Peugeot 208 information: everything you need to know if you have pre-ordered it, are thinking of buying one or just want to find out more about Peugeot’s superlight supermini. Click on the links below for all of CAR magazine’s news, reviews, videos, scoops and spy photos of the new 208 car range. We list the top five stories for each model – and where appropriate you can click on ‘More’ to browse even more of our archive content.
Background
A big step on from the 207, the Peugeot 208 was the first Pug to try the titchy steering wheel and raised instrument cluster setup, where you look over, rather than through, the wheel at the dials. There’s a wide range of engines, from 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrols to a punchy 1.6-litre diesel, and a GTi version that’s more refined than raw. For more information on the Peugeot 208 click on our further stories on the links below.
60sec road test
One of the 208’s standout strengths is its cabin. Smart, minimal and dominated by an enormous (yet fiddly) touchscreen, it’s an attractive environment, if one with a few foibles. That steering wheel/instrument setup is divisive, either innovative and interesting or ergonomically flawed and gimmicky, depending on which side of the fence you occupy. In fact, the 208 range as a whole seems to occupy several camps as this is the very definition of a spec-sensitive car. The five-speed manual gearbox on three-cylinder cars is slack and horrible but the six-speed on other variants is fine, interiors range from austere to decadent depending on which trim you plump for, and even the handling seems to vary dramatically from car to car depending on its wheels and spec. Choose the right combination, though, and it’s an appealing supermini. As for the GTi, it’s genuinely fast and surprisingly comfortable, but less thrilling than we’d hoped.
The one we’d buy
XY trim has similar chassis tweaks to the GTi; 1.6 e-HDi diesel is punchy, if laggy
The one we’d avoid like the plague
1.0 VTi engine is sluggish; base models don’t get that touchscreen
Rivals to consider
Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Renault Clio, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia, Suzuki Swift, Vauxhall Corsa, VW Polo
For
Modern, minimal interior; chic exterior; lots of choice
Against
Not everyone likes the steering wheel/dial setup; very spec-sensitive; rubbish air-con