Peugeot 208 review

Spec for spec, the 208’s list price puts it above rivals such as the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza. The 208 comes out as one of the more expensive options in this class if you plan to buy on a monthly PCP finance deal, too.

The 208’s official CO2 emissions are impressively low among small cars, so it could stack up well as a company car choice. Similarly, claimed fuel economy figures are decent compared with class standards, too, helping to contain running costs.

As we mentioned at the beginning, there’s also an electric model called the e208, which we’ve reviewed separately. If you like the idea of near-silent, zero-emissions driving in a conventional small hatchback, this could be the 208 for you.

Even the cheapest trim level, the Active, is quite well equipped, listing 16in alloy wheels, heated and folding door mirrors and a leather steering wheel among its highlights. Allure trim adds 17in alloys, electric rear windows, that 3D-style driver display and automatic windscreen wipers, along with glossy exterior touches.

Top-spec GT Line adds further cosmetic tweaks inside and out, and full LED headlights with smart beam assist. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go function is available as an option in GT Line models, but only in conjunction with an automatic gearbox.

Peugeot finished roughly mid-table in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, placing 18th out of 31 manufacturers. The brand will want the latest model to improve on the previous 208’s reputation; that car finished 24th out of 25 small and city cars. 

Every 208 gets a three-year warranty, consisting of two years of unlimited-mileage cover from the manufacturer and an additional year provided by Peugeot’s UK dealer network.

The 208 is yet to be safety tested by Euro NCAP, but the early signs are promising. Automatic emergency braking (AEB) comes as standard, along with a ‘distance alert system’ that delivers a warning if it senses the car is at risk of a collision with a vehicle or pedestrian in the road ahead. 

Traffic sign recognition is also standard on all versions, as is lane-keeping assistance. A driver attention alert system is standard from Allure up, but there’s no option to add a blindspot monitoring system. That’s available only on the electric e208.