Peugeot 208 HDi ON THE ROAD

Review & Photos by Rob McSorley

We have already been impressed with Peugeot's little 208 in various petrol guises but now we get to see how it fares with diesel power under the bonnet. Here we try the smaller of the two diesel units on offer the 1.4 litre HDi in Active trim which sits near the bottom of the range. Offering penny pinching economy and free road tax we find out how the 208 fairs and whether it can rival the very best in the class.

Peugeot seem to have hit the ground running with the styling of the 208. Let's face it the 207 that went before wasn't particularly blessed in the looks department, the 208 however looks much more appealing. The brands now familiar floating grill sits proudly up front with edgy looking headlights. Simple curves feature elsewhere with a distinctive rear with its tiger claw light clusters and thanks to more compact dimensions it definitely looks more sporty and less flabby than before. In Active trim its nice to see body coloured handles and mirrors and attractive 15 inch alloy wheels as standard.

The cabin is also well appointed with a swoopy dashboard dominated by a great touchscreen infotainment system standard on all but the base Access model. There is a definite air of sophistication from the font on the dials to the chrome accents around the vents. Everything is very well screwed together and simply laid out with modern looking high-gloss trim on the door pulls and around the dials. Trim quality is a little lacking in places with hard plastic on the sections of the doors passengers touch most which is at odds with the high quality finish on the dashboard face. 

The biggest talking point is likely to be the miniature steering wheel and raised dials which take a little getting used to as the driver is forced to look over the wheel rather than through it. The setup actually works very well as the dials sit nicely in the driver's line of sight and with the bottom of the wheel in the same position as a larger wheel the view of the dials is unobstructed. It very quickly feels natural and you begin to wonder why it hasn't been done before.

Despite smaller dimensions than the model it replaces cabin space is actually more generous than before. There's plenty of space up front with lots of seat and wheel adjustment form the driver and decent visibility both forward and rearwards. The only letdown is the soft spongy seats that lack support on longer journeys. Space in the back is also perfectly fine for a pair of adults with good access via the wide opening rear doors. The boot too offers plenty of room again up from before at 285 litres although there's a sizeable load lip hindering access slightly.

Despite our test cars low Active trim level equipment is very decent including electric windows, remote central locking, electric mirrors, column mounted audio controls, alloys wheels and a touchscreen infotainment system. It's also nice to see standard fit cruise control on a car like this which is a real bonus on motorway jaunts. The cheery seat fabrics also help raise the mood.

Sitting on essentially the same platform as the previous 207 although thoroughly recalibrated the 208 couldn't be more different. It's easy to notice the vastly improved ride which is more akin with Peugeots of old in its soft, absorbent nature that comfortably smothers everything in its path with ease. It also goes about it's business with minimal noise thanks to generous insulation, engine noise is also well suppressed for a car of this size. 

The handling is also decent enough although the suspensions suppleness sees notable body roll in corners but beyond that it grips well and is fairly neutral feeling much lighter on its toes thanks to its reduced kerbweight. The tiny steering wheel adds to the feeling of agility although the steering is over assisted and although direct lacks any real connection with the front wheels, there is still however plenty of fun to be had at the helm.

Peugeot's tiny 1.4 litre HDi diesel engine under the bonnet is also a gem. It's not especially quick or powerful producing just 68 bhp but its smooth and punchy power delivery not only suits the character of the car well but its 118 lb ft or torque at 1750 rpm makes acceleration a lot more swift than the figures would suggest. It's just a shame that the five speed gearbox is so unpleasant to use with its notchy, long throw action. Perhaps the biggest asset is the real-world economy on offer which was in the high-60s whilst with us, it is also road tax exempt

Tech Data

Price as tested: £13,695
Engine: 1.4 litre 8v 68bhp - 0-62 mph: 13.5 secs - Maximum Speed: 101 mph -
Economy: 64.2 mpg (urban) –83.1 mpg (extra-urban), 74.3 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 98 g/km - Band A (12 months): £0
Dimensions: Length: 3962 mm - Width: 1829 mm - Height: 1460 mm - Wheelbase: 2538 mm

*data from Peugeot UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

There is no doubt that the 208 is a vast improvement over the 207 that went before. In five door form it is hugely practical with room for four with a very well appointed cabin with plenty of standard equipment. The 1.4 HDi engine is also well up to the job as it's smooth, punchy and refined and is wonderfully cheap to run. Although there are rivals that are more exciting to drive there are few that are more comfortable yet the 208 still feels assured through the bends. In Active trim it also represents good value for money making it an excellent choice.

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