Intro
Three years have passed since the launch of the second and current generation of the Peugeot 208. A premium compact city car with a futuristic look that intends to carve out a lion's share (no pun intended). What is it worth compared to the references of the category like the Renault Clio or the Citroën C3? Answer in our test!
Design
For its second life, the Peugeot 208 has chosen a rather flashy style and the result is stunning. At the front, there is a large, very expressive grille with daytime running lights in the shape of a lion's claw. The profile is both slender and muscular thanks to a gain of 9 cm in length and a loss of 3 cm in height. The sculpted wheel arches accentuate the bestial character of this city car. At the rear, as on its big sister the 508, the tailgate of the trunk is crossed by a black band which connects lights sporting the now classic three claws of the Sochaux manufacturer.
Interior
Inside, the cockpit (because yes it looks more like an airplane cockpit than that of a city car) is very successful. The materials honor European standards while the finish is also a marked improvement compared to the previous version. Obviously, some plastics are less flattering but the assembly quality remains very correct. On the other hand, despite reworked ergonomics, you will need a little time to adapt before finding the right driving position. Indeed, the upper part of the steering wheel tends to slightly obstruct the view of the central instrumentation. That said, this second generation of the "i-cockpit" nevertheless makes up for it with a customizable 3D display with a very successful rendering. In terms of equipment,
In terms of habitability, the 208 is certainly not “first class” but accommodates its occupants without too much difficulty. That said, access to the rear seats is difficult because the cutout of the doors makes the opening quite narrow. At the level of the trunk, the 208 and its 311 liters of loading does not compete with its direct competitor, the Renault Clio, which has 391 liters.
Driving
In terms of driving, the 208 is surprising with this engine. Under the hood there is a 1,199 cc three-cylinder engine block developing 130 hp and 230 Nm of torque. It is very rare that we are seduced by a three-cylinder but this little engine was a pleasant surprise. From the first accelerations, we feel the vivacity of this mechanism. We won't go so far as to compare it with the legendary Peugeot 205 GTI, but the sensations were there! Obviously, in the upper part of the revs, the engine is relatively noisy but this is quickly forgiven when you start to chain turns. On this subject, the agile chassis of the 208 (Peugeot is renowned for making very good chassis) allows dynamic driving that will reward you! Of course, the somewhat firm suspensions help keep the car on the straight and narrow. In terms of gear changes, the 208 is equipped with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. In everyday driving, this box is perfectly suited to our road conditions. However, once launched on the highway, we would have appreciated a better leveling of the box which seemed a little capricious to us.
Consumption
Criterion number one for some buyers, fuel consumption has become over the years a war of numbers! Peugeot announces a consumption of 5.4 L/100 km. After a day of testing, this figure increased slightly to 6.3 L/100km. An honorable score given the performance of the vehicle but which could still climb depending on your driving style.
Verdict:
The Peugeot 208 obviously has more than one string to its bow. Versatile, fun to drive and practical, it should probably be able to attract a large number of customers. However, she comes to battle with a starting handicap; his price…
Most :
- Modern look
- Motorization
- Road behavior
The lessers :
- Price
- Ergonomics
