In form and in function
It’s beautiful, isn’t it, that Peugeot 308? Also as a station wagon SW, the French car looks sporty, self-confident and idiosyncratic. The Skoda Octavia Combi has a completely different look with its much less striking, business-like bodywork, but there are still many similarities between these two station wagons.
Smooth carriage with lots of space
Do you remember, about 25 years ago? Back then we invariably made a distinction between ‘normal’ station wagons and the cars that we referred to as the very hip ‘lifestyle station’ at the time. That itch term then stood for the station wagons that put a smooth appearance above practical ease of use due to their streamlined body and slightly sloping roofline. One of the better examples of such a car is the Alfa Romeo 156 SW, admired by many, which was very different in shape than, say, a Volkswagen Passat. Those differences between station wagons are still there, but less strong than then. The general consensus seems to have been found as so often in an intermediate form, so a reasonably smooth body in combination with a very reasonable amount of interior space. In addition, designers use smart tricks to make a station wagon look less straight-lined than it actually is. Take this Peugeot 308. The rear side window slopes extremely far, so much so that it is almost too much. That gives the impression that the roofline descends just as quickly as with the 156, but that is not the case. Further to the middle of the car, the roof remains at a good height, but that is hardly noticeable through the side window and the molded roof edge around it.
Entry-level versions anything but bare
The Octavia is apparently shaking his head at so much fuss. The medium-sized Skoda has a much more down-to-earth character and presents things as they are. So here is ‘just’ a sleek, smoothly lined station wagon, but certainly not a style icon. Its modern shapes and light units give it a look that is particularly appreciated in business traffic, which undoubtedly explains why the Octavia, especially as a Combi, often appears in the Dutch street scene. However, that certainly also applies to the Peugeot 308, which we see remarkably often driving in basic trim Active Pack Business. You don’t have to be an accomplished car spotter for that, because with unique daytime running lights, relatively small wheels and clear windows in the rear doors, this simplest version has a number of specific features. The apparent popularity of this entry-level version already indicates that it is very easy to live with that version, and that appears to be the case after a look at the price list. The cheapest 308 SW with automatic transmission – business drivers are often stuck in traffic – is certainly not cheap at € 37,500, but it does have automatic air conditioning with two zones, ‘keyless start’, cruise control and a multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay . Frequently chosen options such as navigation and seat heating can simply be selected separately and then the slip-on is suddenly fine. Also at Skoda, the times of really bare basic versions are apparently behind us. The formal entry-level version is the Ambition, but it is slightly more expensive and clearly less well equipped than the Business Edition. That version for the business market (not prohibited for private individuals) has an electric tailgate, navigation and keyless entry in addition to the standard equipment mentioned at Peugeot. Yes, on a basic Skoda! Certainly not make do, and that for an amount that, at €37,790, is a negligible €290 above that of the Peugeot. Skoda also offers a remarkably large number of separate options, so that it is fairly easy to put together a car that meets all wishes for as little money as possible. The driven Octavia has three – privacy glass, a tow bar and the optional paint color – but is otherwise completely standard. We do not drive the 308 as an Active, but as a slightly more beautifully decorated Allure Pack Business. It costs 41 mille, which is – unfortunately – still quite reasonable in today’s C-segment.
Where do you find the most space?
Partly due to its sharp lines, the 308 looks a bit more compact than the Octavia. With the tape measure in hand, that turns out to be correct, although its wheelbase exceeds that of the longer Skoda as a whole. With 608 to 1,634 liters, the luggage space of the Peugeot is certainly in line with the market, but the Skoda is even more spacious with 640 to 1,700 liters. In practice, the difference seems a bit bigger than those figures suggest, although that is also because our basic Skoda is not equipped with the optional variable loading floor. Almost all the space is above the floor, which is very handy until you want to store loose items. Even so, the Skoda simply offers a wonderful amount of space and a pleasantly large tailgate, so that even the bulkiest pram is swallowed up without any problems. In the Peugeot, that is rather a matter of fitting and measuring, although the cargo hold here is better finished. In the back seat, the 308 loses even more clearly. Despite the wheelbase, which is also larger than that of a 308 ‘Berline’ (hatchback), the legroom in particular is simply disappointing. This has everything to do with the shape of the front seats, which suddenly take a big step back at the height of most knees. The Skoda offers considerably more space on all sides and also allows longer adults a comfortable place. who suddenly take a big step backwards just at the height of most knees. The Skoda offers considerably more space on all sides and also allows longer adults a comfortable place. who suddenly take a big step backwards just at the height of most knees. The Skoda offers considerably more space on all sides and also allows longer adults a comfortable place.
