SPOT.
Photo of a Peugeot 309

Peugeot 309

The GTI 16 recipe: a 405 Mi16 engine with just 975 kg to move.1

Researched October 25, 2026 from 20 sources

Also called

  • Ugly ducklingAn epithet linked to the 309's unusual number within Peugeot's range.1

At a glance

0100200
54–163 hpPower
01020
7.4–16.5 s0–100 km/h
0125250
150–220 km/hTop speed
0150300
87–236 N·mTorque
07501,500
830–1,005 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.38

Engine
1.1–1.9 L gasoline fours; 1.5–1.9 L diesels; PTS gasoline turbo23
Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel drive; stretched 205 floorpan2
Gearbox
4- or 5-speed manuals; 3- or 4-speed automatics2
Built at
Poissy, France; Villaverde, Spain; Ryton, UK; Kalyan, India2
Units built
More than 1.6 million7

The story

C28 began as the Talbot Horizon's replacement, with Arizona its intended name. PSA's advanced styling team shaped a notched hatch on stretched 205 underpinnings; the unusual 309 number separated it from the larger 305.23

1982: VERA Plus previews the shape19821985: October launch, a first for Ryton19851987: Three doors and the 1.9 GTI arrive19871988: PTS Turbo: about 10 road cars19881989: Facelift and the 405 Mi16 transplant19891991: Goodwood dresses the GTI in green19911992: Catalysts cut the GTIs' power19921993: The 306 arrives; the 309 winds down19931995: Premier restarts assembly in India1995 Simca 1100: 1967–1982Simca 1100Chrysler-Simca-Talbot Horizon (C2): 1978–1987C2Peugeot 205: 1983–Peugeot 205Peugeot 309 (C28): 1985–1997C28Peugeot 306: 1993–Peugeot 306 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones127891213
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1967–1982Simca 1100
1978–1987Chrysler-Simca-Talbot Horizon (C2)
1983–Peugeot 205
1985–1997Peugeot 309 (C28)
1993–Peugeot 306
1982VERA Plus previews the shape
1985October launch, a first for Ryton
1987Three doors and the 1.9 GTI arrive
1988PTS Turbo: about 10 road cars
1989Facelift and the 405 Mi16 transplant
1991Goodwood dresses the GTI in green
1992Catalysts cut the GTIs' power
1993The 306 arrives; the 309 winds down
1995Premier restarts assembly in India
  1. 1982

    VERA Plus previews the shape

    The VERA Plus study previews the 309's design with a claimed Cd of 0.22; VERA Profil follows in 1985.2

  2. 1985

    October launch, a first for Ryton

    The five-door launches in France in October: 4.05 m long, 1.63 m wide, 1.38 m tall. Ryton, the former Rootes plant, assembles its first Peugeot.2

  3. 1987

    Three doors and the 1.9 GTI arrive

    February brings three doors and the GTI with the 205 GTI's 1.9: about 128 hp, 930 kg, 0–100 km/h in 8 s and 206 km/h. An Automatic follows in March.234

  4. 1988

    PTS Turbo: about 10 road cars

    An official Peugeot Talbot Sport turbo kit takes the GTI to about 163 hp, creating a road version for racing homologation.5

  5. 1989

    Facelift and the 405 Mi16 transplant

    The facelift lowers the hatch sill; XU/XUD cars gain BE3 gearboxes. The GTI 16 gets 405 Mi16 power: about 158 hp, 975 kg, 7.6 s to 100 km/h and 220 km/h.13

  6. 1991

    Goodwood dresses the GTI in green

    Britain's GTI special pairs Pinewood Green paint with leather, anthracite wheels and a wooden Momo steering wheel; three- and five-door bodies are offered.6

  7. 1992

    Catalysts cut the GTIs' power

    In France, catalysts cut the GTI to about 120 hp and the GTI 16 to 146 hp; Vital models replace GL/XL Profil and GLD/XLD.13

  8. 1993

    The 306 arrives; the 309 winds down

    The 306 debuts on February 18. The 309 range contracts to Vital Plus 1.1 and 1.7 D; European production continues until July 1994.37

  9. 1995

    Premier restarts assembly in India

    Premier assembles five-door GLs at Kalyan from 1995 to 1997; the TUD5 diesel GLD arrives in 1997. Peugeot announces the split that November.2

Every generation

  • Simca 1100
    Simca 11001967–1982
  • Chrysler-Simca-Talbot Horizon
    C21978–1987
  • Peugeot 205
    Peugeot 205
  • Peugeot 309
    C281985–1997
  • Peugeot 306
    Peugeot 306

Power over the years

From 64 hp to 163 hp in 2 years.

