2020 Peugeot 208 Reviews

In a world of cheap and hugely popular hatchbacks from Japan and Korea, it’s easy to forget that this segment was originally given much of its joie de vivre by the oft-forgotten French car brands.

This is the very last Peugeot 208 GTi in a very long line of thoroughbred, rally-derived hot-hatches.

The Peugeot 208 GTi continues the tradition of great French hot hatches and this one may become special for another reason.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the Peugeot 208 GT Line with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

When the Peugeot 208 first landed in Australia four years ago it had a big job to do. The French company had been on the slide for a while, with the weak efforts of the old 308 and 207 undoing all the hard earned reputation of the cars they superseded. The 208 had a quiet start but seems to have caught on with people

Richard Berry road tests and reviews the Peugeot 208 GT with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTi go head to head in this comparative review.

Peugeot 208 GTi and Ford Fiesta ST go head-to-head in this comparative review. 

Life is tough for those selling car marques operating in the mid-price range in Australia. Their problem is that the Asian makers are trying to lift themselves upmarket, while the big-three German prestige brands are moving down into smaller models at relatively low price points.Peugeot, the world’s oldest car name, is caught in the pincers between these two dissimilar groups. So the French maker has come out fighting by going boots and all into the hot-hatch arena.Peugeot’s 205 GTi was one of the major players in this exciting field way back in the 1980s, a stunning little machine with superb handling and a highly responsive engine, the 205 GTi is still looked back on with affection by we motoring journos who were there at the time.But Peugeot lost its way after the 205 GTi, producing what might be termed ‘lukewarm-hatches’ in the 206 and 207 ranges. Which was strange because during that period the company was heavily involved in the big-end of motorsport; particularly in long-distance endurance events (including Le Mans), off-road rallies (Dakar), hill-climbs (Pikes Peak) even dabbling in Formula One for a while.However, that quiet era has passed and Peugeot is back in the hot-hatch arena with a bang. Witness the introduction of the 208 GTi, a genuine high-performance car aimed at full-on car enthusiasts.TECHNOLOGYPeugeot 208 GTi has a highly tuned 200 horsepower (147 kW in non-performance speak) turbocharged engine stuffed under its shapely nose. This petrol unit produces up to 275 Newton metres of torque at just 1750 rpm.The engine only sits beside a six-speed manual gearbox as Peugeot feels the true driver is more than happy to make their own decisions on gear ratios. Sure, a double-clutch auto might prove faster, but it doesn’t offer the same pleasure as full manual gear shifting.DESIGNStyling of the three-door French hot-hatch is seriously modified from that of the standard 208. As well as the lowered suspension and a bold body kit it carries numerous items of bling on its body.Inside, there are race-style seats, leather trim on the handbrake lever – and healthy dashes of red highlights in various placed, including the instrument dials, the centre console and door sill panels.A controversial feature of the Peugeot 208 range is the tiny steering wheel’s position. While all like the size and that little bit of extra controllability it offers, some find it blocks their view of the instruments. It’s obviously a personal thing, but make sure you check it out during your own test drive.SAFETYSafety is looked after by the usual suite of active and passive devices, which include six airbags. An unusual feature is that the hazard warning flashers come on under heavy braking.DRIVING We road and track tested the 208 GTi over glorious mountain roads behind the Gold Coast and at the racetrack-like training facility among the cane-fields at Norwell.On the road sections the little Pug was a sheer delight. The engine has torque to spare in almost all conditions, responds virtually instantly to the throttle and is happy to rev to the top end of the tacho. Handling of the Peugeot 208 GTi is excellent and its light weight, just 1130 kg, makes it nicely nimble through the twisty bits.At the Norwell track we were assisted by a couple of professional racing drivers – Jason Bright and Andrew Jones – and took the lovely little French flyers to extremes. They are predictable and easy to control even when taken to their limits.The brakes did get very hot in these harsh conditions, so Peugeot 208 GTi won’t be a track-day car without better brake pads. It’s not exactly alone in this, it’s just that we feel you should be warned because plenty of you are going to be tempted by track driving.VERDICTWell priced at $29,990, Peugeot 208 GTi offers style, smile-inducing dynamic and powertrain performance that should guarantee it sits high on the shortlist of hot-hatch buyers.Peugeot 208 GTiPrice: from $29,900Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo, 147W/275NmTransmission: 6-speed man; FWDThirst: 5.9L/100km, 98RON

