Peugeot 208 Review

Performance3.5/5

The Peugeot 208 has 4 petrol engines and 2 diesel engines to choose from. The entry level Peugeot 208 comes with a 1.0 petrol engine which produces 68 bhp but it’s worth paying a little extra to get the 1.2, which has 82 bhp, and has the right balance of power and acceleration. Above that are a 1.4 and a 1.6 engine, both quicker but neither seem quite as refined. If you are going for a diesel I’d opt for the 1.6 e-HDi which is a really nice engine, especially when cruising along the motorway. Avoid the semi-automatic gearboxes that are offered with models, they feel clunky especially when downshifting.

Handling2.5/5

The 207 was a monstrosity of a car to drive, and I’m pleased to say that the Peugeot 208’s handling is a marked improvement. It is a car that feels light to drive which makes it feel at home in the city. The trouble is it just doesn’t feel composed in the corner, anything handled at above 40mph feels a little out of control and the body kind of lollops through the middle of the corner. It also struggles a bit on rougher surfaces. With the hot hatch market being so competitive and with handling being so important in this category it’s a real shame Peugeot still haven’t got it quite right, It means that while the Peugeot 208 is not the worst car in the field, there are definitely markedly better cars to drive in this class.

Exterior3.5/5

The Peugeot 208 looks smaller than the 207 and that’s because it is, this smaller look makes the 208 look more sleek and streamlined, it looks like the quintessential hot hatch. The Peugeot 208’s rear styling is in line with previous incarnations but the front has a more flowing feel with the grille sliding into the bonnet in a smooth fashion.

Interior3.5/5

The Peugeot might look smaller on the outside but on the inside it feels much bigger, leg room in both the front and back is excellent and the seats are comfortable which makes long journeys feel very manageable for passengers. The Peugeot 208’s boot is competitive with others in the class, being similar in size to the boot you’ll find in the Fiesta. There is more space available if you fold the seats down, but the 60/40 split is not available on the basic models, which these days is a bit stingy, and the seats are fiddly to fold down if you’ve opted for the 3 door.

Equipment3/5

The entry level model on the Peugeot 208 is the Access, and I really would recommend you pay the bit extra to avoid this class; it’s poorly equipped, remote central locking, a CD player, and electric windows are pretty much all you get. Once you get up to the Access+ things improve markedly – air con, one touch electric windows, colour coded door mirrors that are electric and heated and cruise control are all included. The Active model is the first one you get 60/40 folding seats in, (which seems crazy to me,) you also get the very nice 7 inch touch screen as well as 15 inch alloys USB connectivity and Bluetooth. The Peugeot 208 Allure comes with 16 inch alloys, a leather steering wheel, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers and sports upholstery. The top of the range model is the Feline and adds a panoramic sunroof, 17 inch alloys, rear spoiler, leather upholstery and sport seats. Also look out for Peugeot’s new driving apps, which are an optional extra, and gives the driver extra information about petrol stations, parking, restaurants and other information.

Safety4/5

The Peugeot 208 comes with plenty of good safety features. 6 airbags, ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and stability control with anti-skid are all available. One of the nice new features that Peugeot is offering with the 208 is the Connect SOS and Assistance system, which will contact the emergency services the minute your airbags are deployed and can also give the emergency services a pinpoint location of your car.

Buying & Owning3/5

Peugeot claim they have worked hard to iron out the niggles that plagued the 207 but unfortunately we will have to wait and see how that pans out. The diesels are the most economical – the 1.4 e-HDi running at 83mpg – but the petrol’s won’t rinse you at the pumps either. Peugeot 208 diesel models are likely to hold there price better than the petrol versions but they are pricier in the first place, so decide what fits your needs best.

Reviewed by cars2buy