Peugeot 208 (2012-2019) Review

The Peugeot 208 is a safe, solid choice. It feels that bit more special than something like a Vauxhall Corsa, with a dash of style and panache. It’s a car that’s aged gracefully, and the early models certainly don’t look their age, despite the impressive value for money they now deliver.

Most of the engines are sound, particularly the later, post-facelift Puretech units. You’ll get decent miles per gallon plus okay performance and refinement. The diesels are particularly strong, as they are genuine fuel-sippers with plenty in reserve.

The Peugeot 208 also has its novel interior, which is far from mainstream. It will certainly feel weird at first, but many find that once they get used to it, they love the airy feel and, again, the still-modern appearance. Add in reasonable practicality and low running costs for the classy Peugeot’s appeal to be clear.

It’s a safe bet to go for a 1.2-litre engine: the 1.0-litre (and earlier 68PS 1.2-litre) is just a bit too light on pulling power, and the 1.6-litre non-turbo engine somehow disappoints (despite it being shared with the MINI hatchback). 

If you’re going for a 1.6-litre, go for a THP version – ideally the fruity GTI, which has bags of grown up performance. There was an early 1.4-litre VTI too, which produced 95PS, and is a decent all-rounder – if not as economical as the 1.2-litre.

Diesels are strong, just as they always have been with Peugeot. The post-facelift BlueHDi engines are exceedingly fuel-efficient and meet the very latest emissions standards. So you won’t be excluded from city centres any time soon.

Entry-level trim is Access, and is just a bit too basic. You get air-con on Access+, but we prefer Active, which gets alloy wheels, the multifunction touchscreen, and an all-important USB input to bring your smartphone life into your car. Allure is the fancy trim and, early on, Peugeot offered two decadent variants: Feline and XY. Then there’s the GTI, whose red-pinstriped appeal is obvious.

If we’re talking French hatchbacks, we naturally have to mention the classy Peugeot’s most feared rival, the Renault Clio. That’s a car with pretty styling and an upmarket air of its own. The Citroen C3 is the sister car to the 208, but only really a genuine alternative in the latest-generation guise, launched in 2017.

Best-sellers include the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo, and the latter has its own sister models: the SEAT Ibiza and Skoda Fabia. 

The Honda Jazz is a roomy alternative, the Toyota Yaris has petrol/electric hybrid appeal, while the Mazda 2 is a sporty competitor to the Peugeot.

Peugeot hasn't always enjoyed a great reputation for quality, but the classy-looking Peugeot 208 shows how much it’s moved on. It looks smart from the outside, with smooth surfaces, some lovely metallic colours and, on posher variants, a particularly upmarket chrome finisher around the windows.

Move inside and it doesn’t disappoint. The dashboard has an upmarket soft-touch upper surface, set off by some nice trim materials including piano black and polished chrome on some versions. Even the basic version gets piano black interior door pulls, polished door handles and a smart set of backlit instruments. None of the seat upholstery materials look downmarket either.

You need to move up through the range to enjoy features such as leather steering wheels, while the basic stereo that sits in place of the touchscreen looks poor quality. It is possible to pick out cheaper plastics lower down the dashboard, too. But generally, the Peugeot 208 has a quality of finish that may surprise many.

All but base Access versions of the Peugeot 208 feature a central colour touchscreen infotainment system. It isn’t the most responsive of screens, using more old-fashioned tech. But it’s still reasonably comprehensive, offering a basic form of smartphone control when you plug in your device, plus audio controls (DAB and Bluetooth are standard), and trip computer information. Sat-nav was an option.

Good news for those purchasing a 2015-on 208: following the facelift, Apple CarPlay was standard, along with MirrorLink to pair with other brands of smartphone. It means that even if you don’t have sat-nav fitted, you should be able to access it via your mobile device.

A colour reversing camera was also fitted to some Peugeot 208s, again using the central touchscreen.

The Peugeot 208 feels grown up behind the wheel, thanks to its supportive seats. Once you’re used to the bizarre-at-first driving position and instrument positioning, you realise the space opened up by the tiny steering wheel makes it feel airier and more open-plan. 

