Peugeot 208 - TopCarNews

Peugeot 208 (2020 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Peugeot 208 is a small, supermini-class, five-door hatchback. The current model was launched in 2019 and arrived in UK showrooms in January 2020.

The new 208 is also available with an electric motor, which is called the e-208. We now have a separate page for this model, as it is substantially different to the combustion-engined model.

The Peugeot 208 currently holds an Expert Rating of 71% as of November 2021, which puts it in the top half of its segment but still several points behind the class-leading Ford Fiesta. It’s worth pointing out that a lot of the reviews we have analysed so far have come from the international launch, so this score may change significantly as more local reviews are published. We will keep updating the results, so check back again soon for the latest information.

The media reviews for the 208 to date have been generally positive, with praise for the car’s design – both inside and out – as well as its interior quality. However, some sources have been rather critical of the firm ride and poor handling compared to the best cars in its class. A four-star Euro NCAP safety rating is also below the scores set by many rivals.

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door hatchbackEngines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £16,250 on-road

Launched: Winter 2019/20Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

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Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The new Peugeot 208 is great to look at and offers good performance, but can’t eclipse the best in the supermini class.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“Peugeot has picked its battles and invested accordingly: the 208’s appeal continues to lie mainly in its design. The big difference is that perceived quality now lives up to the ambitious interior styling and it all sits inside a tremendously attractive body.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual GT Line“Inside, all new 208s are much like another, which is no bad thing, given that they look really very good.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The new Peugeot 208 offers something sufficiently distinctive to make Brits question their devotion to the stuck-in-a-rut Ford Fiesta, and sufficiently samey to pose a dilemma for Vauxhall Corsa loyalists – 208 and Corsa are duplicates under the skin, bar ride and handling and specification tweaks.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“Peugeot has significantly improved the 208 in just about every area – dishing out an incredibly stylish and appealing model that will have massive appeal to those looking for a desirable city car.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8.8 / 10“The Peugeot 208 hatchback is a modern, stylish supermini with a future-proof engine range but it’s a shame it’s not more fun to drive”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“The Peugeot 208 is a superb small car to look at inside and out, comes with generous levels of equipment and is brilliant in EV form. It is a little tight for adults in the back, though.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Allure“A smart supermini that will win buyers with its looks and grown-up drive.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic GT LineScore: 8 / 10“The all-new Peugeot 208 supermini looks fantastic – even if it isn’t quite the best in its class.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic GT LineScore: 8 / 10“The new Peugeot 208 is an excellent all-round car. It’s fun and sporty on country roads, it’s easy to live with in the city, and it feels like a refined car from a class above on the motorway. It also looks good and the interior has an interesting modern dashboard. There are very few weak points, aside from the fact that it could be easier to access information on the infomedia system.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual“With its stylish looks and superb interior, we think the Peugeot 208 is a car that will sell itself as soon as potential buyers enter showrooms. It’s not perfect – the infotainment system is frustrating, there are more practical choices available and some will prefer how the Ford Fiesta drives – but it’s a car that’ll appeal to both head and heart.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The interior of the Peugeot 208 GT-Line feels just as upmarket as bigger and more expensive Peugeot models like the 508 and 3008 with a similar i-cockpit in which you look over the small steering wheel at the driver display rather than through it.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“Smart looks – even smarter tech and engineering”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol GT Line“It will sell like hot sausage rolls on looks alone. And it’s the same story inside. But it’s a bit of a case of style over substance, if I’m brutally honest. The ride quality isn’t brilliant. It’s a bit jiggly. The boot has shrunk. And Peugeot’s signature small steering wheel doesn’t work in this car — particularly for taller drivers who like to sit low.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 6 / 10“Lovely package massively let down by ride and handling”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual ActiveScore: 8 / 10“Compared to the Renault Clio, the Peugeot 208 is more enjoyable and more comfortable to drive. It’s easier too, and when you’re dealing with traffic in town, where these cars will usually be found, that counts for a lot.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual GT LineScore: 8 / 10“Great-looking or over the top? It depends on your point of view, but there’s no denying the design work that’s gone into this car, on which so many hopes are pinned. Launching one car with petrol, diesel and battery drivetrains is brave, but perhaps far-sighted. Either way, it’s entertaining, good fun and unmistakably French.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“A supremely desirable, futuristic ‘mini with a powertrain for everyone. Just beware the firm ride”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8 / 10“The clear draw of the Peugeot 208 is its distinctive styling, but it also has a wonderfully executed interior that appeals both to look at and to touch.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6.4 / 10“The Peugeot 208 is certainly easy on the eye, continuing Peugeot’s recent successful design themes. Pleasingly, the quality of the interior has also been raised to match the best in class, and it’s quiet and relaxed on the move.”
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall rating: 4 stars
Date tested: November 2019

91%

ADULT OCCUPANT

86%

CHILD OCCUPANT

56%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

71%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 1.2-litre petrol manual 100hp
Date tested: November 2020

4.7 / 10

CLEAN AIR INDEX

6.2 / 10

ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDEX

5.1 / 10

GREENHOUSE GAS INDEX

Read full Green NCAP review

Model tested: 1.5 Blue HDI 100 diesel 4X2 manual
Date tested: July 2021

5.1 / 10

CLEAN AIR INDEX

7.2 / 10

ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDEX

4.5 / 10

GREENHOUSE GAS INDEX

Read full Green NCAP review

Three stars

The Peugeot 208 1.2-litre petrol variant of the 208 achieved a three-star eco rating from Green NCAP in November 2021, while the 1.5-litre diesel version was awarded a three-star eco rating from in July 2021.

Green NCAP said: “The Peugeot 208 1.5 BlueHDi 100 represents the latest in diesel technology and performs well. It achieves high scores for Energy Efficiency. The Greenhouse Gas Index is the weakest of the three areas of assessment, but the Peugeot emerges with a solid three-star rating.”

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Peugeot 208 has received

2021

Fleet News Awards – Best Small Car

2020

European Car of the Year
Fleet News Awards – Best Small Car
Red Dot Awards – Product Design
What Car? Awards – Best Small Car over £18K

2019

carwow Awards – Little Legend Award

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