050100150200 1986198819901992 hp 1986 · 64 hp · 1.9 XUD diesel1987 · 128 hp · GTI 1.91988 · 91 hp · 1.6 XU52C update1988 · 163 hp · GTI PTS Turbo1989 · 69 hp · Green TU3, replacing G11989 · 77 hp · SRD turbo1989 · 158 hp · GTI 161991 · 74 hp · GL/XL Profil 1.4, updated1992 · 120 hp · GTI, French catalyst update1992 · 146 hp · GTI 16, French catalyst update 163 hp GTI PTS Turbo 64 hp 1.9 XUD diesel
1235
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1986641.9 XUD diesel
1987128GTI 1.9
1988911.6 XU52C update
1988163GTI PTS Turbo
198969Green TU3, replacing G1
198977SRD turbo
1989158GTI 16
199174GL/XL Profil 1.4, updated
1992120GTI, French catalyst update
1992146GTI 16, French catalyst update

Versions

8 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • GE/XE, GL/XL, GR/XR, SR, GRX and Automatic

    Standard

    GE/XE, GL/XL, GR/XR, SR, GRX and Automatic

  • GLD/XLD, GRD/XRD, SRD and Turbo diesels

    Standard

    GLD/XLD, GRD/XRD, SRD and Turbo diesels

  • Standard

    GL and GLD (India)

    1995–1997

  • Standard

    SI and automatic GTI (Japan)

  • GT, XS and SX

    Performance

    GT, XS and SX

  • Chorus, Green, Graffic and Best Line

    Special

    Chorus, Green, Graffic and Best Line

  • Style, Look, Flair, Miami and Vital/Vital+

    Special

    Style, Look, Flair, Miami and Vital/Vital+

  • GTI Goodwood

    Limited

    GTI Goodwood

    1991–1992

    130 hp

How to spot one

Look for

  • Bubble rear glass over a square-cut tail makes this hatch look almost like a sedan.78
  • The rear license plate sits in the bumper.7
  • GTIs have four square auxiliary lamps built into the front bumper.1

Year by year

  1. 1987–1988

    Three-door cars and GTI arrived in 1987; the GTI gained a five-door body in July 1988.12

  2. 1989 facelift

    Two double grille bars gave way to three single bars, paired with red-and-smoked trapezoidal rear lights.13

  3. 1990 model year

    The hatch opening dropped to the base of the rear lights, and the bubble glass gained concealed hinges.3

  4. 1989 facelift

    The dashboard was redesigned; GTIs traded the black rubber spoiler for a one-piece, body-color wing.12

  5. July 1991

    GL/XL Profil and GLD/XLD gained chrome bumper inserts and 12-hole wheel covers; GLD/XLD also got a small rear spoiler.3

  6. 1992

    GTI16 gained semi-leather seating; blue carpet goes with cloth or semi-leather, black carpet with full leather.3

Don’t confuse it with

  • Peugeot 205

    Shared doors create a family resemblance; the 309 is longer and has a stepped, bubble-glass tail.278

  • Photo of a Peugeot 309
    309
    Photo of a Renault 11
    Renault 11

    Renault 11

    Both use bubble rear glass; the 309 has a square-cut, high tail beneath it.7

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $2.5K–$20.5K181920

Price when newValue today
$0$10K$20K$30K 1990200020102020 Value today: $2,500–$20,500 1987 · $16,600 · France GTI, approx. 1987 USD1992 · $24,900 · France GTI16 cat., approx. 1992 USD
417
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1987Price when new$16,600France GTI, approx. 1987 USD
1992Price when new$24,900France GTI16 cat., approx. 1992 USD
2026Value today$2,500–$20,500

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 8 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 13 stories from its legend
    • “Two FIA numbers, two competition groups”
    • “A rally ladder called Volant Peugeot Shell”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 20 sources
  1. Peugeot 309 GTI. Une sportive qui vaut le détour ! - L'argus largus.fr
  2. Peugeot 309 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. Peugeot 309 — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  4. Essai rétro Peugeot 309 : une mal aimée qui fête ses 40 ans - L'argus largus.fr
  5. 309 GTI Turbo « 165 » : peut être la plus rare des Peugeot carjager.com
  6. Peugeot 309 GTI Goodwood: la 309 idéale ? carjager.com
  7. Peugeot 309 (1985-1993) : La Compacte Trop Oubliée lenouvelautomobiliste.fr
  8. The Peugeot 309 GTI - Ixocollections ixocollections.com
  9. Curbside Classic: 1991 Peugeot 309 SI – The Unloved Step-Child - Curbside Classic curbsideclassic.com
  10. Peugeot 309 GTI - Guide des SportivesGuide des Sportives guide-autosport.com
  11. Essai comparatif Peugeot 309 GTI 16 vs 308 GTi : c'était mieux avant ? - L'argus largus.fr
  12. Simca 1100 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  13. Chrysler Horizon - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  14. Essai comparatif Peugeot 309 GTI 16 vs 308 GTi : c'était mieux avant ? - L'argus largus.fr
  15. 309 | FIA Historic Database historicdb.fia.com
  16. EA SPORTS™ WRC Car List - March 2025 Update ea.com
  17. Peugeot 309 GTI16 Catalysée - Guide des SportivesGuide des Sportives guide-autosport.com
  18. 1993 PEUGEOT 309 GL AUTO | Sat 31 January & Sun 1 February | Anglia Car Auctions angliacarauctions.co.uk
  19. 25 modern classics that could make you money - Motoring Research motoringresearch.com
  20. Sold | 1992 Peugeot 309 GTI 16 theclassicvaluer.com
  • largus.fr
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • fr.wikipedia.org
  • carjager.com
  • lenouvelautomobiliste.fr
  • ixocollections.com
  • curbsideclassic.com
  • guide-autosport.com
  • historicdb.fia.com
  • ea.com
  • angliacarauctions.co.uk
  • motoringresearch.com
  • theclassicvaluer.com

Photo credits

Other car files