BY EOIN CUTTLE
Building on a clearly successful formula, Peugeot has given its tiny 208 (and E-208 ) an appealing refresh – one that's indeed, very hard to miss.
The Peugeot 208 is an iconic model in the brand's range, having been named European Car of the Year 2020 before going on to be the best-selling car in Europe in 2022, knocking the VW Golf off its perch.
That hue you see pictured here is what Peugeot calls, 'Agueda Yellow', which came in useful when navigating a busy M50 on a gloomy Tuesday morning spin back from Dublin. It's a bit of a novelty, though, and a shade I certainly couldn't live with every day. Thankfully, there are six other exterior colours to choose from, including two shades of good old grey!
All new 208 models feature gloss black rear-view mirrors, irrespective of the colour chosen, and the 'GT' version comes as standard with gloss black wheel arches (and, as an option, a black roof ). Newly designed 16- and 17-inch four-spoke wheels further bolster the 208's appeal.
Another design tweak of the latest 208 is a new front end, which places the Peugeot logo at its centre. The grille and body are no longer compartmentalised, with the former now featuring an evolving body-coloured pattern which blends into the bumper. The three long vertical light claws have been shifted towards the outer edge of the car to help to give the 208 a more solid, visually broader stance.
At the rear, new horizontal lights comprise three lines of LEDs that extend the black strip around the boot lid and contribute to a perception of greater width. On the GT version, the reversing lights and indicators are also LED.
Behind the wheel, the nippy Peugeot 208 impresses on all roads. On test was the mild-hybrid powered, 136bhp three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine combined with a six-speed automatic gearbox in 'Allure' trim. This comes in at €30,495, a fraction cheaper than a top-spec Opel Corsa, but over €5k more than a fully-loaded new Suzuki Swift.
Three lovely little cars, so plenty to mull over from a price point. The new 208 range starts from €25,695 for the full 1.2-litre petrol version. An average fuel consumption of less than 5.0L/100km can be expected in the hybrid version.
Back to the cockpit, and the new Peugeot 208 boasts an engaging driving position with thanks to the brand's i-Cockpit interior, which lowers the small steering wheel to ensure the instrument cluster is ideally located at the driver's eye level. To the driver's left is a new 10-inch digital screen (up from seven-inch in previous model ) with a bank of physical piano-style keys remaining just underneath. Legroom behind front occupants is quite limited and would probably best accommodate a couple of small kids. The boot capacity is 309-litres which can be expanded to 1,106-litres with rear seats down.
The new Peugeot 208 and E-208 is available in 'Active', 'Allure', and 'GT' trims, with annual road tax between €120-€200.
