Peugeot 208 review

If you’re looking for good value for money, then a used Peugeot 208 is a great choice. They’re good to drive and come with a range of petrol and diesel engines. They’re fantastic on city roads but are perfectly capable of taking on longer journeys.
As the 208 is compact, it’s easy to drive and park. It also has enough space for a small family. With a choice of three-doors or five-doors, you can choose the body style that suits you.
There’s a wide range of trims available, although the entry-level Active model doesn’t have the touchscreen. Active brings you a 7-inch tablet-style screen plus DAB radio, while Allure and GT models feel quite lavish. Sporty drivers can also choose high-performance GTi versions with body styling tweaks and upgraded handling.

The 208 comes with a small steering wheel so you can see the digital speedometer without it blocking your line of sight. It can take some time getting used to it but it’s a clever set-up.

The front seat comfort is pretty good. There’s a nice feel to the cabin with plenty of soft touch materials. The driving position is decent, although wide windscreen pillars obscure the view a little which can make it harder to see out of.

If you choose the Active trim or above, you’ll benefit from an impressive-looking 7-inch touchscreen that will mirror your smartphone, though earlier versions only work with Android. Some top-spec cars also come with a reversing camera, while the GT Line offers the feel of a hatchback with sports seats.
The rear seats aren’t the best for back seat passengers as the car’s relatively swoopy styling means it’s tight for headroom in the back. The five-door version is a lot easier for back seat access, but with a modest boot, the 208 may not be the best choice for families.

The 208 is nippy and fun to drive. Drivers are likely to appreciate how little effort is required to steer. Performance fans might want to look at a Ford Fiesta, but most 208 owners will appreciate its relative lack of body roll in corners and plentiful grip.

There’s a good range of petrol and diesel engines. The smallest 1.0-litre petrol is great in town, while the 1.2-litre PureTech 110 is better if you need to do regular longer drives. The 1.5-litre BlueHDI diesel 100 is even more efficient and drives well.

The 208 offers great value for money and with fuel-efficient engines, so you won’t be spending much time at the pumps. The diesel models that feature ‘start-stop’ technology will return 67 mpg.
Insurance costs may be a group or two higher than the supermini average but this won’t make a big difference. Tax costs will be low so a 208 won’t be expensive to run.

Peugeot was rated as the number one carmaker in the JD Power Dependability Study and the 208 was ranked as the best small car, meaning the 208 is likely to be very reliable.
The Peugeot 208 was awarded a full 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2012. Although this dropped down to a 4-star rating in 2019, it’s still a safe car. Automatic City Braking is a feature worth looking for as it works independently of the driver and will stop the car to avoid an accident.