Despite registering low volume sales figures locally, Peugeot's 208 is one of Europe's best-selling passenger cars. We spent a week with one to see what all the fuss is about.
The Peugeot brand has not had the easiest of times reentering the local market, with the French marque doing its best to regain the trust of local car buyers after a part availability problem at the turn of the century as well as the departure and subsequent return of sister company Citroen a few years back.
Despite this, there is no denying that Peugeot is a big brand in the global automotive sphere, with 1.21-million vehicles sold globally in 2021, nearly three times the total volume of the local market alone. Of this, over 200 000 sales were attributed to the 208 hatchback in Europe, which begs the question, should you consider a 208 when shopping in the B-segment? We spent a week in one to find out.
Styling
While our test unit was the mid-spec Allure model and not the flagship GT-Line, we still think that it is a great looking product. The front end is characterised by its three-dimensional grille that extends into the aggressively-styled headlamps which also include long LED daytime running lights that run towards the lower end of the bumper. The rear features LED taillamps that the brand claims are styled in a ‘lion-claw-motif’ with three distinctive red bars for effect. The overall design is something entirely unique, entirely Peugeot, and that is something to be praised.
Interior and space
The interior of the 208 is interesting, with a wrap-around cockpit that is very driver-centric, while the 3D i-Cockpit, the variety of martial surfaces and the simple ergonomics make it a great place to spend time. One area that we have struggled with in Peugeot products is the small steering wheel, which looks great and is easy to use, but it often constructs the instrument cluster, necessitating more seat and steering wheel height adjustments, meaning your seat is either too high or too low. The 10.0-inch infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but is quite a difficult system to use, while the audio system was not quite as high a quality as we anticipated. The general fit and finish are where we were impressed with the 208, with high-quality materials and a general impression that the 208 is well built and will last, a feeling that has been absent before.
From a practical perspective, the 208 is lacking when it comes to rear occupant room, with a six-foot passenger claiming that it was relatively tight at the back. The boot offers 311-litres of space, and 1 106-litres with the second row of seats folded flat, which is not class-leading, but is certainly sufficient.
Performance and driving impression
The 208 is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that is paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox sending the 74kW and 205Nm of torque through the front wheels. The healthy torque figure and 1 159kg kerb weight mean that the 208 is reasonably brisk, particularly when it comes to in-gear acceleration, making it good for open-road overtaking. Peugeot claims a 0-100km/h time of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 188 km/h.
The area where we were most impressed with the 208 was in the ride quality, road noise and general refinement departments. We drove the 208 across a variety of road surfaces throughout our time with the vehicle and found that despite its 16-inch alloy wheels, the 208 was an absolute joy to drive.
Safety
In 2019, the 208 was crash-tested by the Euro NCAP vehicle safety programme, where it achieved a 4-Star rating, receiving 91% for adult occupant safety, 86% for child occupant safety, 56% for pedestrian safety and 71% for its safety assistance systems. Standard safety items include six airbags, traction and stability control as well as hill-start control and ISOFIX child seat anchor points.
Fuel economy
The little Peugeot is claimed to sip fuel at a rate of 5.8 L/100km, however, our near 1 500km spent in the vehicle resulted in a combined consumption figure of 6.2 L/100km, which is impressive considering our mixed driving cycle.
Pricing
The 208, in 1.2T Allure guise retails for R365 900, making it slightly more expensive than similarly specified rivals such as the Volkswagen Polo, the latest Renault Clio and the Ford Fiesta. The model comes with a 3-year/60 000km service plan as well as a 5-year/100 000km warranty.
Verdict
Our time spent with the 208 was overwhelmingly positive, with Peugeot’s B-segment contender proving to be a good looking, well-built, efficient and reasonably practical vehicle. It is not perfect, with slightly cramped rear quarters, an ageing infotainment system and the hit-or-miss steering wheel being chief complaints. If you are shopping in this segment, we urge you to drive one of these, as it may just surprise you as an overall package.
Keyword: Peugeot 208 1.2T Allure (2022) review: An underrated B-segment contender