Peugeot 208 Review (2019-present)
Peugeot 208 cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Sharp and stylish looks
Comfortable and quiet
Impressive battery-electric version
Cons
Not as much fun as a Ford Fiesta
Only scored four out of five in Euro NCAP tests
Quite pricey as a new car
The CarGurus verdict
Buyers wanting a small hatchback have a plethora of options and it can often be difficult to settle on what’s best. However, the looks alone of the 208 are liable to firmly grab your attention – and, fortunately, the rest of the car is similarly impressive and worthy of your time.
It isn’t the cheapest supermini around, admittedly, but the premium nets you an upmarket, neatly finished and well-equipped car that’s also a little more mature and refined than some of the alternatives. It’s not as rewarding as a Ford Fiesta but it’s still a decent car to drive, and comfortable, and there is fun to be had in the more powerful models.
The option of the all-electric e-208 adds another appealing facet to Peugeot’s compact offering and gives the car another edge against the common alternatives. If budget and warranty are key, though, take a look at a Kia Rio or a Hyundai i20.
What is the Peugeot 208?
The new Peugeot 208 is a small five-door hatchback that rivals city cars such as the Ford Fiesta, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i20, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo – among many others. Standing out in such a competitive field is no mean feat but the second-generation 208, which made its debut in 2019, is easy to distinguish in a crowd thanks to its distinctive styling.
It’s not just a substantially overhauled first-generation 208, either, and there’s far more to it than just a smart-looking exterior. Under its skin sits the brand’s new CMP platform, a choice of powertrains including an all-electric option and a host of new features and technologies – and, inside, there’s an all-new and modern cabin.
Launched in 2019, the 208 has already proved to be as popular as the French firm’s previous small car offerings, while to many eyes it’s the brand’s most stylish and desirable supermini since its legendary 205 from the Eighties.
How practical is it?
With its all-new platform, the 208 is a roomier and more practical proposition than its predecessor, but it’s still one of the smaller models in the supermini class. It’s not cramped by any stretch of the imagination, but a Skoda Fabia or SEAT Ibiza serve-up more space for similar cash.
Those sitting up front are certainly well catered for, with good head and legroom, plus the driver gets a wide range of seat and wheel adjustment. That said, the 208 does feature the firm’s trademark i-Cockpit, which comprises a high set instrument pack that is supposed to put all the vital information in the driver’s eyeline. However, it also requires some to have the steering wheel set low so as not to obscure the display, resulting in an awkward driving position.
There’s enough space for kids in the rear, while taller adults are unlikely to grumble unless you subject them to longer journeys. The 208 is also five-door only now, so access to the rear bench is fairly straightforward. You’ll also not be sure of storage space wherever you sit, with a deep lidded cubby between the front seats, a deep tray ahead of the gear lever, decent door bins and a smattering of cupholders.
At 311-litres, the 208’s boot is only average by the standards of the class, but it’s big enough that most young families should be able to squeeze in everything they need. Fold the split/fold rear seats flat and you’ll unlock a fairly handy 1,106-litres of carrying capacity. Better still, because the Peugeot was designed from the outset to house an EV battery and motor, the all-electric e-208 is just as roomy.
What's it like to drive?
Thanks in part to its all-new underpinnings, the second-generation Peugeot 208 is a satisfying car to drive. It rides very well and is impressively refined, meaning it manages that neat trick of feeling like a bigger car at speed, so it’s not tiring or unpleasant to drive over longer distances.
It’s not as agile and entertaining as some of its famous forebears or even current rivals such as the Ford Fiesta. The steering is accurate and there decent grip, but it lacks the sharper responses and twinkle-toed agility of the best in the class.
That said, the 208’s engines are willing, and the mid-spec Puretech 100 – in particular – offers a great blend of punch and frugality. The electric e-208 is a very competitive option, too, thanks to its range and its lively all-electric 134bhp drivetrain, which makes it the quickest car in the line-up in the absence of any GTi version.
The engine line-up is easy to understand, consisting of a 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine with four power outputs and a 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel. The standard five-speed manual gearbox is light and precise, but for those that feel even this is an effort then an automatic gearbox is available as well, but only in conjunction with the more powerful petrol options.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
The conventional Peugeot 208 is offered in Active, Allure, Active Premium, Allure Premium and GT Line trims. The entry-level Active comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric heated mirrors, rear parking sensors and an infotainment system with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Allure models feature upgraded trim, climate control, a head-up display, while the Premium models get a touchscreen, satnav and voice control. Also included is a rather funky 3D effect instrument cluster that makes information such as the speed read out look as if it’s floating above the display.
Flagship GT Line models feature a host of neat upgrades, including a frameless electrochromic rear-view mirror, a 180-degree colour reversing camera, full LED headlights, customisable interior lighting and upgraded trims, finishes and wheels.
The standard touchscreen infotainment system is something of a mixed bag, as it looks great and is packed with features, but can be slow to respond to your inputs. It also hides too many frequently used functions in hard to reach sub menus, forcing you to take your eyes off the road for longer than is necessary.
Disappointingly for Peugeot, the 208 was awarded only four stars by EuroNCAP when it was tested in 2019. Even so, the car has plenty of standard safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and a driver alertness alarm that sounds a warning if it thinks you’re falling asleep at the wheel.
Peugeot 208 running costs
As you’d hope, Peugeot 208 running costs will be low. Even the least efficient version, the 1.2-litre Puretech 75, is claimed to average up to 53.6mpg and emit a peak of 98g/km of CO2, entailing inexpensive fuel and annual VED costs.
