Peugeot 208
Formerly famous for the larger, iconic 403, 404 and 504 models, Peugeot rewrote the small car form book with the car of the 80s, the 205. And at last in the 208 the French car maker has produced a really worthy successor, writes Pete Burnard.
Formerly famous for the larger, iconic 403, 404 and 504 models, Peugeot rewrote the small car form book with the car of the 80s, the 205. And at last in the 208 the French car maker has produced a really worthy successor, writes Pete Burnard.
YOU might have trouble convincing the kids at Christmas, but less really can be more. Take the Peugeot 208, for example.
It's smaller and lighter than the 207 it replaces – but it is none the worse for that.
The new car really harks back to the 205, which, a full 19 years ago, changed forever our expectations from small cars.
In terms of room, ride and driving fun it really was a game-changer right across its range, taking Peugeot in one bound from the mediocre 104 to setting the benchmark for the burgeoning supermini class.
While the 205 GTi still gets enthusiasts coming over all misty-eyed, the whole range from puny petrol to gutsy diesel and eager auto set their class standards back then, combining space, pace, ride and handling as we'd never before seen in a small car.
Before the seven million-plus 206 owners come after me, let me say that it wasn't a bad car – but it was more grown up, softer and less focused on driving pleasure. It appealed to more heads than even the 205 (total sales 5.2m.), but to fewer hearts.
It was very popular with the ladies locally and Peugeot has paid homage to the 206 with that haemorrhoidal rear fog lamp that appears to protrude through the rear bumper.
That growing up and growing out continued with the popular, if hardly top-selling, 207 but, hurrah, hurrah, has been thrown into reverse with the new 208.
It's visibly smaller and lighter – at around 975kg, depending on the model, it has shed 100 to 125kg compared with its immediate predecessor.
That makes it livelier and more frugal – even before the new three-cylinder petrol units become available.
The full range will offer a choice of five diesels with outputs ranging from 68 to 115bhp and all emitting less than 100g/km of CO2.
Petrol units will include a 99g/km 1.0 three-pot putting out 68bhp with 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6-litre units delivering, respectively, 82, 95 and 120 or 156bhp.
There is, of course, a choice of three- or five-door variants and there are five trim levels – Access, Access+, Active, Allure and Feline – with an 'Ice Velvet' limited edition also available from launch.
The test car offered by Motor Mall was a 1.4 petrol manual in Allure specification and finished in Virtual Blue.
I like the colour, which appears alternately deep blue or purplish, just as the old BL Mirage seemed variously pink or grey. Getting the eyewitnesses to contradict one another can have its uses...
It's a fairly handsome beast too, combining the contemporary wheels-at-the-cutaway corners and angled lights look with shades of 206/7 and even, some see, 205.
The front end sports a new floating single grille and LED running lights now eyebrow the main headlights, while owners can choose from 10 exterior colours.
Poor new cars have for years been in the hen's teeth category, but the supermini segment spoils the punter for choice more than most.
So this car, which is pretty crucial for Peugeot, has to be good.
Get in and you quickly see they have no reason to worry.
There's plenty of head and legroom front and back and a decent boot, below the floor of which resides not a can of optimism and goo but a proper spare wheel – so someone was listening to me after all.
The split rear seat drops down nice and easily, too, when extra loadspace is needed.
But there's more to 208 than just the clever use of space that sees rear legroom grow by an important couple of inches in a smaller package.
There is safety – it's the first car in the class to achieve five Euro NCap stars thanks to features that include ESP, six airbags, rear Isofix fixings and a speed limiter. And there is also the cabin's quality, ambience and generous equipment – each worth another five stars.
The standout feature is a seven-inch colour touchscreen which accesses radio functions and Bluetooth hands-free kit, or music files via a USB connection or audio streaming.
The touchscreen, which can be specified with satnav, is within easy reach and at eye level and is pretty intuitive to use.
Peugeot say that 80% of 208s sold will have this bigger-car feature, which is not available on its entry-level model.
Locally, many drivers up-spec small cars rather than upsizing, so I would expect all local 208 owners to enjoy it.
The cabin generally looks and feels as if it was designed for something far grander than a supermini, with piano black and expensive real-metal brightwork providing the visual highlights.
The driver's office scores highly, too, with height-adjustable driver's seat and a steering wheel that adjusts for height and reach, making it possible for surely everyone to get comfy at the wheel.
The small steering wheel harks back to the sportiness of the 205, though taller drivers will find themselves looking over the rim at the instruments, which might seem a tad odd at first.
But the car is a doddle to live with. Peugeot launched it in Portugal, confident that the ride would shine through the cobbled streets and potholed back roads.
I won't say anything unkind about Guernsey blacktop, but I would guess it impressed.
Parking is easy, too, thanks to its compact dimensions and up-spec models come with a park assist graphic display on the seven-inch touchscreen to make the urban jungle that bit more bearable.
The steering is light, which most modern drivers will appreciate, although it doesn't have the precise meaty feel that we seem to remember from the 205.
But the drive is sporty enough to please keener types, even with the 1.4-litre petrol powerplant which will probably account for a lot of local private sales.
The gearshift does have a long throw but is splendidly quick, for all that.
There is too much talent in the supermini category for even a sublime new arrival to tower over the opposition like the 205 did for years.
That said, this is a cracking car with more driver appeal, room and practicality than its predecessor and all in a smaller, lighter, package.
At last, a really worthy successor to the 205.