The steering wheel also has lots of adjustment, both up and down, and in and out. It’s a pity this is spoiled by pedals that are positioned much too close together. This means taller drivers have to move the seat too far back, or put up with a knees-splayed driving position that is further heightened by, yes, the tiny and low-set steering wheel.

Passengers will feel comfortable, though. The dashboard is cut away and the side windows drop down low, giving a bright and panoramic view out to the sides. Even locating the door mirrors further back adds to the feeling of spaciousness: you get a view forwards through the little front quarterlights.

Rear-seat space isn’t so great – particularly behind a taller driver, as they’ll have to shove the seat backwards to compensate for the pedals, which are located too close. Overall, space is no better than average, and if those in the front won’t compromise, it’s decidedly cosy back there. At least five-door models are a bit easier to get in and out of than the awkward three-doors – bear this in mind if fancy a 208 GTI as an everyday family car.

The boot is a bit below average in terms of space, carrying 285-litres with the seats up. The load lip is also pretty high. With the rear seats folded, the boot extends to a more impressive 1152-litres. The space is reasonably wide and the flat sides mean it’s a practical shape.

The Peugeot 208's dimensions are 3962mm long, 2004mm wide and 1460mm tall.

We like Peugeot 208s with smaller engines. They are sweet and surprisingly willing cars, able to make the most of their somewhat meagre power outputs with free-spinning eagerness. Okay, the least powerful models are probably a stretch too far, so we’d perhaps avoid the 68PS 1.2-litre VTi and 1.0-litre Puretech.

However, the 82PS 1.2-litre Puretech belies its so-so 0-62mph time with a charming energy that sees it happily driven in a vocally flat-out manner all day long without complaining. Better still is the turbocharged 1.2-litre Puretech 110, which has more pulling power lower down in the rev range, and even more smoothness and bite higher up. It’s a superb engine and really suits the 208 well. We prefer it to the earlier 1.4-litre VTI 95, although this is still worth considering if you want an early 208 with more poke.

The non-turbo 1.6-litre motors are ill-suited to the Peugeot 208. If you want a bigger engine and more power, make sure it’s a THP turbo. Or you could go for a diesel, which are rattlier, but still authentically French and so very easygoing. A 1.6 BlueHDi 100 motor feels like it could effortlessly drive all day long without pausing for breath – and so impressive is the fuel economy, it probably could do exactly that.

The manual gearbox in the Peugeot 208 is on the sloppy side. It’s an odd combination of lethargic heaviness and stodgy vagueness. It’s very French, but at least the clutch is light. And the alternative is far worse.

The EAT6 automated manual gearbox will drive you to distraction. It seems to always change gear at the wrong moment, takes an age to snick into the next gear, and delivers a nodding-dog-style lack of smoothness that is anything but appealing. The alternative, a regular automatic paired with the 1.6-litre engine, feels dreary and unenthusiastic. You’ll be longing for the manual before the test-drive is complete.

Peugeot’s little petrol engines aren’t bad for refinement. They’re not exactly silent, but the noise they make isn’t too objectionable, and their characterful enthusiasm seems to suit the Peugeot 208. The larger petrol engines drone more, although the THP turbo does have plentiful power. That means you don’t have to drive it particularly hard, which helps refinement.

As expected, the diesels are clattery – it’s hard to conceal diesel noise in cars this small – but the later BlueHDi engines are noticeably better in this regard. And the diesels do cruise very well, thanks to their relaxed, tall gearing.

The Peugeot 208 isn’t class-leading in other respects for noise, with apparent road roar and wind rustle. It’s by no means disastrous, but again, it does remind occupants that this is a small car pretending to be a large one, rather than one that benefits from big car refinements.

In 2012, the Peugeot 208 was awarded a full five-star crash safety score by independent test body, Euro NCAP. The score was helped by the standard fitment of electronic stability control, and also a speed assistance system – Peugeot’s cruise control system offered, at the flick of a switch, a speed limiter that meant you could set a maximum speed and the car would not allow you to exceed it.

