I’m living with a Peugeot 208 to see if it has the substance to back up the style

This is my new Peugeot 208, a chic small hatchback which I’ll be daily driving for the next six months. I’m going to put this car to work, ferrying kit and crew all over the country to shoot videos for the Carwow YouTube channel, but why did I pick the Peugeot?

Well it’s a fantastic-looking car for starters, and this one is the hybrid as well which I’m hoping will reduce my fuel bills compared to my old KGM Actyon. Here’s a rundown of my 208’s specs.

Living with a Peugeot 208: introduction

My Peugeot 208 is a GT Premium, which is the top spec version. This means it has 360-degree cameras, 17-inch alloy wheels, a contrasting black roof, Alcantara sports seats, adaptive cruise control and LED lights with auto high beams.

That’s a lot of kit for such a small car, and it also has an impressive engine for something this size. It uses a 1.2-litre petrol hybrid with 145hp, and it’s actually the same engine we had in our old Peugeot 5008 long term test car – which was a massive SUV.

This means it feels pretty quick, and it should return good fuel economy. Peugeot claims it’ll return just over 60mpg, and I’m keen to see how close it gets in reality. Seeing as the huge Peugeot 5008 averaged 50mpg over our six months with it, I’m hopeful that the little 208 will be even more efficient.

The only fly in the ointment is the price. With the £950 Vertigo Blue paint scheme, this car costs just over £30,000. That’s quite a lot for something this small, especially when you compare it to the slew of Chinese SUVs going on sale in the UK. A top-spec Chery Tiggo 7 costs about the same, and that’s a much bigger SUV with even more kit.

If you want to save yourself some cash, you can currently save around £4,000 on a 208 just like mine through Carwow.

The Peugeot is much cooler looking than the Chery though, but is it more than just a pretty face? I’ll find out over the next six months, but after a few weeks I do have some initial thoughts.

First impressions of my Peugeot 208

Climbing into my new 208 for the first time I was impressed by the cabin quality. It feels much posher than other small hatchbacks, and the dashboard looks really cool. The driving position might take some getting used to though, because I’m finding the small steering wheel blocks the driver’s display in my seating position.

At 311 litres, the boot isn’t the biggest on paper. A Skoda Fabia offers about 10% more space, but I’ve still managed to fit all my kit in without too much issue. Sometimes I do have to put stuff on the back seats though, and while I haven’t tried putting people back there yet, it does look a tad cramped.

Stay tuned for my full first impressions on this car after I’ve had it for a month, and we also have an exciting twin test planned for the 208 which you won’t want to miss, either.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.