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What’s it like?
The Peugeot 208 was a natural successor in a hatchback series that, from the 1980s onwards, had run 205, 206 and then 207, but since the arrival of this first-generation 208 in 2012, the French firm has decided that ‘8’ is a lucky number of significance in China – one of the biggest car markets in the world – so the model numbers are now frozen. The ‘original’ 208 is a great second-hand buy. It’s a rival to the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio, Volkswagen Polo and similar.
Which model to go for?
Peugeot mainly offered the 208 with an array of modestly powered engines. The most commonly encountered are the non-turbo petrol units, either a 1.0-litre VTI with 68hp or the slightly more potent 1.2-litre delivering 82hp. These will be paired to a five-speed manual gearbox.
Diesel 208s are badged HDi, with a 1.4-litre putting out 68hp, or a brawnier 1.6 capable of either 75- or 100hp. The 208 GTi high-performance model with a 200hp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine is rare but not unheard of here and it’s a fun hot hatch.
Most variants will have a manual gearbox, but an automatic was available should you require it, and similarly the vast majority of used 208s will be five-door models, although a three-door body shell was offered and can be found on the second-hand market.
One of the key things with owning a Peugeot 208 will be the steering wheel. This was one of the first cars from the French firm with the ‘i-Cockpit’ dashboard layout, which places a high-set instrument cluster above a small, low-set steering wheel. This is fine as things go, but some people report that the wheel blocks the display of information in the cluster – it tends to be very tall or very short drivers who suffer most with the i-Cockpit layout, but it’s worth anyone interested in a Peugeot with this driving position trying it out for size before purchasing.
Does anything go wrong?
Owners report occasional software issues with the touchscreen infotainment, while rattles from the rear of the car related to the boot latch, the parcel shelf or the retainer for the spare wheel. It is also known for the rear wash-wipe system’s pipe to leak, with water running into the boot as a result. It further makes sense to give the bodywork of the 208 a good going over, because it is likely to have been bought as a runaround by previous owners and therefore could be showing ‘battle scars’ from hectic urban living, like scuffs and scrapes on the bumpers, or badly kerbed alloy wheels.
There were 19 separate recalls for the first generation of the 208 and we won’t list them all here but have a check online and with the retailer that all vital recall work has been carried out before you buy.