There are no knee airbags in the Peugeot 208, but it does offer front, side and curtain airbags – the latter extending to the rear seats as well. The front seats also have seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters.

ISOFIX is standard on the outer rear seats, but not on the front passenger seat, and it lacks an airbag cut-off switch. Also, while there’s a seatbelt reminder for the front seats, the rear seats miss out on this.

With the 2015 facelift, Peugeot introduced an optional safety kit that included an Active City Brake function. At speeds of up to 20mph, it would alert the driver about an obstacle ahead and, if he or she didn't react, automatically apply the brakes. Many used models have this fitted, and it’s a piece of safety equipment that’s worth looking out for.

The Peugeot 208 scored a very poor 6.17 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, which is not only the lowest-scoring Peugeot but one of the lowest rated cars in this respect. This is backed up by several recalls having been issue for the 208, but as with any used car it is crucial to check that this work has been carried out.

Peugeot as a brand didn't do very well either, being placed 24th out of 29 manufacturers overall in the 2023 survey. This doesn't mean you should discount the Peugeot 208 altogether, just that you should proceed with care as you would buying any used car and look for a car with a full main dealer service history.

Pick the right Peugeot 208 and you’ll enjoy impressively affordable insurance costs. A basic Access 1.0-litre comes in at group five, moving up to group six for the more desirable Access, and even 1.2-litre versions are in group eight. This helps keep insurance costs down for the cheapest 208.

The diesels are a little more expensive, and there’s a surprising jump up to group 15 or 16 for the 1.6-litre e-HDI Active. We’re surprised to see a 1.6 BlueHDi 100 Allure weighing in at group 20, which is why you’re probably better off sticking with the sweeter petrol engines. Oh, and another word of warning: we love the 1.2-litre Puretech 110 engine, but in appealing GT Line trim, a group 18 insurance rating seems a bit too high for comfort.

Take the sporty 208 GTI and its insurance raises the stakes again as it sits in groups 32 to 34 depending on the exact trim you pick.

Ultra-low CO2 emissions mean the Peugeot 208 is a cost-effective car in terms of VED (road tax). The lowest-power 68PS and 1.2-litre 82PS versions only cost £20 a year. Most of the diesels are free to tax, although the larger engines are pricier – the 1.6 VTI 120, for example, costs £160 a year (without offering that much extra power compared with the 1.2).

Although the 1.2 Puretech 110 will cost you a bit more in terms of insurance, you will save on VED. Its CO2 emissions of 103g/km mean a £20 annual tax bill, which should offset any extra costs in terms of insurance compared to the thirsty 1.6-litre 120. Remember, you’ll save on fuel bills, too.

For any Peugeot 208 registered on or after 1 April 2017, they will pay road tax at the flat rate of £190 per year.

The basic Peugeot 208 Access didn't even have alloy wheels, but did have cruise control and a speed limiter. Access+ trim added electric door mirrors and manual air-con, but Active is the preferred entry point: it has alloy wheels, a colour touchscreen, USB, Bluetooth, DAB and split-fold rear seats.

The Peugeot 208 Allure has LED running lights, larger 16-inch alloys, dark rear glass, climate control, leather steering wheel and auto lights and wipers. Posh Peugeot 208 Feline models have even larger 17-inch alloys, sat-nav, a panoramic glass roof and ambient lighting. Peugeot also offered an upmarket 208 XY variant, which it intended to be a luxury alternative to the GTI, with sports seats, LED indicators and a white LED instrument surround.

Post-facelift, the appealing Peugeot 208 GT-Line grade was introduced. This has some of the features from the range-topping Peugeot 208 GTI, paired with a more economical range of engines. You can even get it in some of the bright post-facelift colours, such as vivid orange with lime green exterior accents. It’s worth noting that all 2015-on 208s have air-con and Bluetooth as standard.

The GTI was also offered as the GTi Prestige with sat-nav and heated seats, while the GTi by Peugeot Sport added Alcantara seats, along with unique sports suspension and styling.