Peugeot 208 Review

The Peugeot 208 has had a nip and tuck and is much better for it, it has more presence and looks cuter. But has it nipped ahead of the Ford Fiesta? Read on to find out…

Plenty of engines are offered on the 208 line-up. Petrol engines range from the entry-level three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit through to the top of the range 1.6-litre petrol engine powering the GTi model. One of the most popular engines is likely to be the 1.2-litre PureTech 82 unit, consumer and fleet buyer will both be attracted to this car thanks to the low running costs aligned to a decent amount of performance. This PureTech engine will power the 208 from zero to 62mph in 12.2 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 109mph where legal. The petrol engine is a good unit and propels the little 208 at a fair rate of knots – it certainly feels quicker than the claimed benchmark sprint time.

If you are planning to clock up a lot of miles then a diesel unit may be a better option.

Peugeot 208 Product Manager, Nicola Dobson believes the 1.6 BlueHDi 75 will be the most popular diesel engine when it replaces 1.4-litre HDi 70 on the 208 range.

The 1.6 BlueHDi 75 will complete the benchmark sprint in 13.3 seconds and has a top speed of 103mph. The diesel unit really does feel heavier and you do need to work the ‘box harder in the derv powered model.

On the road the little 1.2 PureTech 82 feels nimble and agile while the engine has more than enough power to whizz you past slower traffic on single lane carriageways. The 208 has always had a good chassis and this new version just reminds you of how good the little 208 really is. Okay, so it is a tad behind the Ford Fiesta on the driving enjoyment front, however, it is more fun than the Renault’s Clio.

The 1.6 BlueHDi 75 makes the steering a tad heavier while the front also feels much heavier and wants understeer in the corners. The 208 is much better drive when mated to a petrol engine – small cars are always better when they are mated to small petrol power plants.

Both cars have good front-end grip, and the suspension is well set-up between handling and ride comfort. There is little bodyroll through corners, which allows driving enthusiasts the confidence to ‘push on’ – the one downside is the power-assisted steering – if only the 208 had a bit more feedback through the wheel then it would really be on the Fiesta’s coat tails. At present, the 208 is close but it can’t quite manage to jump to the top step of the podium just yet.

Small cars are never going to be refined as a family hatchback but the makers are upping the ante and the likes of the 208 and its rivals including VW’s Polo and Ford’s Fiesta have improved drastically. The build quality on the 208 was good, but this refreshed version has had a few tweaks, which have given the 208 a mid-life cycle boost. Normally small cars are not known for quiet cabins but the 208 is now on a par with the top models in the sector. The three-cylinder engine gives out a characterful whine, while the derv powered cars are a tad more vocal. With all that said, engine, wind and road roar are minimal as the cabin is fairly well insulated.

Peugeot is aiming to put more pressure on the class leaders including Ford’s Fiesta and Volkswagen’s Polo. With the addition of new technology and a better interior, the 208 is certainly on the right road.

Standard equipment on the entry-level Access trim includes a radio/CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, manual aircon, and a gearshift indicator are just some of the highlights.

Active trim adds a leather trimmed steering wheel that is trimmed in full-grain leather, cruise control, USB socket and a seven-inch colour touchscreen.

Allure includes a visibility pack which features auto headlights, auto wipers, and an electrochrome rear view mirror and a rear parking aid come as standard, whereas, the GT line features electric rear windows, and automatic dual zone aircon.

The French maker introduced the i-Cockpit in 2012 when the 208 was originally launched. Since then it has become an integral part of the 208. Not only has the 208 received this cabin the 308, European Car of the Year in 2014 also received this cabin design. The cockpit features a compact steering wheel – a marmite trait – some love it, other do anything but, the i-Cockpit also offers a head-up instrument panel, and a large touchscreen which is easy to use and navigate. The touchscreen is the focal point in the cabin and it is important as gives the driver and front seat passenger access to all the entertainment systems including audio, satnav, Bluetooth connectivity, vehicle information and the internet.

Enhancements to the 208 include improved comfort, little gestures like adding full-grain leather to the steering wheel adds a touch of class as do the soft-touch moulded dashboard strip.

Improvements may not be huge but they are important and add real quality to the little Peugeot. 

Interior space in the 208 is quite good. You can easily seat four adults in comfort, even six footers will squeeze in the rear if you need to, however, make those journeys shorts ones.

As you would expect, access to the rear in the three-door model is, how shall we say it, cramped – five-door models remain the best option for those of you with families or need constant access to the rear.

There’s no change in the load space – the amount of space remains identical to the original 208. With the rear bench in place, there is a load space of 285 litres, fold the rear bench and the boot space expands to 1,152 litres. That gives the 208 a larger load space with the rear bench folded than Ford’s Fiesta has 974 litres while the Volkswagen Polo offers 952 litres. Unfortunately, the wheel arches impinge a little in the 208, so if you are loading your golf clubs, our advice is to take the woods and driver out of the bag before loading. Lay the big clubs on the rear seat and you can load the rest with ease.

Up-front there are two cup holders, handy if you need to stow drinks for a long journey and the glovebox is of a decent size. 

Peugeot 208 Product Manager, Nicola Dobson said, “Around 55 per cent of all Peugeot 208 models will be sold in the retail sector with the remaining percentage going to the fleet market.” The 208 is Peugeot’s best-selling car in the UK while petrol engines are the favoured power unit.

The engines on the 2015 line-up have become more frugal and much cleaner when it comes to CO2 emissions. Up and down the country, the 208 is a common sight in UK towns and cities and it is becoming a more competitive proposition when you pin it up against the might Ford fiesta and the VW Polo.

Residuals are on the up, the quality both on the exterior and on the interior meaning the 208 will be worth more as a used car than ever before.

The Peugeot has received a little nip and tuck and to the casual observer there are very few differences between a 2014 car and a 2015 model. The most popular trim is likely to be Active followed by Allure. Our advice would be – work out the miles you are going to cover per annum and then work out if a petrol or diesel engine is going to be more efficient. You can do this by using the new Motoring tools.

The materials on the interior of the Peugeot 208 are of a high class. The 208 has a better finish than a Mazda2 or Renault’s Clio – it is on a par with the Ford Fiesta but the Volkswagen Polo has still just about got the upper hand. When the Peugeot 208 was first introduced in 2012, the testing programme had been comprehensive – it shows, after three years of the current model, Peugeot has ironed out a lot of niggles that was a bane for 207 owners. The 208 is a quality little car and performs well in reliability surveys.

Peugeot offers Active City Brake and a reversing camera as options. Active City Brake works in urban conditions and at less than 20mph making it possible to avoid an accident or reduce the impact of a potential crash. The reversing camera is always a useful addition and it could be a well spent £200 as it could save lots on scrapes and dings throughout the lifetime of your car.

Standard safety equipment on the 208 includes stability control with anti-skid and hill start assist, emergency brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, and cornering brake control. Safet kit on the interior features two front airbags, two side airbags, two curtain airbags and Isofix child seat fixings with three-point attachments at the rear.

When tested by Euro NCAP, the 208 achieved five stars while it scored 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 78 per cent for child occupant protection and 61 per cent for pedestrian.