Mini 5D Hatch vs Peugeot 208
What's the difference?

Mini 5D Hatch

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2020 price

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Peugeot 208

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2019 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Mini 5D Hatch

2019 Peugeot 208

By Andrew Chesterton

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 3, 1.2L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.0L/100km (combined)

4.5L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Potent engine
Tons of grip
Funky cabin ambience

Unique styling
Sporty drive
Spacious and comfortable

Dislikes

Ride can be harsh
Jittery drive experience
Cabin tech overly user friendly

Pricey
Missing advanced safety
Barely any cabin storage

2020 Mini 5D Hatch Summary

That the 2020 Mini Clubman John Cooper Works is the most powerful Mini to have landed in Australia isn’t all that surprising. After all, parent company BMW has squeezed the thumping four-cylinder engine from the M135i under its bonnet, and that thing creates a snarling beast of any vehicle it finds a home in.

What is a surprise, though, is that having now driven this angry, crackling, snarling hot hatch, what with its burbling exhaust and properly rapid acceleration, is that it took Mini this long to get around to doing it.

So does the engine upgrade now put the Clubman JCW on the same pedestal as the best European hot hatches? There's only one way to find out.

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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

2020 Mini 5D Hatch 2019 Peugeot 208

Verdict

The Mini Clubman JCW is quirky in a lot of the right ways, and now has a hard-charging engine to up the adrenalin factor. If you were already sold on the idea of joining the Clubman club, this one will steal your heart more than any other.

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.

Mini 5D Hatch vs Peugeot 208 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mini 5D Hatch vs Peugeot 208
What's the difference?