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Whether as hatch or estate, this Peugeot is a looker.

A celebration of wine, cheese, and delicatessen is hardly the typical venue for a car launch, but French carmaker Peugeot has always been one to go about its own merry way – with typical French savoir faire, of course. Throw in a whole lot of joie de vivre and, well, you get the point.

The recent “Soirée Beaujolais” food and wine festival held at the Marriott Hotel Manila grand ballroom in Pasay was a red-letter day for the CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) France in the Philippines, it being the 25th local staging of the traditional uncorking of young vintage from Beaujolais. Free-flowing wine imbibed with gastronomic delights such as cheese (oh, the cheese) made for a memorable evening, complete with thumping ‘80s renditions from Highway 54.

But the night was also an occasion to take in the sight of Peugeot’s newly uncorked C-segment (or compact family sedan) entrant, the 308, to the delight of locals and expats in attendance.

Crowned Car of the Year 2014 at the Geneva International Motor Show, the 308 is touted by Peugeot as bearing “beautiful simplicity.” Now on its second generation, the 308 is – we dare say it – a crossover that is varying parts oversized hatchback and a smallish estate or station wagon.

Actually, Peugeot helps sort out our confusion as the vehicle comes in two variants with corresponding appendages. The hatchback is the shorter iteration at 4,253 millimeters in length, while the station wagon measures 4,585 millimeters. In a release, the carmaker said the hatchback “allows for versatility and driving comfort,” while the station wagon form “gives users the chance to enjoy even more comfort and more spacious interiors with a longer wheelbase and larger luggage compartment, perfect for trips out of town with the family.”

A total of four variants are locally available for the 308. Buyers can choose between a diesel-powered or petrol-fed hatchback, and between the Station Wagon Allure or the more premium Station Wagon GT Line (both diesel). Speaking of power plants, the 308’s diesel heart is 1.6 liters large, promising 120hp and 300Nm. The gas engine, on the other hand, also displaces 1.6 liters while generating 150hp and 240Nm. Peugeot throws in electric power steering, and makes the vehicle sprightlier via a lighter frame.

While we have yet to log driving time, we can at least confidently say that the 308’s interiors convey the Peugeot ethos and execution towards unmistakable luxury and high technology. The i-Cockpit features a 9.7-inch touchscreen, and a single central button to make controls easy and intuitive. A heads-up display gives vital information without requiring the driver to take his eyes off the road.

Active and passive safety features are the same whichever 308 you choose. Six airbags, an electronic stability program, hill start assist, ABS, and other niceties offer layers of protection.

“The versatility alone makes it a sensible choice,” said Peugeot Philippines marketing and communications director Dong Magsajo to STAR Motoring. “The myriad of features justified the 308 winning the European Car of the Year award in 2014 practically makes it a no brainer for the buyer looking for a premium vehicle focused entirely on improving the sensation of the actual drive.”

And how much should you expect to shell out for all this French goodness? The Allure Hatchback trim (gas-fed, if you’ve been paying attention) is priced at P1.49 million. The GT Line Station Wagon goes for P1.89 million, the Allure Station Wagon for P1.69 million, and the GT Line Hatchback for P1.89 million.

Peugeot Philippines formally opened shop in 2012, and today has a total of 10 dealerships — including two in the Visayas and one Mindanao. Oui, go check out the 308 today.

“The versatility alone makes Peugeot 308 a sensible choice,” said Peugeot Philippines marketing and communications director Dong Magsajo. “The myriad of features justified the 308 winning the European Car of the Year award in 2014.”