Insurance Group: 12
MPG: 50.4
CO2: 129
0-62 Mph: 11.7 secs
BHP: 95 BHP
Range: 554 miles
PROS: The 208 Active 1.4 looks fantastic and comes with a good range of standard equipment.
CONS: The driving position is very weird and the 208 is no fun to drive thanks to a harsh ride and too much body roll through the bends.
This is the 1.4-litre Active model and Peugeot predicts that it will be the biggest seller in the 208 range. As you'd expect, it comes with a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, and delivers 95bhp and 100lb-ft of torque. 0-62mph takes 11.7 seconds and flat out you'll be going 117mph, making this model one of the sprightlier models in the 208 range. It's a decent engine and does a perfectly good job of moving the 208 around; however, you're better off with the 1.6-litre petrol if you're looking for good performance.
We weren't impressed by the gearchange, however, which felt a little clumsy and notchy.
On the road, the 208 is relatively refined -- engine and road noise are well suppressed and the engine settles down into a quiet cruise. However, the 208 is let down by its ride; road imperfections can easily be felt in the cabin and the whole car rolls when you corner with verve.
No arguments please, the 208 is a fantastic looking car. Most of the current big-selling superminis these days are pleasing on the eye -- the Fiesta, the Corsa etc. -- but the French have a knack when it comes to designing good-looking cars, and Peugeot are back on form after ditching the awful gaping front-end which adorned the old 207.
It's the same story inside. The dash is both stylish and well-made, and Peugeot has really upped its game in the quality stakes. All of the materials are soft to the touch and the Peugeot exudes a sense of luxury rarely found in a car of this size.
The Active trim also comes with a decent amount of standard equipment including: alloy wheels, air-con, electric front windows, electric mirrors, cruise control, Bluetooth, and a CD player with MP3 connectivity. On top of this, rear parking sensors can be specified for a fairly reasonable £270 and sat-nav will only set you back £400.
It's not the most spacious of superminis, the 208, and taller passengers may find that headroom is at a premium; however, the boot is a good size, offering 285-litres of space with the rear seats up.
Peugeot isn't exactly famed for its reliability record and its cars regularly crop up towards the bottom of the JD Power survey charts; however, a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty is included as standard.
Euro NCAP has yet to test the little Pug but front, side and curtain airbags are included as standard, as is stability control (not that this is really necessary in a car with a mere 95bhp).
At £13,295, the 208 is reasonably priced and should hold its value well thanks to its good looks and quality interior.
The 1.4 Active isn't the cheapest model in the range to run -- 50.4mpg combined and 129g/km of CO2 -- but it's hardly going to break the bank either. If you're really concerned about running costs, we'd go for the 1.0-litre three-cylinder model which is not only a grand cheaper than the 1.4, but offers 65mpg and free road tax under VED band A.
The Peugeot 208 was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show as the French car maker’s replacement for its popular but ageing 207 range. The 208, available in 3-door and 5-door body styles and with a...
The 208 is a vast improvement over the shonky old 207. Not only does it look great, but it comes with a good range of engines and a high-quality cabin. It's just a pity it isn't more fun to drive.
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