This month’s review is for the new-look Peugeot 208 GT Line. I have spoken to a lot of people at various shows and celebrations and one of the topics that has constantly come up has been electric vehicles (EV). Many people have told me that this year they are ditching their petrol engine vehicles and are instead going out to buy their first EV. Now, call me a critic, but we are not there yet. We’re close, but it’s not all plain sailing because, first and foremost, we need a decent charging infrastructure.
I plan on testing a lot more EVs throughout 2020 which I hope will help you decide if you want to join the ‘green revolution’ or, like me, you think it’s still just a little too soon and you would rather wait a little longer before you commit to throwing the combustion engine onto the scrapheap forever.
On a personal note, I will always be a petrolhead and when the time comes that the only other option for me is to use a vehicle that’s solely battery-powered, maybe I just won’t bother at all.
Power and Efficiency
The 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine has a 0-62 time of around 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 117mph. Fuel consumption is also good, giving a combined figure of 53mpg. So, the next question is: how well does it get a move on? Well, if I’m being honest, it moves along quite nicely. That 1.2 petrol engine for me is smooth and silky. The 6-speed gearbox is also slick and the gear changes are direct and firm. There used to be a time when floppy Peugeot gear changes were the norm, but not any more thankfully.
On the Road
The 100hp engine that was fitted to my test car was enthusiastic and pretty much purred its way along. Also, into the corners, the chassis felt poised and tight, even when dealing with our worst roads. Plus, when the tarmac gets twisty, the little 208 is fun to drive. It’s a little corker, giving you maximum grip in and out of every corner. The steering also felt direct and perfectly balanced with plenty of feedback on what all four corners were doing at any given time.
Interior and Technology
First off, I’m so glad to see that the designers at Peugeot have finally paid a lot of attention to the detail inside the cabin of the new 208 – it’s now refreshing and modern. Also, the seats are comfy once you get the correct adjustment which I found a little annoying to get just right. When it comes to the boot, the space is OK with more room than I expected there to be. Trust me on this, you will be very surprised just how much you can fit in. Rear legroom was not bad either.
On the Inside
There’s plenty of standard equipment, including 17” ‘Camden’ diamond-cut two-tone alloy wheels, gloss black wheel arch extensions, GT Line badging, active safety brake, ABS with EBD, Thatcham Category 1 approved alarm, ESP with hill-start assist, Peugeot i-Cockpit 7” colour touchscreen, DAB radio and six speakers, automatic headlights and tyre-pressure sensors. To find out more, visit peugeot.co.uk.
To Sum up
I like the new 208 because of its practicability aspect plus it’s a hoot to drive. It also has bags of power for a small car along with plenty of space on the inside managing to fit a family with minimal effort.
Price
from £20,700 on the road.
Auto review courtesy of Tony Yates
For more motoring reviews, click here.