Abarth 595 vs Peugeot 208
What's the difference?

Abarth 595

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2018 price

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Peugeot 208

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2019 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2018 Abarth 595

2019 Peugeot 208

By Tim Robson

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.4L

Turbo 3, 1.2L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.8L/100km (combined)

4.5L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Good engine/chassis combo
Surprising grip levels
Unusual

Unique styling
Sporty drive
Spacious and comfortable

Dislikes

Terrible driving position
Ride not great around town
No reversing camera

Pricey
Missing advanced safety
Barely any cabin storage

2018 Abarth 595 Summary

Since 1949, Abarth has been giving the venerable Italian brand, Fiat, a patina of performance, based largely on giant-killing feats in small modified cars like the Fiat 600 of the 1960s.

More recently, the brand has been revived to boost the fortunes of the smallest Fiat on sale in Australia. Known formally as the Abarth 595, the tiny hatch packs a bit of a surprise under its distinctive snout.

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2019 Peugeot 208 Summary

In a world of cheap, popular and well-specified Japanese and Korean small hatchbacks, it’s easy to forget the humble French cars that once helped define the segment.

They’re still around, though. You’ve probably seen a few Renault Clios, you might not have seen the tragically underrated new Citroen C3, and there’s at least a chance you’ve seen one of these – the Peugeot 208.

This iteration of the 208 has been around in one form or another since 2012 and is due to be replaced by a second-generation model in the near future.

So, should you consider the aging 208 in a busy market segment? I spent a week behind the wheel of the second-from-the-top GT-Line to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Abarth 595 2019 Peugeot 208

Verdict

It’s tough to be kind to the Abarth 595. Based on a platform that’s more than a decade old, the car has been left behind by its rivals in many ways, including basic ergonomics and its value equation.

The larger engine does work well in this smaller package, and its road-holding ability belies its size. However, only die-hard fans of the Abarth brand will be able to cope with the uncomfortable seating position and a complete lack of even the most perfunctory features that cars costing $10,000 less are able to offer.

Verdict

The 208 GT-Line is hardly a car purchased on its value offering; it’s an emotional purchase. Fans of the brand know it, even Peugeot knows it.

Here’s the thing, though, the GT-Line looks the part, is true-to-its-roots in how fun it is to drive, and will surprise most with its spacious dimensions and decent spec level. So, while it might be an emotional buy, it’s not necessarily a bad one.

Abarth 595 vs Peugeot 208 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Abarth 595 vs Peugeot 208
What's the difference?