Peugeot 208 Allure
The reigning class champ has a fight on its hands
In the short time since the 208 snatched the supermini crown, this ultra-competitive market has moved on. It looks good and features a luxurious interior, but the vague manual box and poor cabin ergonomics mean it trails on practicality and driver appeal.
Renault isn’t the only French car maker synonymous with superminis. Peugeot has a long history of building neat and nimble small cars, and the 208 is the latest model in that tradition.
Peugeot has tried to give the 208 a unique look, but it’s not as cohesive as the Renault Clio. In profile and from the rear, the Peugeot is smart; it’s just not quite as successful at the front. Still, there are some neat touches, such as the bold tail-lights and classy chrome trim.
The 208 is smaller than the Clio, so there’s less space inside for passengers. However, our car came with Peugeot’s £400 optional panoramic roof, which meant the cabin felt bright and airy. Boot space is also down on the Renault’s, at 285 litres.
From behind the wheel, the car feels well built, with decent soft-touch plastics and higher-quality switchgear than the Clio. But some of our testers found it difficult to get comfortable, as the instruments are set high, so you have to position the steering wheel in your lap to see them properly. At least the seats are supportive, while the small, thick-rimmed wheel is good to hold.
Another niggle is the fiddly infotainment touchscreen, which suffered occasional system crashes during our time with the car. Fire up the 1.2-litre petrol engine, and you’re greeted by a distinctive three-cylinder thrum. It’s not as smooth as the smaller-capacity turbo engines of its rivals here, but it gives the 208 character. Shorter gearing and a lower kerbweight meant it was faster than the Clio from 0-60mph, too, although the Ford Fiesta was quicker still.
Through corners, the soft suspension means there’s plenty of body roll, but while the steering is light, the Peugeot wasn’t quite as agile as the Renault. It does feel grown-up on the motorway, however. In terms of running costs, this non-turbo car trails its rivals for road tax, but economy was stronger and residuals are a bit better than the Clio’s.
The Peugeot delivers a composed driving experience and scores strongly for refinement. It also boasts a classy cabin and plenty of standard kit. Is that enough for our reigning Supermini of the Year to hold on to its crown?
