Peugeot 306 1.4 Boulevard Reviews

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Good Points: The first thing you notice when step into a 306 is the roomy interior. Yes, this small compact is actually welcoming with a very interesting boot space and satisfactory space for the rear passengers head-wise and leg-wise. The head rests (optional) provide additional comfort for long trips and the air conditioning, also optional, is very useful without impacting fuel consumption.
The dashboard is correct, considering this is now an aging car, but still offers complete information with an engine RPM counter, a digital odometer, oil and temperature gauges, and plenty of other icons. The design is somewhere between modern and classic. The dashboard offers easy to reach controls, and the handy stereo control, right under the steering wheel, is also one of the ingenious additions this car is blessed with. Very good equipment for its range with Power Steering, front electric windows, two or four airbags, air conditioning, and a very clever curtain for the rear.

Bad Points: Very little things I could say about this petrol version of the 306, having driven the vehicle under extreme conditions (rain, dry and wet tarmac, windy highways, tollways, mountain roads, steep hills, and unpaved sideroads). The handling is superb and the acceleration is marvelous for a 1.4 engine (it feels more like a 1.6 or a 1.8). The braking itself is very good and sudden recovery manoeuvres prove to be very precise, making this car a wonderful carrier for crowded cities. The fog lamps are also very helpful for night driving.

General comments: The car feels very stable and can attain good speeds, and you suddenly forget this is a 1.4 liter. The diesel 1.9 version offers some economy in fuel expenses, but the compromises are not worth it (the Diesel 1.9 is quite slower in acceleration and does not offer the same promises in top speed). I would definitely prefer a 1.9 or 2.0 HDi if available, but if not, then a 1.4 petrol is just as good while not being such a big burden on your pocket when you buy it or pay for insurance. Also, the petrol versions are much more lenient in terms of repairs and break down less often. The one thing I can say about the 306, is that it is the only Peugeot that made me feel like driving a real car because all other models (from the same era: 206, 406) had some nasty feeling of floating on the road, while the 306 feels like it knows where it's going: it sticks to the road and follows your steering manoeuvres very sharply. It is a car i find myself attracted to all the time, always a safe bet when you can't find an appealing used model (I had many used 306 petrols from 1.4 to 1.6 and one 1.9 Atmospheric Diesel and never had a problem with any of them).