Peugeot 306 road tests and consumer car reviews

Peugeot 306 Automatic 1.8 LX 1997

I bought my 1997 Pug automatic 1.8 LX about 18 months ago with a short tax/mot and the seller was honest enough to say that she hadn’t had anything done to it for 3 yrs apart from new pads and dics as she had only used it to potter about town in. Well, the first thing done was an oil and filter change along with air filter, plugs, leads etc., on a service and I have to say the car has been brilliant since and has done loads of motorway and city driving without any problems whatsoever. It is comfortable and handles well and the bodywork isn’t showing any signs of rust, so I think I got a bargain for £400 especially as it went through the MOT needing only a new tyre to pass. I wouldn’t hesitate to get another 306.

Peugeot 306 Meridian 2001

I bought this car when it was 1 year old. It has 8,.000 on the clock now and it has been brilliant. I know a mechanic who just specialises in Peugeot’s and he said the 306 engines are bomb poof. I have just had the gear box and a new clutch fitted (only because I burnt the clutch out in the bad weather in January) costing £400 and that’s the most I have spent on it in the last 10 years. The bodywork still looks good and I hope I have it another 3 years at least.

Peugeot 306 1.9 DTurbo S 1998

Great car! I have owned this from brand new, over 230k on the clock and it’s still going perfectly! Mechanically this car is bomb proof, it has never let me down and I’d say there is still a few years left in her yet. I kept this car and my wife bought a brand new 306 HDi DTurbo just before the 307 came out in 2001 and it was also a fantastic car, she sold it in 2007 for a 308 2.0 HDi SE which is also a fantastic car! You can probably tell we love our Peugeot, but if they were a bad car, we wouldn’t be driving them. I definitely recommend the 306! Lovely driving cars, great handling and better built than you may expect. For anybody who is thinking of a 306 but you hear people sniggering when you suggest buying a Peugeot it’s all nonesense because these days there are no good cars, but no bad cars either because in time they will all develop their own problems. My wife and I have owned three 306’s and I cannot say one bad thing about them at all! No word of a lie!

Peugeot 306 2.0l HDi 2000

Great car. Had it 4 years now. 114000 miles. Comfy to drive. Economical for a 2litre. Does everything you need from a car. Only recently replaced original exhaust and rear tyres. Had to force my garage to replace the brake pads just to give them something to do!

Peugeot 306 TD 1998

I’ve had this car since 2002, been brill. Great exceleration up hills with the turbo. Looking to change in near future though.

Peugeot 306 2006

Trustworthy car, cheap to run and a pleasure to drive.

Peugeot 306 Vivant 1998

1.6 Petrol Vivant with 100,000 miles, now had it for 5yrs, got it when it had done 88,000. A bit thirsty around the houses but on a long run it’s good very good economy. It’s had 2 exhausts, and brake pipe went on front nearside but apart from that no problems. A cracking car. Had a 1988 1.4 SR 205 before that and that went like a rocket and another cracking car peugoet are a good brand, saving up to get a 308 now if its half as good as the 306 it will be going some!

Responses to this review

Can anyone tell me if a 1998 Pug 306 vivant 1.6 is a 4 or 5 speed gear box? Thanks - Mark Fitton from Cambridgeshire

Peugeot 306 Hatchback 1998

A very well built and well equipped car with quite a few luxuries for a car of this age, a good strong body with no rust, the inside is comfortable with plenty of leg room, but the head height is a little low. Very good fuel economy and a low insurance band.

Peugeot 306 1.4 LX 1999

For some reason Peugeot seemed to scrap the ’look’ of the 306 (and indirectly the 106) by introducing the 307, clearly a more family orientated car that, I think, has far less appeal. WHY!?! Even the earliest 306s can be seen on the roads by those who pay out to service them and even modify them. This is because even those early 1990s models have far more appeal than, say, a Fiesta from the same decade. The last 306s to be made before the 307 managed to take an old design and make it appear very modern. The car’s proportions just look spot on, the lines naturally flowed and the door handles didn’t portrude. But, ultimately, the front end just looked like a boy. A boy with its eyes half-closed and concentrating hard on something in the distance. When they’re parked up they kinda look like they’re still moving. For some, the 206 was more desirable as it was smaller and more feminine. Which is great. Girls look good in 206s. But put a girl in a 306 and she looks like trouble, like Michelle Rodriguez in Resident Evil or something. Or Avatar, or SWAT, or whatever else she’s in. The 306 was one of the few genuinely attractive cars for almost every demographic, such as: Families; enough room in the back to put in a child seat and a ’grown up’ feel. Boy racers; the car was easiy modified and looked good in the first place so didn’t need thousands spent on new lights and bodykits. Enough room for your mates too. Students; smallish engines weren’t too pricey and surely a better alternative to a Fiesta, 106, Clio, Saxo etc. Petrol heads; GTI6 was nippy. Mums; big boot for big boots. It’s easy to see how the car fits onto anyone’s driveway. A lot of estates are used by tradesmen too since they are huge, handle well, look tidy and, with a diesel engine, last for years. If only the gearbox wasn’t made from cheese I would still have one.

