Peugeot 308 Fuel Tank Size by Generation: UK Guide

The Peugeot 308 is one of the most popular family hatchbacks on British roads, and one of the most common questions owners and buyers ask is how large the fuel tank actually is. The Peugeot 308 fuel tank capacity depends on which generation you have: first-generation models (2007–2013) hold 60 litres, second-generation models (2013–2021) carry 53 litres, and third-generation petrol, diesel, and hybrid variants (2021–present) use a 52-litre tank. Plug-in hybrid versions use a smaller 40-litre tank. Knowing your exact tank size helps you plan long drives, budget for fill-ups, and understand how far you can travel on a single tank.

Peugeot 308 Fuel Tank Capacity by Generation

The tank size has changed across the 308's three generations, and it can also vary by body style and powertrain. Here is a clear breakdown of the main Peugeot 308 versions sold in the UK.

First Generation (2007–2013)

The original 308 launched in September 2007 as a replacement for the ageing 307. Its fuel tank holds approximately 60 litres. That is a generous capacity for a family hatchback of its size, and it is confirmed in the official Peugeot owner's manual for the model. According to that same document, when the low-fuel warning light first illuminates on the instrument panel, roughly 6 litres remain in the tank – giving you a reasonable distance to locate a petrol station before running dry.

Engine options in this generation ranged from the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrols through to the 1.6 HDi and 2.0 HDi diesels. During its production run, a Peugeot 308 HDi set a Guinness World Record for fuel economy, averaging 90.2 mpg (3.13 L/100 km) over a distance of more than 9,000 miles.

Second Generation (2013–2021)

When Peugeot unveiled the redesigned 308 in 2013 – the car that went on to win the 2014 European Car of the Year award – it moved to the lighter EMP2 platform shared with the Citroën C4 Picasso. One trade-off was a smaller fuel tank: the second-generation 308 has a 53-litre tank in mainstream petrol and diesel hatchback and SW estate models.

Despite the reduction in tank size, range improved because the engines became significantly more economical. The 1.6 BlueHDi diesel, for instance, returns up to 76 mpg on the official combined cycle – meaning a full tank can theoretically cover more than 800 miles. In real-world driving, actual fuel economy depends heavily on the engine, gearbox, driving style, and journey type.

The 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport – available in 250 hp and 270 hp versions – retained the same 53-litre tank but offered a very different character. The GT version brought features such as keyless entry and start, stop/start technology, and full LED headlights.

Third Generation (2021–Present)

The third-generation 308 arrived in 2021 as the first car to carry Peugeot's redesigned lion-head logo. It grew substantially in exterior dimensions: 4,365 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, and 1,465 mm tall – making it more than 100 mm longer and nearly 50 mm wider than the outgoing model.

For petrol and diesel variants (the 1.2 PureTech and 1.5 BlueHDi), the fuel tank is sized at 52 litres, just a fraction smaller than the second generation. Plug-in hybrid models use a smaller 40-litre petrol tank to accommodate the battery pack beneath the rear seats. The fully electric E-308, revealed in September 2022 with a 54 kWh battery pack, carries no fuel tank at all.

The third-generation 308 SW, launched three months after the hatchback, also retains the 52-litre tank in petrol and diesel form, with the same reduction to 40 litres in plug-in hybrid guise.

Peugeot 308 Fuel Tank Capacity – Quick Reference Table

This table covers all major variants sold in the UK. Individual model years within each generation use the same capacity figures unless otherwise specified.

How Far Can a Full Tank Take You?

Fuel tank size is only half the picture. Real-world range depends heavily on the engine, driving style, and whether you are on the motorway or stuck in town.

For a third-generation 308 with a 52-litre tank, here is what you can expect in UK driving conditions:

According to Honest John Real MPG, the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 diesel averages around 56.9 mpg in real-world driving. At that rate, 52 litres equates to roughly 650 miles of range. On a steady motorway run, range may be higher than this.

For the 1.2-litre PureTech 130 petrol, Honest John Real MPG reports around 39.1 mpg in real-world driving, which gives a range of about 447 miles from a full 52-litre tank. If most of your driving is urban, expect a lower figure.

The plug-in hybrid 308 is a different proposition. Its 40-litre tank is backed by a battery that provides up to 37 miles of electric-only range under the WLTP test cycle, meaning many owners can complete short daily commutes without using a single drop of petrol. Once the battery is depleted, actual petrol range depends on driving conditions and battery charge level.

Peugeot 308 Real-World Range Estimates for UK Driving

*Plug-in hybrid petrol-only range varies much more depending on battery charge, journey type, temperature, and how often the car is recharged, so it is less directly comparable than the petrol and diesel figures above. Gen 3 plug-in hybrid models use a 40-litre fuel tank.

These figures are estimates based on owner-reported real-world fuel economy data, so actual range will vary with driving style, route, weather, and vehicle load.

The examples above use some of the most common Peugeot 308 engines sold in the UK and are intended as a practical guide rather than a full engine-by-engine comparison.

Peugeot 308 Refuelling, Fuel Compatibility, and Misfuelling

The 308 uses a standard sealed fuel system, but modern diesel models typically feature a misfuelling prevention device. Because standard unleaded petrol nozzles are narrower than diesel ones, it is very easy to accidentally put a petrol nozzle into a diesel tank. To prevent this, Peugeot’s diesel filler necks feature a special flap that only opens when the wider, correct-sized diesel nozzle is inserted. Petrol models simply have a narrow filler neck that physically blocks the thicker diesel nozzles from entering.

Petrol models sold in the UK are compatible with E10 fuel – the standard petrol blend containing up to 10% ethanol. Peugeot confirms compatibility with petrol fuels conforming to EN228 and containing up to 5% and 10% ethanol, while GOV.UK says standard 95-octane petrol became E10 in Great Britain in September 2021 and in Northern Ireland in November 2022. The engine management system does not require adjustment.

If you accidentally put the wrong fuel in, do not start the engine. Have the tank drained and refilled with the correct fuel before driving. Starting the engine with the wrong fuel circulates it through the injection system, which can cause expensive damage to the high-pressure fuel pump and injectors.

One detail worth knowing: the fuel gauge requires at least 10 litres to be added before it registers a change in reading. So if you put in only a small amount after the warning light appears, the gauge may not move straight away – this is normal behaviour and not a malfunction.

Peugeot 308 Boot Space and Practicality

While the fuel tank determines how often you stop to refuel, boot capacity determines what you can carry. In third-generation form, the Peugeot 308 hatchback offers 412 litres of boot space in petrol and diesel versions, or 361 litres in plug-in hybrid form. With the rear seats folded, capacity rises to 1,323 litres in the petrol and diesel hatchback and 1,271 litres in the plug-in hybrid. The hatchback uses a 1/3 – 2/3 split rear seat.

If boot space is a priority and you want a plug-in hybrid, the 308 SW is the better choice. It offers 548 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,574 litres with them folded in plug-in hybrid form, compared with 608 litres and 1,634 litres for petrol and diesel SW models. The SW uses a 40/20/40 split rear seat.

In GT trim, the 308 gets a more upmarket feel, with features including Peugeot’s 3D i-Cockpit, a heated steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels, and Full Matrix LED headlights. The i-Cockpit layout – with its small steering wheel positioned below the instrument cluster – can take some getting used to, but it gives the cabin a distinctive feel.