When the Peugeot throws on the market model of the series 20Χ, it's "news". In this case, the 208 that I have in my hands now is larger, as it has a heavy workload: To overcome the, legendary longer, 205 and 206. Design-wise, it succeeds. But the rest?
Having a long experience with my own 206, I always wondered if Peugeot would manage to bring out a model of this class again, which has the background to become a success. With 208, which recently suffered and a Update on points, I dare say that he has already succeeded. But it's all rosy with the 1.200 atmospheric five-door I have in my hands?
Aesthetics, compared to the prefacelift 208, changes are in the grille, which is slightly larger and more aggressive, with some "touches" on the front and rear lights (which they look like lion claws), as well as more choice for potential buyers in terms of colours and exterior and interior design.
And, in this area, everyone admits it: This lion cub is beautiful. It is in the spirit of the times. It has a French refinement, a sporty look without being blatant at any point. For me, as far as looks go, the 208 is ideal, in the colour - which not coincidentally - is advertised and I'm trying it out. whipped orange.
But enough of the external appearance. Ο his inner worldhow is it? Here, it makes for a long discussion, but let's start with the generalities. With five-door compacts gaining ground in the market, the spaces of this Peugeot, which is also quite 'cuddly' in terms of exterior dimensions, the French have done a great job in layout domestic. So, it remains ample space both for the front and for the rear passengers, where three adults can easily fit, while the luggage compartment, is above the category average. By 285 litres and 1.076with the seats folded down, you can move.
The steering wheel should be lower than the instrument panel
Beyond that, apart from the seats being soft and comfortable, Peugeot couldn't say it's premium brand, without using the appropriate materials. So, we can see that it has used the right proportions of soft/hard plastic for the look, but also for durability, while the piano black accents give it that extra something extra in appearance. Η 7-inch touch screen is easy to use, due to its menu and easy to access, while in terms of design, we see "something different" with the air vents placed underneath it. In addition, the touch screen also has a function mirror screen, for direct display of a smartphone's displays. There's plenty of space for small items and two cup holders under the centre console switches, in front of the gear lever.
And now, the big question: The driving position. Peugeot has adopted the solution of a very small - and herbaceous - steering wheel, in an almost elliptical shape. The concept is to see the -full- instrument panel over the top of the steering wheelso you don't have to take your eyes off the road. But how well does it work?
Like anything new, this is alienating to many people. But the truth is, that's because, to judge it, you have to find the driving position that suits you and live a little bit like that. So, naturally, there is a wealth of settings in a steering wheel-seat, so you can find the seat that suits you, without the steering wheel hiding part of the panel. When you find that seat, it's hard to get back in the "conventional" cockpit, since in everyday life it turns out very useful and it makes your life easier. Of course, I, who prefer to drive almost... bolted to the ground, would like the seat to go down a little lower. But this is a city car...
How's it going?
In the beginning, the motor. Peugeot has abolished the chillier in the 208 and now the "basic" petrol version wears the 1.2 Puretech three-cylinder atmospheric engine with 82 hp at 5,750 rpm and the 12 kg of torque from 2,750 rpm.The good thing is that it's hard to tell it's a three-cylinder, due to the lower characteristic sound, but also the complete absence of vibration.
On the road, the engine, which is mated to a five-speed gearbox, shows more spirited than the numbers say. It has excess power from low revs and is hard to hang on to. So, it's a city car that can take you snappy in the city, but also to make a comfortable journey.
Nice rim, it's gone... tamam with the orange
The latter, i.e. comfortable travel, will be greatly helped by the regulation of posts, which is obviously focused on comfort. Thus, the 208 does not react with "dry" bumps even in the most violent potholes, while on the highway, it does not tire passengers.
At high speeds, that is... alarmingly close to its final speed, (175 g.p.h.), on poor road surfaces there will be transient slip tendencies, but at normal to fast speeds, there will be nothing to disturb the driver and passengers. Overall, the new 208 has a way of moves lightly, since the McPherson knees at the front and the semi-rigid axle at the rear successfully filter out any irregularities.
The driver has a direct, quick and clear, quick and clear steering wheel, which is lighter than I expected, as the season demands for a city car. At upbeat rhythms and in closed pieces, the 208 confirms the cliché that "her cars are turning." It's going to take... fighting and overdoing it to subvert (after all, the slope it will take will have warned you much earlier), while, on the other hand, if you know what and how (and where, of course) you are doing, it leaves you, as genuine lion cub, to play with his tail. The brakes Finally, it is satisfactory under all circumstances.
Harmonised with the Euro6 standard, the 208 test car emits 104 g/km CO2, while, the consumption even in the hellish traffic of the centre of Athens, it will hardly escape from the 6.5 lt/100 km. In fact, in the week of my test and with daily traffic in the centre, it moved marginally above 6, at 6.1 lt/100 km.
In conclusion, with a price starting from 13.610 euros, the renewed 208 PureTech 82, is a advantageous solution for everyday car, (especially when there is the program Peugeot 4×4, with four years of interest-free instalments of 208 euros per month, a 4-year warranty, 4 years of free service and 4 years of free roadside assistance) and certainly makes you think that it's time to part with your beloved 206 for his sake., since its flexibility and its size of less than 4 meters make it easy to use for everyday use...
