Peugeot 208 road test
by Mark Walker
22nd April, 2013
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Related story:
Peugeot 208 here in late
October
21st September, 2012
The 208 is the latest in the line of 2 series vehicles from Peugeot,
following on from the 207. Peugeot has impressed with the design of the new model. It’s got style from almost every
angle with sculpted bodywork that definitely sets it apart from predecessors and competitors. The new Peugeot 'face' and
rear lights are particularly striking and inside the cabin, the new dash is impressive.
Peugeot has not only focused on improving the appearance and styling of the new model. They have substantially
improved the efficiency of the 208 with weight saving materials and design as well as a new range of smaller engines.
The new Peugeot 208 was launched in Australia in September 2012 having been initially launched in Europe earlier in
2012. To date, more than 300,000 208s have been made. The 208 is manufactured in Europe, at the Poissy (France) and
Trnava (Slovakia) plants.
Test Car particulars
The vehicle driven is the Peugeot 208 Active 5 door hatch finished in Premium Silver.
Variants and Prices*
The 208 5 door is available in three variants: the Active (as tested), the Allure and the Allure Premium. The 208 is
also available as a 3 door hatch. However, this only comes in one variant: the Allure Sport (manual only).
The entry level Active with a choice of 3 or 4 cylinder engines, with pricing starting at a reasonable $18,490* for
the 3 cylinder manual. No automatic is available with the small 3 cylinder engine. For an automatic, you are looking at
the Active 1.6 litre 4 cylinder priced from $21,490* (manual transmission is not available with the 1.6 litre engine in
the entry level model).
The mid-spec Allure manual is priced from $21,990* (add $2,000* for auto). The top spec Allure Premium is auto only
and priced from $26,490*.
Driving the Peugeot 208 Active 1.2
The small, 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine packs very modest performance indeed. Maximum power is just 60 kW @
5,750 rpm and maximum torque of 118Nm arrives at 2,750 rpm.
Despite the lack of pace, the little Peugeot 208 is a good drive around town. The acceleration looks worse on paper
than it feels like when driving (0 to 100km/h takes 13.9 seconds - Peugeot supplied figure). The five speed manual
gearbox is easy to live with although the clutch is quite light. Surprisingly, the Peugeot 208 was also sufficiently
capable on the freeway.
The 208 Active rides on 15” steel wheels and the steering is light making city driving and parking a breeze.
Living with the Peugeot 208 Active 1.2
The interior design of the new 208 is a giant leap forward from the old 207 and that’s thanks mostly to the new
instrument panel and large, centrally mounted touch screen that are both attached to the dash in a semi-floating style
for maximum clarity and ease of use.
There is a lot of plastic but touches of glossy black trim on the dash and doors give a touch of class.
Overall, the interior is quite simple and minimalistic. It works very well and ensures good functionality. The touch
screen infotainment system is responsive and easy to use although it it’s not your average conventional system so it may
require a little practice. It’s easy to hook up a phone via Bluetooth and easy to stream music.
The seats are simple but comfortable and space for rear occupants has been increased when compared to the 207. There
is decent space in the back seat for two adults or three non-teenage children.
Power windows front and rear are standard. Other features include: cruise control, air conditioning, steering wheel
controls for audio and telephone as well as electric folding door mirrors.
The only complaint about the interior is the visibility of some switchgear. The indicators, wiper and headlight
controls plus cruise control are almost totally out of sight tucked away behind the steering wheel. It’s something you
can get used to and the cruise control is the most awkward to use and should receive more prominent switches.
Cargo space is reasonable at 311 litres and expands to 1,152 litres when the rear seats are folded.
Whilst we don’t expect many people to use the 208 Active for towing, it’s possible to tow a braked trailer with a
maximum weight of 820kg if a tow package is fitted.
Safety
Occupants are protected by six airbags in the event of a crash. Euro NCAP have awarded the new 208 the maximum five
star safety rating.
Other standard safety features include anti-lock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability
programme (ESP) and emergency brake assist. A rear fog light is also standard but no front fog lights are fitted.
The Peugeot 208 Active doesn’t have parking sensors fitted as standard equipment although all higher variants do.
Realistically, the 208 has good vision to all sides which makes parking quite safe and straight forward. The 208 is also
more petite than the 207 thanks to smaller front and rear overhangs.
Fuel and emissions
The Peugeot engineers have designed the 208 with efficiency and actively sought to eliminate excess weight. The result
is the new 208 is an astonishing 173kg lighter when comparing the entry level petrol variants. The new 208 tips the
scales at just 975kg, and when combined with the 1.2 litre petrol engine, combined fuel economy is rated at just 4.7
litres per 100km.
In city driving, Peugeot rate the fuel economy at just 5.6 litres per 100km, which is still good.
The fuel tank capacity is 50 litres. The Euro5 compliant engine produces CO2 emissions of 109g per
km.
Dimensions
Length: 3,962 mm
Width: 1,739 mm (excluding side mirrors)
Width: 2,004 mm (including side mirrors)
Height: 1,460 mm
Wheelbase: 2,538 mm
Weight: 948 kg (approximately)
Boot capacity: 311 litres (back seat up)
After Sales
Fixed price servicing is available via Peugeot’s Assured Service Plan at a cost of $270 per year for the first three
years or 60,000km, subject to conditions. The 208 requires service every 6 months or 10,000km.
The warranty is valid for 3 years or 100,000km, whichever occurs first. Complimentary roadside assistance is also
included for the period of the new car warranty. Conditions apply to both the warranty and the roadside assistance
package (of course).
Conclusion
It’s difficult to fault the new 208 hatch. The Peugeot 208 Active strikes a very good balance between style,
efficiency and value which is something its rivals don’t all do as well.
Whilst the 208 Active is a little more expensive than some Asian rivals, it is very competitively priced against its
rivals from European marques.
NOTE: * Manufacturer's List Price (MLP) excludes dealer delivery
fees and the numerous statutory charges (commonly known as on-road costs). Additionally, please note that all prices,
fees and charges are subject to change without notice, as are the specifications.
E&OE
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