Reviews of the Peugeot 208

The Peugeot 208 has been a constant on roads across Europe for the last ten years. Now in its second generation, the 208 is a smart hatchback that comes with a good choice of engines and plenty of practicality. 

Rivals to the 208 include the Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Citroen C3, Seat Ibiza, and Volkswagen Polo. 

Our Peugeot 208 review covers:

• Good exterior design with bold front grille and sharp LED lights 
• Beautiful exterior design featuring premium materials
• 311-litre boot
• Three petrol and one diesel engine
• Three trim levels 

Pros:

• Stylish exterior 
• High-quality interior 
• Punchy petrol engine 

Cons:

• Rear legroom is not great 
• Infotainment system tricky to use
• Ride quality could do with some improvement 

Like most things that come out of France, the 208 is a good-looking thing. It has a bold front grille with a chrome effect, sharp three-claw LED headlights, and refined body lines from front to back. 

Although a small car, there's enough room to fit four adults in the 208 easily. Things get tricky when you add a fifth passenger into the mix, and the rear passengers will be brushing shoulders. We have no qualms whatsoever about space in the front; however, legroom in the rear could do with some improvement. 

Boot space comes in at 311 litres for the 208, which is slightly larger than the Ford Fiesta but narrowly smaller than the Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza. It's worth noting that the opening is quite narrow, so it's a bit tricky when loading larger items. 

The interior of the 208 is not only stylish but features a range of high-quality materials. The dashboard takes the form of a two-tier system, and it looks amazing. It also has immense build quality and has premium materials such as soft-touch plastics and a leather steering wheel. It's one of the best interiors around and is on par with the Audi A1 Sportback. 

You get a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the dashboard, which includes a DAB radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone mirroring. If you want a sat-nav, you'll need to upgrade to the Allure Premium+ trim. The standard system will fit the bill but isn't as advanced as those found in the Volkswagen Polo or Seat Ibiza. 

Three trim levels are available: Active Premium+, Allure Premium+, and GT. 

Active Premium+ has 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, power folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors, and automatic lights and wipers. 

Allure Premium+ has a configurable Peugeot 3D i-Cockpit, 3D connected navigation, a 180-degree colour reversing camera, and an aluminium-style pack for the pedals and front door sills. 

GT has 17-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights and Smartbeam assist, front parking sensors, a diamond black roof, and eight-colour interior ambient lighting. 

Three petrol and one diesel make up the engine range. The entry-level petrol is the 1.2-litre PureTech 100, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. A relatively strong engine with 99hp and achieving 0-62ph in 9.9 seconds, it pulls well from low revs and is good on country roads and motorways. It also returns the best fuel economy for the petrols with a combined 50 - 58mpg. 

You can opt for an eight-speed automatic with the PureTech 100, which slightly hinders performance and drops fuel economy. 

The most powerful petrol is the 1.2-litre PureTech 130. Paired with an eight-speed automatic, it has 129hp and achieves 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds. 

If you spend a lot of time on the road, the 1.5-litre BlueHDi 100 diesel is the most sensible choice. Coming with practically the same performance as the PureTech 100, it increases fuel economy to a whopping 61 - 72 mpg. 

In terms of its performance, the 208 excels with its nimble handling and agile drive dynamics. This makes it good to drive around town, and you shouldn't have too many issues parking in tight spaces. Suspension is also quite soft at lower speeds, and the entry-level 16-inch wheels deal with bumps and cracks in the road well. 

As you increase the speed, you'll notice the 208 deals with bumps much easier, which makes motorway driving a breeze. On a country lane, its light steering gives it a sporty feel and makes for a fun and engaging drive, albeit not as much fun as the Ford Fiesta. 

Prices for the new Peugeot 208 start from £19,010.00 OTR* or to lease from £174.16 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Peugeot 208? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.