much as expected for a relatively basic car.  The seating is comfortable and giving, although there could be more leg and headroom.  The finish was reasonable although the materials haven’t proved to be as hardy as many people would want.

Boot space was fairly limited but usable.  The rear seats split and fold flat easily to offer more load space.

On the road the Peugeot performs brilliantly.  It’s light chassis meant that the 306 always felt nimble and gave it great cornering ability.  Body roll was eliminated, the steering precise and the brakes razor sharp, the combination of these elements made for an excellent and engaging drive.

Engine options were, like the rest of the car, nicely understated, while offering a decent level of performance.  They were for the most part lively and refined, some struggled, the smaller petrol and diesel units weren’t great cruisers, but who would have expected them to be.  They were all lively enough around town and the GTi-6 was really quite potent.  They offered decent fuel returns too, ranging between 34 and 54 mpg and had top speeds between 99 and 135 mph.  The 0 – 60 dash took between 8.5 and 17.4 seconds, which meant not quite breaking into hot hatch territory but respectably fast, right through to pedestrian pace.

There are still a few 306s available to grab today.  none are likely to blow your mind but if you can find one in good condition you may well be surprised at how much fun you can have.

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