Peugeot 308 GTi pricing revealed

The Peugeot 308 GTi will arrive locally in February priced from $44,990 for the 184kW version and $49,990 for the 200kW grade.

Those are the figures fans of the fiercest French hot-hatch this side of the Renault Sport Megane have been waiting to hear.

The target for this fashionable five-door is obviously the Volkswagen Golf GTI, though the manual-only 308 GTi will have to forfeit some sales to its DSG-driving German foe.

The entry 308 GTi 250 – the number of which denotes its horsepower – also costs $4000 more than the equivalent manual Golf GTI.

It packs 184kW and 330Nm from its 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder, however, where the 2.0-litre VW makes 162kW/350Nm.

A slight torque deficit is no matter, because the Pug is lighter (1205kg plays 1313kg) to deliver a claimed 6.2-second 0-100km/h that is three-tenths faster.

As with its main rival, 18-inch alloy wheels are standard, however Peugeot also includes full LED headlights (bi-xenons are optional in the VW) and possibly other extra equipment – full details will be revealed early next year.

Step up to the 308 GTi 270 for $49,990 and again you have a pricetag $3500 more than the (DSG-only) Golf GTI Performance.

Peugeot may have placed drawing paper over its rival ‘Performance’ specification, because the 308 GTi 270 likewise adds a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, part-leather trim and larger 19-inch alloy wheels.

Torque is unchanged but power moves to 200kW and the 0-100km/h claim lowers to 6.0sec flat. That hike is more sizeable than that of the Golf GTI Performance, which moves from 162kW to 169kW with unchanged torque and a 6.4sec 0-100km/h.

Indeed the Peugeot moves closer to the 206kW/380Nm Golf R in price ($52,790) if not performance (5.2sec 0-100km/h claim). As for the $50,990 Ford Focus RS, well, the comparison in is almost cruel, though the 308 GTi 270 will have a more premium feel if that’s your thing.

We drove the Peugeot 308 GTi at its international launch and came away impressed.

However, we placed a big caveat over the expected $45K to $55K pricing. With the two-tier range arriving in the lower half of that range, it will only make that inevitable comparison test between that GTI and this GTi all the more interesting.