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| Peugeot 306 XT --- standing the test of time | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Some may
remember when just about every new car dealer in
Australia would get all gussied up at least once a year
with ribbons and flags, to unveil the latest model in all
its shining chrome glory. The few European marques available here then preferred to make one model last quite nicely for several years, an approach now more widely adopted with basic model lines running several years and just the odd `Series II ‘ upgrade to sparkle up some renewed interest. Peugeot has always been of the `long running model’ school, so it was no surpise to note that this current 306 XT 5-door hatch seemed essentially the same car that I had driven on its first Australian release in 1994, just one year after it went on sale in Europe. Seems the same, because it is - oh, different versions have joined in, such as the booted SR sedan or the S16 `hot hatch’ with its 2.0 litre engine, now shared with the delectable 306 cabriolet, but comparing specification sheets for the XT 5-door showed no changes - so how does it compare today? |
 Still shapely after all this time - three years after launch, the 306 XT still looks good.
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| Still managing to look
contemporary and retaining the same 1.8 litre engine,
with front wheel drive and passive rear wheel steering,
the 306 seems to be largely holding its own. Its airily spacious interior remains a discrete understatement, those oh-so tasteful French seeing no need for bright colours or gimmicky design (though the grey/grey tonings may appear drab to some), and the steering wheel still impresses with its minimalist elegance of design. (Look, no thumb-rests !) Accommodation is quite good, both the front and rear seats proving comfortably supportive over long distances. Interior space is a reasonable balancing act in most respects - the driving seat, a beauty with its lumbar support and height adjustment, could use more rearward movement for taller drivers, but that would encroach on rear passengers who are only just catered for at present anyway. The 306 has always enjoyed a good list of standard equipment, from driver’s airbag and remote central locking to power windows and exterior mirrors, twin vanity mirrors and a CD-compatible digital stereo (lack of a passenger airbag means not one but two gloveboxes - though both are a bit small.) There have been no major changes to NVH levels, with a bit of wind whistle noted at the A-pillars but still a commendably subdued degree of road-rumble for a car that seems rather well tied to the road, in spite of the suspension system placing comfort before handling prowess. Yet on winding, twisty roads the 306 is a nimble dancer, its passive rear steering almost completely eliminating any tendency towards front-drive understeer. A touch of bodyroll, courtesy of the softer suspension, seems to actually assist in that respect and the little Pug can be an enjoyable drive without having to play Russian roulette with your licence. For that the 2.0 litre S16 is highly recommended, but the 306 XT would be hard-pressed to ignite fires of excitement with the dependable but lack-lustre performance of its 1.8 litre powerplant (77kiloWatts is not exactly wild, despite its apparent preference for the costlier Premium unleaded.) Fuel consumption averaged 9.3 L/100km (30.5mpg) in the real world of daily commuting, which is where the XT feels right at home. Any attempt to portray the 306XT as a sports car would be dubious at best, because it quite simply is not one in terms of power and has been left behind in that respect by some of its competitors. Yet as an inherently honest compact 5-door hatch, designed with everyday needs in mind, the solid and chic Peugeot 306XT can still hold its own after three years on the market. Even without new chrome badges, or a party to announce them...
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Nuts-N-Bolts
