The 208 is the entry model to the Peugeot model line-up, with the 308 directly above it. It competes in the B-segment against the VW Polo, Renault Clio and Audi A1 among others.
European Car of the Year 2020 it has been given an upgrade for 2024.
You buy this small car from the heart for its striking and sporty good looks both inside and out, its premium finish and the long list of useful standard equipment. A car for zipping around town, easy to park and which I think will appeal more to women drivers than to men. But also an ideal car for a small family before the children grow to lanky teenagers requiring more head and leg space and the ability to be able to carry their ‘stuff’.
My review car in Agueda Yellow would be hard to miss in a packed carpark. But for me the contrasting privacy glass and black spoiler made the yellow stand out even more. There are five other exterior colours to choose from. All are bright with a black diamond roof, gloss black wheel arches and gloss window surround, and diamond cut alloy wheels with inserts. The entry Active spec has 16-inch steel wheels. Allure has 16-inch two-tone diamond cut alloys, and the GT has 17-inch wheels.
The cabin is stylish with beautiful trims and materials and I felt warmly cocooned. The patterned seats were comfy, though they only had manual adjustments and a tall front passenger moaned the lack of a height adjustment on his seat. I was able to get a good driving position after raising my own seat and shifting it forward and also adjusting the steering wheel but then found it difficult to fully see my current speed on the instrument cluster above the steering wheel. A Heads Up Display would have been a bonus. There are paddles off the steering wheel for changing from automatic transmission to manual in certain driving conditions.
The 10-inch infotainment touchscreen sits on top of the dash and includes Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You see the temperature on the top of the screen along with the digital time. A row of piano toggles below the screen are for fan, air con etc and there’s a real knob for volume control. Close by are two small USB ports, smartphone storage and 12v socket. The automatic transmission selector is on the flat of the central console as is the case with other Stellantis models. Here also is the drive mode control for Sport, Normal and Eco drive modes.
There’s an open cubby on the dash, but not much space below the front armrest, and the glovebox doesn’t hold much either. There’s just about enough legroom for those in the back. Rear door bins are smaller than those in front, there are B and C USB ports. Rear seats can split-folding 1/3-2/3.
Boot capacity of 311 litres is decent for a car this size. This can be expanded to 1,106 litres with rear seats down. There’s a high loading lip to contend with when loading or unloading items. There was also a well for a spare. A spare wheel is standard with the 17-inch of both hybrid or petrol.
The grades include Active, Allure and GT grades. Petrols are 1.2-litre outputting 75bhp and 100bhp. The Hybrid 136bhp have a 6-speed automatic transmission, available with Allure and GT levels which also get the electric 156bhp version. The hybrid can do from 0-100km/h in 9.8 secs, the 136 version does it in 8.1 secs. Torque is 260Nm and hybrid road tax €180. I found the hybrid zippy enough to drive in everyday use and for overtaking or motorway driving.
Specification included six airbags, ISOFIX and top tether fasteners on rear side seats, automatic locking of all doors while driving, very good reversing camera, and rear parking sensors. But my car had no blind spot monitor. Allure grade gets Visiopark 2 comprising HD front and rear cameras with touchscreen display of front, rear views and 360deg top view of the car’s environment. A safety pack includes Cruise Control/Speed Limiter, automatic emergency braking with collision warning, and extended traffic sign recognition.
Combined fuel consumption is circa 4.7 L/100kms for hybrids and around 5.2-5.4 L/100kms for petrols. Torque is 260Nm, Road Tax €180 for my hybrid version.
A good start point for the brand’s line-up.
Prices are from €26,195; my hybrid Allure spec from €30,495. Prices include SEAI grant and VRT rebate.
