Peugeot 308 vs Toyota Corolla vs MINI Hatch: which used hatchback is the best value for money?

The poor Peugeot 308 never really had its moment to shine in South Africa. Launched into a shrinking market segment, and competing with such stalwarts as the VW Golf and Ford Focus, it arrived here quietly and soon disappeared without as much as a whimper. But, while you can’t buy a Peugeot 308 new anymore, you can still find one in the used-car market – and at a very competitive price, too.

We decided to use the 2019-model year Peugeot 308s listed here on AutoTrader to determine a fair price for a used example, and then rounded up some conceptually similar used alternatives around the same price point – in this case, between R 300 000 and R 320 000. The object of this exercise is to evaluate a used Peugeot 308’s value proposition against two other used hatchbacks in the same price bracket.

On the one hand, our Peugeot 308 benchmark has to face one of the few slow-ish-selling Toyotas, in the form of the Corolla Hatchback; and in the other, it’s staring down the 5-door MINI Hatch. All of them are of similar vintage and mileage, and all are fuelled with petrol and offer automatic gearboxes, to create as level a playfield as possible. 

Related: Shop for used Peugeot 308 cars for sale here.

 

Facts and figures:

First, let’s look at the key numbers:

	Peugeot 308 1.2T Allure	Toyota Corolla Hatch 1.2T XR	MINI One Hatch Automatic
Engine size (cyl/size)	3-cyl, 1.2-litre turbopetrol	4-cyl, 1.2-litre turbopetrol	3-cyl, 1.5-litre turbopetrol
Power/Torque	96 kW/230 Nm	85 kW/185 Nm	75 kW/190 Nm
Kerb Weight	1 122 kg	1 395 kg	1 170 kg
Length (mm)	4 253	4 375	3 982
Airbag count	6	7	6
Load Volume	385 litres	294 litres	278
Top Speed (km/h) *	204	190	192
0 – 100 km/h *	9.8 seconds	10.4 seconds	10.5 seconds
Ave Consumption *	5.1 ℓ/100 km	6.4 ℓ/100 km	5.4 ℓ/100 km

* Manufacturer's official claimed figures.

 

Analysis

Power, performance, and drivetrains

Three things all three cars have in common are downsized engines, self-shifting gearboxes, and front-wheel drive. In the case of the MINI and Peugeot, this means 3-cylinder power plants, with the MINI having the greatest displacement of 1.5-litres (but the least power in this group). The Toyota has a 4-cylinder engine, but its displacement is the same as the Peugeot’s 3-pot at 1.2-litres.

But, even though the Peugeot has one of the smallest engines here, it also has the most-impressive output figures, at 96 kW and 230 Nm. This is sent through a 6-speed automatic gearbox to realise a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in a claimed 9.8 seconds, and a top speed of 204 km/h, making it the both quickest and fastest car here.

Next up is the MINI One 5-door, which has a significant output disadvantage, compared to the Peugeot, but manages to make the most of it by virtue of a relatively low kerb weight. 75 kW and 190 Nm, going to the tarmac through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, is enough for a claimed 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 192 km/h.

A nice power bump (compared to the MINI) is offset by the Toyota Corolla Hatch 1.2T’s rather hefty kerb weight of 1 395 kg and use of a CVT, making the 85 kW/185 Nm engine work rather hard to get the Toyota moving. While its 0 – 100 km/h sprint time is claimed to be slightly quicker than the MINI’s at 10.4 seconds, it has the lowest top speed here. Its relative lack of torque (in this company) will also see it struggle a bit more with heavy loads and uphill overtaking.

These figures place the Peugeot 308 1.2T Allure quite far ahead of these opponents, and hands it the first category win. The MINI and Corolla are slightly more difficult to separate, but in the end, the MINI’s lower kerb weight and slight torque advantage elevates it to the second position. 

Related: Shop for new and used MINI Hatch cars for sale here.

 

Economy

With the Peugeot 308 being the lightest car in this group, and offering the most torque, it stands to reason that its official average fuel consumption should also be the lowest here. The claimed figures support this assertion, with an average consumption of 5.1 ℓ/100 km. Of course, it won’t get anywhere near this number in the real world, and buyers should expect high-6 ℓ/100 km in conservative, mixed-cycle driving.

The MINI’s comparatively light weight (relative to the Corolla) and efficient dual-clutch automatic helps it along to a respectable seconds place in the efficiency stakes, registering an official average of 5.4 ℓ/100 km. Once again, buyers should expect high-6 ℓ/100 km averages in the real world.