Peugeot 306 1999

Peugeot 306 HDI’s are the worst car money can buy. I’ve had one for 4 months and it gave me nothing but trouble. I’ve spent 2000 quid repairing it and it still isn’t working. Don’t buy one.

Responses to this review

Hi, I have to totally disagree with you because I bought my 2001 306 2.0 HDi Sport in 2007 as my first car and 3 years on I have had absolutely no trouble at all with it. The engine had 98000 Miles on it and now I have over 145000 Miles on it and it has been ultra reliable and efficient. It’s a lovely car to drive and its really grippy on a twisty B road. Its such a good car my grandfather uses it more than his 09 VW Golf GT TDi Sport because he reckons its a far more comfortable car to drive and sit in, He also thinks it’s quicker off the mark than his 140hp GT TDi Golf. I love my 306 and Peugeot should of never quit making them because if they didn’t it would be no match for all the crap like Ford Focus - Kevin Aherne from Cambridgeshire

Peugeot 306 2.0 HDi 90 Meridian 2000

Fantastic car!! Until I crashed it 9 months ago. It never gave me any trouble apart from the airbag warning light which kept coming on!. I serviced it at its correct intervals and gave it a bit a bit of tlc and that was it, 100%. Then one month later I bought a late 2006 307 1.6 110 HDi Se ( thinking it would be rubbish due to all the bad reports i have heard and read) but it is fantastic, no problems at all. As i say you just need to take care of a Peugeot and give it some TLC. Lastly if you are thinking of a 306 buy the HDI engine, its ultra reliable, quick, smooth and economical.

Responses to this review

Did you manage to find a solution to the airbag warning light? Stewart Robertson from Kent

Peugeot 306 Roland Garros 1994

This car is fantastic, I have the rare Roland Garros with all the highest specification, only thing to watch out for is the electrics. Mechanically it’s a very good motor and engine but the electrics can be such a pain. I have half cream leather, full electrics, 205 gti alloys, sports seats, red seat belts, power steering, abs all as standard. This is definitely a model to look out for along with the superb meridian and gti 6. The car isn’t especially quick with the little 8 valve beast but take it down country roads and you are rewarded all day long the handling that is real tight with minimal body roll. Overall the 306 in general is a great car with a great chasis and handling to die for... But when you look at these cars, check all lights, windows, mirrors and easily accessable wiring looms as any unseen electrical problems are a little too common and often a head ache to put right.

Responses to this review

Great car. I have had a blue wagon for 5 years, edition Eden Park, 1.8 16 V 110 bhp. It looks great, the handling is very good, well balanced between comfort and sport. The engine and the gearbox are perfect.The economy is good too 8-10 l/ 100km. I had a problem with the air conditioning, but it was a small problem and I could repair it. I’m very happy with the car, so I recommended it to a friend; he bought the hatchback version with the same engine but he’s had more problems than me. I think, it’s a question of luck. So, the car is good, check the electronics and the rear suspension, 1.6 gasoline engine and the 1.8 & 1.8 16V are the best engines, and the 2.0 HDI, too. 2.0 16V is good too, but hard to find. Nice driving to everyone! - Svetoslav Kitanov from Bulgaria

Peugeot 306 hdi d turbo 1999

Hi, I own a 1999 306 hdi d turbo which has a front mount intercooler and a charge cooler fitted, remapped, a straight through stainless steel exhaust running around 160+ bhp. Very fast for a 306; 0-60 in about mid 7 I think and still manages 40+ mpg. It has been very reliable; I use it as a everyday car and weekend toy. It has 102 on clock. Moonstone blue; the best car I have owned - I also have a golf gt tdi. The 306 is better I think.

Peugeot 306 GTI-6 2007

Worst car I’ve ever had, you name it, it went wrong. Build quality appalling. Turning circle horrendous. Customer service atrocious. Loathed to give it even 1 star, hence to say I will never ever buy French again.

Peugeot 306 xsi 1999

Great little car, only had it for 3 months. Great on petrol and really great to drive. I think I’m going hold on to my little car for a while longer before upgrading.

Peugeot 306 2008

Excellent little car, fuel efficient, comfortable to drive, would recommend to anyone!!

Peugeot 306 Petrol 1998

I drive long journeys all the time and the Peugeot 306 has never let me down in 3 years. The Peugeot 306 is definitely the way forward...

Peugeot 306 Diesel HDi 2001

Thanks to fuel prices I’ve parked up my ST220 in favour of the 306 HDi, I’ve had a couple of these and the all round economy is great, handling is great, there is the cheaper tax make it a great buy. Mine has done 73k. If you are clocking up the miles then look for one with my kind of miles, obviously it needs to have been serviced but I would recommend a 306 five door, definately the best.

Peugeot 306 1.9 turbo diesel 1997

I’ve had various makes and models of cars and out of all of them, my pudsy is the best!

Peugeot 306 1999

My 99 306 was a decent enough car, both a fun drive and big enough for family holidays. The build quality was adequate and the performance of the 1.6 litre petrol engine was sprightly. All-in-all, there was little to fault about it.