Peugeot 208 (2021) Review
Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert.
Who doesn’t love a good hatchback? Why is the country obsessed with compact crossovers and baby sport utility vehicles? There are so many questions when it comes to buying a new car but really it’s all about what suits your needs. At least this is what it should be about but we have noticed a trend over the last few years and even young 17 year olds are looking towards Crossovers rather than the classic hatchback. Sure, you may get a little more road clearance and slightly more space but do you really need this in your life or are you simply following the masses. For us it’s hard to look past a nice hatchback and this week we have just that.
The Peugeot 208 is real looker and now available in numerous options to suit your needs. Available in Active, Allure and GT Line specification in petrol and diesel powertrains, three petrol units are available including a 1.2 PureTech 75bhp 5-speed, a 1.2 PureTech 100bhp 6-speed manual an 8-speed automatic and a 1.2 PureTech 130bhp 8-speed automatic. Diesel is offered in a 1.5 BlueHDi 100bhp 6-speed manual but we think the sweet spot is the 100bhp PureTech petrol manual or the electric version if funds permit.
Features
So what do you get for your hard earner cash? Well kicking off with the Active trim level you can expect 16-inch alloy wheels, tyre pressure monitor, spare wheel, ESP with Hill Assist, multifunctional leather steering wheel, hands free start, alarm, 6 airbags, air conditioning, comfort seats, cruise control and speed limiter, extended traffic sign recognition, auto headlamps, DAB radio, rear parking sensors, PEUGEOT i-Cockpit interior and a smartphone holder. Step up a little in price to the Allure 1.2 PureTech 100bhp 6-speed version and you will benefit from electric folding mirrors, an electro-chrome rear view mirror, automatic climate control, front central armrest, 2 USB sockets in the front and 2 USB sockets in the rear, electric parking brake, auto wipers and front and rear parking sensors.
It is also worth noting that all Allure models have as standard leather style upholstery, rear electric windows with privacy glass and a quartz 3D instrument cluster. The final price jump to GT Line on the 1.2 PureTech 100bhp 6-speed model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, frameless electro-chrome rear view mirror, full LED headlamps, LED side indicators, high beam assist, reverse camera with Visiopark 180, ambient lighting, full grain leather multifunction steering wheel and the cool GT Line badge with styling that looks amazing. People do mistake it for a more potent variant of the 208 but it’s just a trim level that brings out that hot hatch appeal.
Power
Most of the power ratings we covered whilst breaking down the trim level but to summarise, petrol powered car buyers can pick from a 1.2 75bhp, 100bhp or 130bhp Puretech engine. Diesel variants use the 1.5 HDi 100bhp engine whilst a 50kw battery offering 136bhp with a range of up to 340km powers the electric option.
Safety
There is a plethora of driving aids available, from adaptive cruise control to lane positioning assist, traffic sign recognition to blind spot monitoring. It also features driver attention monitoring, which works at speeds over 65km/h analysing steering wheel movements to detect tiredness etc. During the Euro NCAP test it dropped a star compared to its predecessor which got five-stars. This is not because the 208 isn’t as safe but more because the test has become more stringent in certain areas. The 208 scored highly for adult occupant protection (91%), child occupant protection (86%) and safety assist (71%) but its figure of 56% for vulnerable road users dropped it to a four-star rating.
Peugeot 208 Prices
Retail prices start from €21,570 plus delivery related charges, for the Active 1.2 PureTech 75bhp model. The e-208 Active version retails from €28,305, plus delivery, inclusive of the SEAI grant and VRT relief.
Our test car was the 100bhp 1.2 Puretech GT Line priced at €26,980. Peugeot offer a number of finance / PCP deals with as little as 2.9% APR. Please contact your local dealer for the latest offerings.
Summary
The Peugeot 208 is a great entry point for a first time road user or indeed someone who no longer has the needs of a larger family car. It’s light and nimble in around the city and looks cutting edge from every angle. We spent a week with the 208 and enjoyed the daily commute. Admittedly if you do have the full family or friends on board, it is slightly cramped but that’s not entirely the purpose of the 208. It was designed to be the perfect runaround with an engine to suit everybody. If you are doing decent mileage but have no need for a bigger car then the 1.5 diesel variant would be the perfect car for you.
Living on the fringes of the city the petrol engines work best but we did take a quick drive in the electric version and it was a pleasure to drive. Fast, silent and effortless around town. Just be sure you have access to a home charger if this is the option for you! The Peugeot 208 will remain a firm favourite of ours in this category. Whilst it has lots of competitors, we struggle to think of one that looks better than the 208 on the road!
Peugeot 208 Pros
Styling
Engine Choices
Peugeot 208 Cons
Slightly cramped in rear seats
To see our full video review of the new Peugeot 208, please click here.
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