Peugeot 208
Auto Express|October 02, 2019
FIRST DRIVE We find out if it has substance to back up the style
James Batchelor
Peugeot 208

PEUGEOT has a lot to live up to with the new 208 – not just against brilliant rivals such as the latest Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo but also because of the French brand’s string of recent successes with the likes of the 3008 and 5008.

The new offering certainly looks like no other supermini, that’s for sure. There’s a bold face with Peugeot’s latest grille design, sleek headlights and vertical LED daytime running lights and short overhangs.

Underneath it all, the 208 sits on the PSA Group’s new small car platform, called CMP. It’s been designed to cater for different powertrains, so that means the 208 (and its sister car, the Vauxhall Corsa) can come with a petrol engine, a diesel engine or as a pure-electric vehicle. Options include a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 75bhp, 99bhp or 128bhp, a 1.5-litre diesel that develops 99bhp, or a 134bhp EV version.

The 208’s cabin is the car’s stand-out feature. Apart from a smattering of hard plastics on the doors and glovebox lid, there are soft-touch materials across the dash and it feels really well put together.

This story is from the October 02, 2019 edition of Auto Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 02, 2019 edition of Auto Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUTO EXPRESSView All
PERFORMANCE review
Auto Express

PERFORMANCE review

Updates have transformed the Audi RS 4 before it bows out for good, but can it beat the BMW M3 Touring?

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Pick of the Porsches
Auto Express

Pick of the Porsches

In its 75 years, Porsche has built some of the most iconic cars ever. We look at the best

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
The rebirth of cool
Auto Express

The rebirth of cool

Octavia has been the standard-bearer of Skoda's renaissance for 25 years. We mark that milestone by looking at four generations of the popular car

time-read
9 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Evolution in action
Auto Express

Evolution in action

As the Peugeot 205 turns 40, we look at how this most iconic of French superminis has influenced the brand's latest small car

time-read
6 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Volkswagen T-Cross
Auto Express

Volkswagen T-Cross

FIRST DRIVE Updates focus on boosting compact SUV's quality

time-read
3 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Vauxhall Astra ST Electric
Auto Express

Vauxhall Astra ST Electric

FIRST DRIVE Estate version of electric family car comes with space to spare

time-read
3 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Smart #3
Auto Express

Smart #3

FIRST DRIVE Has Smart righted the 1’s wrongs with the latest addition to its range?

time-read
4 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
BEAVER TOWN
Auto Express

BEAVER TOWN

When Citroen said it was supporting a scheme to rewild beavers in West London wetlands, we were eager to gnaw how it would work

time-read
3 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
HOUSE OF BUGATTI
Auto Express

HOUSE OF BUGATTI

| Upon his retirement, the man who's shaped all modern Bugattis SI reflects upon his stellar career with the ultimate supercar brand

time-read
5 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
AMG weaves its magic as Merc reveals faster CLE 53 coupé
Auto Express

AMG weaves its magic as Merc reveals faster CLE 53 coupé

THE new Mercedes CLE coupé is tasked with replacing two-door versions of both the C-Class and E-Class, and the line-up has been bolstered with the arrival of a hot AMG 53 variant.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)