PEUGEOT'S 308 is still flying high after being declared European Car of the Year in 2014.

The award-winning hatchback has marked something of a return to form for a firm that had started to lag behind.

This time Peugeot set out to create a class-leader and while it might struggle to entirely lay claim to such an accolade the 308 is certainly a worthy competitor in its class, capable of giving even the all-conquering Golf a real run for its money.

While the 308 doesn't possess radical out there kind of looks, there's no denying it's a good-looking car, that also displays just enough quintessential French flair that tells you it's a Peugeot.

Yes, essentially it shares much in common design-wise with other mainstream hatches but is set apart by its distinctive profile, slim grille, flared wheel arches and compact light clusters, all of which give it an individual look.

A simple touch which also adds to its appeal is some liberal use of chrome, which does much to imbue it with classy character and blends particularly well with the design lines.

One of the defining features of the 308 is that it's had a pretty severe slim-down compared to the car it replaces.

This all-new creation based on PSA's EMP2 platform offers a weight saving of around 140kg.

Peugeot has upped the game as far as the 308's interior is concerned. The environment is sophisticated and stylish, with switchgear and instrumentation that have the hallmark of quality.

Soft touch plastics abound and there are truly innovative features like the central touchscreen which controls most of the car's functions.

It's not quite as all-encompassing as the touchscreen in more upmarket models but is still very much of the moment and means the customary clutter of switches on the dash has been dispensed with.

That said, it might not be to all tastes and having to go into it to control the heating or aircon does feel a somewhat lumbering process, thought conversely one quickly becomes accustomed to doing so.

The 308 also has another Peugeot favourite in the shape of a scaled-down steering wheel, first seen on the 208.

Again, once you've got used to it it actually feels good, giving the car something of a go-kart kind of feel, though there's no doubting it does restrict vision of the instrument panel.

In terms of practicality the 308 is fairly accommodating throughout. Rear seat passengers are perhaps slightly less well off than in some of its rivals but the space offered is more than adequate.

It also has a generously-sized 470-litre boot, which I managed to squeeze all the essential paraphernalia for a family camping weekend into.

Another great strength of the 308 is its excellent driving dynamics. Sharp handling and a supple and agile feel make it an engaging and fun car to drive. A well engineered suspension set-up also ensures it rides smoothly.

There's a range of engines to choose from, including two diesels (1.6 and 2.0-litre) and a variety of petrol options in 1.2 and 1.6-litre guise, with differing power variants.