And, as with straight-line performance, the Corolla 1.2T Hatch has to settle for third place in the economy department, with its official average consumption of 6.4 ℓ/100 km. Expect mid-7 ℓ/100 km in the hands of a conservative driver, however. Either way, the Corolla Hatch has to settle for this place here too, once again mainly due to its rather portly (in this company) kerb weight.

Related: Shop for new and used Toyota Corolla Hatch cars for sale here.

 

Practicality

Once again, the Peugeot comes out on top, with the largest boot and the most-spacious occupant accommodation in this group. However, none of these cars have a surplus of rear-seat space, so they shouldn’t really be considered if large-ish passengers will frequently occupy their rear bench seats.

The Corolla Hatch’s boot volume of 294 litres is rather disappointing, compared to the 385 litres on offer in the Peugeot 208, but nonetheless outstrips the MINI 5-door’s paltry 278 litres. Blame the MINI’s smallest overall length for its compromised practicality, because it also has the least rear-seat space of this trio. 

Another victory for the Peugeot 308, then, and a middling showing for the Corolla Hatch. In fact, practicality is the stylish Toyota’s only serious Achilles heel, and it’s never being a strong suit of any modern MINI, either, so the Peugeot ends up the winner by default. 

 

Equipment and safety

One of the Peugeot 308’s major selling points at its local re-introduction in 2018, was its comprehensive equipment package. In includes modern-day niceties such as a colour touchscreen infotainment system with full smartphone mirroring, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, and steering wheel-mounted remote controls. Safety credentials includes 6 airbags, stability control, ABS, rear ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a 5-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating (obtained in 2013).

In comparison, the MINI is rather sparsely-equipped as standard, relying on the initial buyer to have specified some nice-to-haves when ordering their cars. The touchscreen infotainment system is optional, as is climate control of any kind, so it loses out to the Peugeot on standard equipment. It matches the 308 on safety equipment, however, but only managed to achieve 4 stars in 2014’s Euro NCAP crash testing programme. This relegates the MINI to third place for this criterion as well.

As for the Toyota, XR trim is the top-level derivative, so it comes with a nice equipment level as standard. It matches the Peugeot on standard features and safety credentials alike, and scored 5 stars in 2019 Euro NCAP crash testing. But, because it offers a driver’s knee airbag as well (for a total of 7), and due to its crash testing regimen being more stringent that those applied to the other two, and because it features LED headlights as standard, the Corolla Hatch XR ends up in first place in this department.

 

Aftersales support

This is a bit of a moot point, because we’re evaluating used cars today: all of them may have some warranty and service plans left after two years, but those elements are about to run out in the near future. The MINI’s warranty is the shortest here, at 2 years (but with no distance limit), but its maintenance plan for 3 years or 75 000 km is middling in this company, so 2019-vintage cars should offer at least a year’s worth of peace-of-mind.

The Toyota’s warranty runs for 3 years or 100 000 km, and its service plan is active for 90 000 km, with no time limit. This, combined with Toyota’s stellar reputation for durability and wide aftermarket support, should make a Corolla Hatch a lower-risk used-car buy than either of the others. 

Meanwhile, the Peugeot’s warranty matches the Toyota’s, and its service plan is also active for 3 years, but its 60 000 km mileage limit will likely be exceeded already. Score another one for the Corolla, then, with the MINI’s decent maintenance plan lifting it to second place and the Peugeot’s (comparatively) weaker service plan dropping it into third.

 

Verdict

It’s clear that the MINI has to be the loser in this group. While its performance and efficiency are quite competitive here, its short OEM warranty, stingy standard equipment, and poor practicality relegates it to the third place in our trio of contenders.

Deciding between the Peugeot and the Toyota is rather more difficult. In the Corolla’s favour counts its likely better long-term ownership experience, superior equipment and safety features, and slower depreciation. However, the Peugeot 308 has more space and much better practicality, similar comfort features, better performance, and better fuel efficiency. 

If those factors are enough for you, you will likely be very happy with a late-model used Peugeot 308 1.2T Allure: it’s a lot of car for the money. But, with a view towards long-term ownership and overall running costs, the value proposition on offer in a used Corolla Hatch is just too strong to ignore. Adding its extra airbag and LED headlights to the equation merely solidifies the deal.