Skip advert
Advertisement

Peugeot 208 e-HDi

The new Peugeot 208 has already impressed us on foreign roads. Now we try eco supermini over here

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£5,568 off RRP*
Find your Peugeot 208
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

From the moment you set eyes on the new 208, you can tell Peugeot is on to a winner. It looks like a premium car, and that impression continues once you start driving. The refined, smooth engine is a perfect fit for the classy, well specced cabin. This all means a hefty price, but it’s no more than what you’d expect to pay for a well equipped Fiesta.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Thanks to our early drives on the European mainland, we already know that the 208 is the best small car Peugeot has produced in years. But now that it has arrived in the UK, we can set about finding the sweet spot in the model line-up.

This 1.6 e-HDi version has the makings of being the top pick, with 91bhp and a claimed 74.3mpg. The engine impresses on the road, with a smoothness that you don’t expect from a four-cylinder diesel supermini.

Acceleration won’t exactly set pulses racing, but the 12.2-second 0-62mph time feels quick enough in town. The stop-start system works seamlessly, too, and during our hour-long city test drive the engine was switched off for a total of 18 minutes. Other set-ups wouldn’t have come close.

It’s this clever system that helps reduce the 208’s running costs. CO2 emissions of 98g/km are low enough to allow the Peugeot to be exempt from road tax, and we achieved real-world economy of around 60mpg during our test drive. Motorists looking for even lower running costs can always opt for the 1.4 e-HDi, which officially claims 87g/km and 83.1mpg.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

208

2022 Peugeot

208

36,771 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,848
View 208
208

2023 Peugeot

208

70,188 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £9,900
View 208
208

2023 Peugeot

208

59,995 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £12,585
View 208
208

2023 Peugeot

208

28,680 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £14,503
View 208

However, even with an eye on efficiency the 208 e-HDi is plenty of fun to drive; far better than the 207 it replaces. It all starts with the tiny steering wheel, which gives a real sense of agility. Unless the speeds are really high, the 208 flows nicely through fast corners with decent grip and only a limited amount of body roll.

It’s only as you fully explore the car’s limits that you find it can’t quite match Ford’s Fiesta for outright ability and driver involvement. One aspect that is particularly to blame is the five-speed manual gearbox, which feels a bit vague.

On the plus side, the 208’s suspension does a good job of isolating the driver from rough roads. The only hint of firmness comes when travelling over drains and potholes, at which point a noisy thud enters the cabin.

This 208 1.6 e-HDi in Allure specification costs £15,845 – a price tag which places the 208 at the most expensive end of the supermini market, right up there with the best-selling Fiesta.

Thankfully, the stylish cabin feels worth every penny; it comes with a colour touchscreen, sports seats and some gloss black and brushed chrome inserts.

Passengers are well catered for, too. Even though this car is more compact externally than the 207, there’s actually 5cm extra rear legroom thanks to redesigned seats which free up space.

In the boot there’s an extra 15 litres of room, too, which now takes the load capacity to a competitive 285 litres with the rear seats up.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Peugeot 208

Peugeot 208

RRP £17,520Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £9,900
Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf

RRP £28,505Used from £7,495
Fiat 500

Fiat 500

RRP £11,130Used from £3,290
Renault Megane E-Tech

Renault Megane E-Tech

RRP £32,495Avg. savings £6,086 off RRP*Used from £18,495
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

This new brand of cars might have battery tech on their side, but European buyers want much more than that
Opinion
25 Apr 2025
New electric car MoT tests could be coming to the UK
Tesla Model X on two-post inspection ramp

New electric car MoT tests could be coming to the UK

New technology and driver assistance systems require changes to annual testing, says EC
News
25 Apr 2025
Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible
Opinion - £10k used cars

Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible

Phil McNamara discovers that it’s harder than ever to find a good-value car at the affordable end of the market
Opinion
24 Apr 2025