Living with a Peugeot 208: everything I love and hate about this stylish small car

When I swapped my big, spacious KGM Actyon for the little Peugeot 208, I did wonder how it was going to fit into my life. I do a lot of miles driving to Carwow video shoots, and I carry a lot of kit as well.

But after around 3,000 miles behind the wheel, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well it’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it. Well, almost everything. Here are five things I love about this car, as well as five things which have annoyed me.

Peugeot 208 long-term review: five good things

Let’s start off on a positive note, because there’s a lot to like about this little hatchback.

1. It’s a joy to drive

Peugeot has nailed the steering and suspension in the 208, because it manages to be both fun to drive and really comfortable at the same time. When I’m slogging up and down the motorway, it’s smooth and relaxing, impressively so for a small car, and it soaks up bumps around town nicely as well.

But on a twisty road it also manages to feel agile and darty. There’s almost no bodyroll through the bends, and it’s quite good fun to chuck around. The small steering wheel adds to the fun feeling, but that has a drawback which I’ll get to later.

2. The hybrid engine is brilliant

The 145hp petrol hybrid engine in this 208 is really good. In a recent drag race against all our other long-term test cars, it was only a second behind the Polestar 3, and that car has double the power.

It’s not only quick, it’s also economical. Despite my drag racing antics, I’m averaging around 55mpg in the 208. That’s just 5mpg short of the claimed figure, although a Toyota Yaris will do 60mpg in the real world.

3. The interior quality is exceptional

Considering this is the cheapest model Peugeot sells, the 208’s interior feels really posh. The multi-layered dashboard and metallic trim makes it look really cool, and the materials are nice and plush as well.

You do get some scratchy plastic on the door tops, but the dashboard is nicely padded and the switchgear all feels premium. It punches above its price tag inside.

4. The seats are great

This being the GT Premium model, my car has upgraded sports seats over the standard 208. They’re really supportive and hold you in place through the bends, while not being too body-hugging when you’re on a long commute. The seat heating is also really good – it properly roasts your backside on those cold winter mornings.

5. Just look at it

Looks may be subjective, but I think this is one of the most stylish small cars you can buy. I’ve noticed it turning a lot of heads on the local high street, and this is helped by the sporty upgrades you get on the GT Premium. My car has larger alloy wheels than standard and a more aggressive-looking bodykit, and this bright blue paint makes it stand out.

Peugeot 208 long-term review: five annoying things

It’s not all rosy with my Peugeot 208. Here are five things which are annoying me about it.

1. The weird driving position

Remember when I said that the small steering wheel had its drawbacks? Well I can’t seem to position it anywhere that’s comfortable and doesn’t block my view of the dials. When I spoke to Mat Watson about it, he told me it was down to my leg-to-torso ratio.

I find I either have to peer over the top of it to see my speed, or I’m sawing at my legs through corners. Make sure you take one on an extended test drive before buying so you know it’ll be comfortable for you.

2. Fiddly controls

There is a handy row of shortcut keys on the dashboard to quickly access your heater controls, but any adjustments have to be made through the screen. That’s quite annoying, but not as annoying as the touch-sensitive heated seat button. It doesn’t work when your hands are wet, which mine often are if I’m out on a shoot in the pouring rain.

3. Temperamental lane assist

Adaptive cruise control is a brilliant feature for taking the strain out of long journeys. While the Peugeot is good at maintaining a safe distance from the car in front, it’s rubbish at steering to keep you in lane unless the road markings are perfect, which in the UK they rarely are. It keeps engaging and disengaging, meaning it’s easier to just turn it off.

4. Annoying cupholders

If you have the armrest extended, as I often do, it blocks one of the cupholders completely and makes the other tricky to reach. I’ve also forgotten something is in the rearmost one before when chucking the armrest forward, knocking over my drink in the process.

5. It’s quite expensive

I still can’t quite get past the fact that this car costs more than £29,000. It may have a fantastic engine, a lovely interior and quite a lot of tech, but there are quite a lot of Chinese cars entering the market which offer more space at a similar price. Take the Chery Tiggo 7, for example. A top-spec version costs around £28,000, and it’s a really roomy SUV with just as much equipment as my 208.

That said, no Chinese SUV out there drives as well as my Peugeot does, and very few look as stylish either. You can also get into a Peugeot 208 for less by going for a more sensible spec than my car.

If it were my money, I’d go for the 110hp hybrid engine over the 145hp version. It’s still punchy enough, and it’s around £1,200 cheaper.

I’d also consider getting the GT model over the GT Premium. You may have to do without a 360-degree camera system and wireless phone charging, but it gets all the same sporty styling upgrades and comes in £1,500 below the range-topper.

So that brings you down from just over £29,000 to £26,600, and you can save almost £3,000 on this car through Carwow as well. That makes the 208 look much more tempting in my books.

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.

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