Peugeot 208 review - Practicality, comfort and boot space
The design-led 208 offers a quirky driving position, but can’t compete on the basics of practicality
The latest Peugeot 208 is only offered as a five-door hatchback with no three-door versions available. Space inside is no better than adequate, and those at six-foot or over will definitely feel a little snug in the back.
For the driver, visibility over the shoulder and out of the back is a little restricted and a particular bugbear around town. The steering is a little too light, which is a feeling made worse by the small steering wheel.
Peugeot's i-Cockpit set-up, which features the dials set high on the dashboard, is also a problem. The wheel has to be set low, otherwise the rim obscures the dials, and if you're tall, that can place the wheel virtually in your lap, making for an awkward driving position. Some people won't have a problem, but others might, so it's well worth trying before you buy.
One packaging plus point is with the e-208. Here, the electric motor sits under the bonnet, while the battery pack lies under the floor. So, the interior is the same as in other models, without any further loss of valuable space.
Size
As we’ve said, Peugeot only offers the 208 as a five-door model – it’s 4,055mm long, 1,745mm wide and 1,430mm tall. These are reasonably compact dimensions, but they come at a cost. The Peugeot 208’s closest rival is arguably the Renault Clio and it incorporates a longer wheelbase, which provides more interior space for the driver and passengers.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
The 208’s CMP architecture clearly isn’t as well packaged as the Renault Clio’s platform. The 208 feels more cramped in the rear and there’s not as much legroom. Even accessing the rear isn’t as easy as it could be. The rear seats fold in a 60:40 configuration if required, and every model comes with two seats of ISOFIX mounting points in the back.
Boot
Boot space in the 208 and e-208 is reasonable at 311 litres, which is six litres more than you get in the new hybrid-only Renault Clio. However the Skoda Fabia has a more generous 330-litre load bay, and the VW Polo's boot is even larger – 351 litres, to be exact. Both rival superminis pose big questions for buyers who might want to haul four people and luggage. If you need to carry longer items, folding the rear seats down expands the 208's luggage capacity up to 1,106 litres.