The Peugeot 205 GTi held the hot hatch crown in the 1980s, and helped cement Peugeot’s motorsport reputation. It was raw, lively and fun, but with the uncivilised potential to get you into serious trouble. And the way it covered the ground between here and the horizon was astounding.With its demise came a series of hot hatches that had all the Peugeot DNA, but they were neither lively nor fun. So with the new 208 GTi launching under the tagline “The GTI is back", Peugeot is hoping that means the magic is back as well.DESIGNThe GTI-is-back line isn't just restricted to the marketing either, it's part of the car's styling - most obviously in the logo on the C-pillar, where once you would find a 1.6 or 1.9 badge. Echoing its ancestor, the wheel arches are all appropriately flared with plastic extensions, although the 208's are painted and less cartoonish.Sadly absent is a reboot of the signature 205 GTi wheel designs – early telephone dial and multi-spoke Speedlines made famous by WRC cars – in favour of a more modern and intricate style. The body doesn't squat down over those wheels and from behind, you'll be hard-pressed to guess it from the rest of the range, apart from the trapezoidal exhausts.From the front, there's a more aggressive bumper, grille and daytime running lights unique to the GTi - once you recognise them, you'll always see one coming. It sits lower and has wider front and rear track (10mm and 20mm respectively), with 17-inch alloys wrapped with 205/45 rubber. On the inside there's acres of piano black, set off by the retro cues of red stitching, red accents and squared off seat bolsters.Peugeot's fondness for nostalgia does not, thankfully, extend to the cabin equipment. A high-tech interior comes with a complicated seven-inch touchscreen, with bluetooth, sat-nav and two USB ports. The dash and fittings are made from nicely textured soft plastics and the doors are capped with more piano black plastic that appears to bleed red over the handle.VALUEThe GTi hits our roads for $29,990, a full five grand cheaper than the run-out Renaultsport Clio (and probably the new one), but almost five more than the just-announced Ford Fiesta ST. It also has the cheaper - and popular - VW Polo GTI to contend with, which also has a DSG auto and two extra doors. Peugeot will also offer future assured value via their finance arm, as well as capped price servicing.TECHNOLOGYUnder the bonnet is the same engine found in the RCZ and Citroen DS3 Sport - plus (whisper it) the Mini Cooper S and JCW. And it delivers just as much fun as in any of those cars. Smooth and muscular, it's good for 147kW and 275Nm of torque with just a six-speed manual available.But sadly, despite the efforts of the exhaust engineers, the 208 doesn't have the sporty exhaust note they were looking for and none of the exuberant poppity-pop of the JCW. It certainly moves the 1167kg 208, reaching 100km/h in 6.8 seconds. The cornering control system uses the ABS sensors to nip a rear disc to help bring the back end into line if it all gets a little unruly.SAFETYSix airbags, ABS, traction and stability control and electronic brake force distribution all add up to five stars.DRIVINGThe driving position and controls might take a bit of getting used to. The steering wheel is genuinely tiny and with the flat bottom, there's less of it than if it had been round. It doesn't really make sense - the idea of a flat bottom is to make room for your knees.You have to drop the wheel low so you can see over it to the dashboard, which seems counter-intuitive but it works, especially once you've found the paddle holding the cruise control. You may have to sit a little higher than you might normally.Out on the road, it's a very easy car to drive, even in traffic. The ride is almost limo-like for a hot-hatch, something Peugeot used to do really well. Combined with the generous seats, clear vision out and an easy clutch and gearbox, this could be any good hatchback in everyday driving.Floor it, however, and it comes alive with plenty of grip and plenty of character. Firing into a tight bend, you can feel all four corners working hard, with tyres at both ends happy to make noise as you head for the apex, letting you know where you've gone wrong and gently suggesting what to do about it.Too fast? Just lift off the gas and the nose comes straight back with a vengeance, giving you confidence and the heroic feeling that you've found its limits. The body rolls a little bit more than expected but it delivers a better experience overall than a harder, lower machine might.The brakes are strong and took a pretty serious pounding around the track and on the road without feeling like they would give up. The steering, while weightless, responds immediately, allowing you to dart left and right with a flick of the wheel - but it's not so fast a sneeze will cause an unscheduled lane change.VERDICTIs the GTi back? Yep, but it’s learned some extra manners. The 208 is civilised at all times but when you give it a kick, it'll fire up and show you it still knows the GTi tricks -- without ever losing patience and chucking you backwards through a fence.The 208 is entering a war zone that in twelve months’ time will be packed with a battalion of hot hatches to choose from. It's got a big job ahead of it but for the first time in 20 years, Peugeot is well-armed for the conflict.Peugeot 208 GTiPrice: from $29,900Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmCapped servicing: $270/yr for 3 yrs/60,000kmService interval:12 months/20,000kmSafety rating:  5 starsEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo, 147W/275NmTransmission: 6-speed man; FWDThirst: 5.9L/100km, 98RONDimensions: 3.9m (L), 1.7m (W), 1.4m (H)Weight: 1160kgSpare: Full size