The diesel is the most efficient of the conventionally engined options but you’ll have to rack up some miles before you start making meaningful savings compared to the Puretech 100 option – so it’s worth crunching the numbers carefully to see if a diesel stands to save you much, if anything, in the long run.
Similarly, the electric version of the 208 is a costly option but it does offer an impressive range for a small electric car in conjunction with a good driving experience and equipment levels. How much it costs you to run overall will vary, however, depending on how and where you charge it.
All of the petrol versions require servicing annually or every 12,500 miles, while the diesel model can go up to 20,000 miles between services. The e-208 only needs to visit a dealer every two years, though, or 16,000 miles – and there’s obviously fewer moving parts to inspect and fewer fluids and filters to be changed on a routine basis, while reduced wear and tear on the brakes will further help keep costs down.
Owners can also benefit from a range of affordable service plans that last up to five years and can be paid for on a monthly basis. A three-year, 30,000-mile plan for the standard 208 starts at £12.53 a month, while the plan for the less complicated e-208 costs £8.05 a month.
These plans can be bought up to 12 months after you’ve registered the vehicle, too, so there’s no need to make a decision on one immediately – and, even without a plan, servicing a 208 should prove inexpensive.
Peugeot 208 reliability
A new Peugeot 208 will come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That’s not awful, by any stretch, but it pales in comparison to the five-year warranties offered by Toyota and Hyundai – and it’s a long way behind the seven-year warranty offered by Kia.
The warranty can at least be extended, however, and all new Peugeots also benefit from 12 months’ roadside assistance. Not that you should have to call upon it often, though, given that Peugeot has a fairly decent reputation for reliability and an increasingly good reputation for customer satisfaction.
Buyers of the e-208 should have little to worry about on the battery front, too, as it comes as standard with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty that guarantees it will retain at least 70 per cent of its charge capacity.
Peugeot’s second-generation 208 is still in its infancy, that said, so it’s too early to say whether it’s going to be entirely trouble-free or how well the battery pack will last in the electric model. There have been some minor recalls so far, so if you’re buying a used example it’s worth checking if they’ve been attended to. If reliability and warranty are what you’re looking for in a small car, you’re still probably best off with a car from a brand such as Toyota or Kia.
If you want to buy a used Peugeot 208, have a look at the Peugeot Approved Used scheme. Each of the cars offered by Peugeot is comprehensively checked and retained with a minimum of 12 months’ warranty. A host of other benefits are offered, too, easing the hassle of buying a second-hand 208.
- Petrol engine options include the 1.2-litre petrol Puretech 75, the Puretech 100 and the Puretech 130, which produce 74bhp, 99bhp and 128bhp respectively. The PureTech 75 is reputed to average up to 53.6mpg but it’s also slow, clocking in at 14.9 seconds in the benchmark 0-62mph sprint, and only gets a five-speed manual option. The PureTech 100 is much quicker, achieving 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds, without much of an economy penalty. It’s also offered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox or a six-speed manual. The automatic-only Puretech 130 is quicker still, and still capable of averaging over 50mpg.
- The 1.5-litre BlueHDi 100 produces 99bhp and can accelerate the 208 from 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds. It’s also claimed to average, at best, an impressive combined mpg figure of 71.4 on the more realistic WLTP test cycle. Peugeot claims CO2 emissions as low as 84g/km, too. Those wanting zero local emissions-motoring, however, have the option of the all-electric e-208. It packs 134bhp and a lot of pulling power, which allows it to accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds. It’s got a good WLTP range of 217 miles, too, so it should prove a usable and dependable choice for a wide array of buyers. A high-specification GT model of the e-208 is available as well, which comes with adaptive cruise, lane positioning assist and blind spot monitoring.
- The latest 208 was one of the first Peugeot models to be designed and developed following the firm’s purchase by the giant Stellantis Group, which also owns Vauxhall among other companies. As a result, it’s mechanically very similar to the British brand’s Corsa supermini, which is also built on the CMP platform. Both feature virtually identical engine line-ups, including an all-electric version powered by the same 134bhp motor and 50kWh battery. Look carefully inside and you’ll also find they share the same switches, as well as stalks for the indicators and wipers.
- The best all-rounder: Like a lot of smaller modern cars, the 208 comes with a lot of equipment as standard. That said, if you want an interior that emulates the modernity of the exterior, go for the Allure Premium model if it’s within budget. It features a larger 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, climate control, the distinctive Peugeot i-Cockpit, electric heated mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic wipers and the Connected 3D Navigation system. It also gets 17-inch alloys and upgraded trims, so it looks more upmarket. If you’re happy with petrol power, go for the 1.2-litre PureTech 100 for good performance and economy.
- For the best economy: If electric power isn’t an option for you, the most efficient of the 208 line-up is the 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel model. It’s claimed to average a remarkable 71.4mpg on the combined cycle, so you should squeeze plenty of miles out of every tank. The Puretech petrols are economical options as well, mind, and more sporting and rewarding to drive.
- If you’re on a budget: The least expensive version of the new Peugeot 208 is the 1.2-litre Puretech 75 in Active trim. You still get plenty of kit but the engine isn’t that powerful, meaning it’s most at home nipping around town. As a result, if you plan on doing lots of motorway journeys or drive a lot on country lanes, it’s worth stretching to the more flexible Puretech 100 if you can.
- For the best performance: The e-208 is the quickest of the bunch, sprinting from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, but the 1.2-litre Puretech 130 isn’t far behind at 8.7 seconds. If you must have a manual transmission, the quickest option is the Puretech 100, which takes 9.9 seconds to get from a dead stop to 62mph.