In the Peugot 308, form takes precedence over function
Sitting comfortably in the front in a 308 – or actually any Peugeot – is not a matter of course. This, of course, has everything to do with the rather polarizing arrangement of the instruments, which are not mounted behind the steering wheel, but above the steering wheel as a digital screen. Not a bad idea in itself, but due to the implementation, the undersigned also finds it difficult to find a comfortable sitting position. It is a pity that the problem could have been largely solved by actually mounting the screen at the highest possible point instead of still quite low under a thick roof. On the shiny side of the coin, however, we note that the interior of the 308 has been designed with at least as much care as the exterior. The characteristic Peugeot style has been applied consistently and combines the coziness of a fabric on the dashboard with the high-tech of a double touchscreen and a multi-layered center console, which gives a kind of cockpit feeling due to its height. Beautiful! However, that beautiful form has been replaced by function here and there. For example, there are a lot of functions in the somewhat slow touchscreen, the automatic button responds moderately to input from the driver and the theoretically smart, variable shortcuts on the lower-placed touchscreen offer too few options to be really useful. For example, you can set a fixed, specific temperature as a shortcut, but direct operation of the seat heating is not an option.
Skoda Octavia inside not so cozy
With the Octavia there are no such major differences in performance. The dashboard is always sleek and businesslike, yet recognizable as that of a Skoda. That is to say: a typical Volkswagen Group style, but mixed with an extra layer of functionality and some clever tricks. The materials are not top level and it is certainly not as cozy as in the 308, but the quality experience is on a slightly higher level and the ease of use certainly too. The touchscreen, which works well in itself, is enhanced by a series of shortcuts. The screen also contains the climate control, but it is always on screen. With the Peugeot, this is only the case if you happen to be on the right screen, which means that adjusting the interior temperature quickly requires several steps. The Skoda system is also not very clear, just like the digital instruments, but after some practice it works reasonably logically. A nice sitting position behind the wheel is also easy to find here. The Octavia is really one of those cars in which everyone drives away, while the Peugeot requires more time and attention.
Skoda feels smooth
The Octavia is also a pleasant thing on the road. Its chassis is, as we are used to from Skoda, very soft, but with that the car offers a lot of comfort. However, the car sometimes hits – literally – in terms of comfort when an unevenness is taken at a higher speed, so the damping could have been a bit firmer. The steering is nicely balanced and neatly predictable and the handling is certainly okay despite all that softness. The powertrain is excellent, especially for what the basic motorization is. Where the cooperation between the 1.0 TSI and a DSG automatic transmission previously sometimes resulted in a lifeless combination, the box now switches on at the right times. What the 1.0-liter lacks in power is also partly supplemented by the mild hybrid system that comes standard with the automatic version. The gear shifting is also lightning fast and shock-free and the engine is nice and quiet. Despite its 20 hp backlog, the Skoda manages to stay ahead of the somewhat heavier Peugeot in every sprint part. It also actually feels smoother.
Prefer a manual gearbox
The Peugeot does without a mild-hybrid helper and clearly has less control over the interplay between automatic transmission and three-cylinder. The widely used 1.2 PureTech is naturally a bit rawer than the TSI, although the engine hangs nicely on the gas. In combination with a sometimes somewhat petulant shifting gearbox, however, this results in a somewhat less smooth, restless whole. Partly due to the small steering wheel, the Peugeot initially feels sharper and more direct than the Skoda, but in practice this is certainly not a really dynamic car. It is more of a safe middle ground, but that also means that it is clearly less soft than the Octavia. We know from experience that this engine is better in combination with a manual gearbox in the 308, but of course you have to feel like it. With the choice of the six-speed gearbox and the clutch pedal, a few thousand euros will be deducted from the price, so that it drops below 35 grand. However, that is no different with the Skoda!
What’s the best choice?
The Peugeot 308 is a fresh appearance in this segment. With its sharp body, it revives the times of the ‘lifestyle combi’ and the feeling that you are driving something special also contributes to the driving pleasure in a way. In practice, however, the Skoda is more pleasant to deal with. It has a finer powertrain, is noticeably more spacious, especially in the back seat, and offers even better standard equipment and greater ease of use. So function trumps form. Cool color on it, then?