2013 Peugeot 208 Reviews

Life is tough for those selling car marques operating in the mid-price range in Australia. Their problem is that the Asian makers are trying to lift themselves upmarket, while the big-three German prestige brands are moving down into smaller models at relatively low price points.Peugeot, the world’s oldest car name, is caught in the pincers between these two dissimilar groups. So the French maker has come out fighting by going boots and all into the hot-hatch arena.Peugeot’s 205 GTi was one of the major players in this exciting field way back in the 1980s, a stunning little machine with superb handling and a highly responsive engine, the 205 GTi is still looked back on with affection by we motoring journos who were there at the time.But Peugeot lost its way after the 205 GTi, producing what might be termed ‘lukewarm-hatches’ in the 206 and 207 ranges. Which was strange because during that period the company was heavily involved in the big-end of motorsport; particularly in long-distance endurance events (including Le Mans), off-road rallies (Dakar), hill-climbs (Pikes Peak) even dabbling in Formula One for a while.However, that quiet era has passed and Peugeot is back in the hot-hatch arena with a bang. Witness the introduction of the 208 GTi, a genuine high-performance car aimed at full-on car enthusiasts.TECHNOLOGYPeugeot 208 GTi has a highly tuned 200 horsepower (147 kW in non-performance speak) turbocharged engine stuffed under its shapely nose. This petrol unit produces up to 275 Newton metres of torque at just 1750 rpm.The engine only sits beside a six-speed manual gearbox as Peugeot feels the true driver is more than happy to make their own decisions on gear ratios. Sure, a double-clutch auto might prove faster, but it doesn’t offer the same pleasure as full manual gear shifting.DESIGNStyling of the three-door French hot-hatch is seriously modified from that of the standard 208. As well as the lowered suspension and a bold body kit it carries numerous items of bling on its body.Inside, there are race-style seats, leather trim on the handbrake lever – and healthy dashes of red highlights in various placed, including the instrument dials, the centre console and door sill panels.A controversial feature of the Peugeot 208 range is the tiny steering wheel’s position. While all like the size and that little bit of extra controllability it offers, some find it blocks their view of the instruments. It’s obviously a personal thing, but make sure you check it out during your own test drive.SAFETYSafety is looked after by the usual suite of active and passive devices, which include six airbags. An unusual feature is that the hazard warning flashers come on under heavy braking.DRIVING We road and track tested the 208 GTi over glorious mountain roads behind the Gold Coast and at the racetrack-like training facility among the cane-fields at Norwell.On the road sections the little Pug was a sheer delight. The engine has torque to spare in almost all conditions, responds virtually instantly to the throttle and is happy to rev to the top end of the tacho. Handling of the Peugeot 208 GTi is excellent and its light weight, just 1130 kg, makes it nicely nimble through the twisty bits.At the Norwell track we were assisted by a couple of professional racing drivers – Jason Bright and Andrew Jones – and took the lovely little French flyers to extremes. They are predictable and easy to control even when taken to their limits.The brakes did get very hot in these harsh conditions, so Peugeot 208 GTi won’t be a track-day car without better brake pads. It’s not exactly alone in this, it’s just that we feel you should be warned because plenty of you are going to be tempted by track driving.VERDICTWell priced at $29,990, Peugeot 208 GTi offers style, smile-inducing dynamic and powertrain performance that should guarantee it sits high on the shortlist of hot-hatch buyers.Peugeot 208 GTiPrice: from $29,900Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo, 147W/275NmTransmission: 6-speed man; FWDThirst: 5.9L/100km, 98RON

The Peugeot 205 GTi held the hot hatch crown in the 1980s, and helped cement Peugeot’s motorsport reputation. It was raw, lively and fun, but with the uncivilised potential to get you into serious trouble. And the way it covered the ground between here and the horizon was astounding.With its demise came a series of hot hatches that had all the Peugeot DNA, but they were neither lively nor fun. So with the new 208 GTi launching under the tagline “The GTI is back", Peugeot is hoping that means the magic is back as well.DESIGNThe GTI-is-back line isn't just restricted to the marketing either, it's part of the car's styling - most obviously in the logo on the C-pillar, where once you would find a 1.6 or 1.9 badge. Echoing its ancestor, the wheel arches are all appropriately flared with plastic extensions, although the 208's are painted and less cartoonish.Sadly absent is a reboot of the signature 205 GTi wheel designs – early telephone dial and multi-spoke Speedlines made famous by WRC cars – in favour of a more modern and intricate style. The body doesn't squat down over those wheels and from behind, you'll be hard-pressed to guess it from the rest of the range, apart from the trapezoidal exhausts.From the front, there's a more aggressive bumper, grille and daytime running lights unique to the GTi - once you recognise them, you'll always see one coming. It sits lower and has wider front and rear track (10mm and 20mm respectively), with 17-inch alloys wrapped with 205/45 rubber. On the inside there's acres of piano black, set off by the retro cues of red stitching, red accents and squared off seat bolsters.Peugeot's fondness for nostalgia does not, thankfully, extend to the cabin equipment. A high-tech interior comes with a complicated seven-inch touchscreen, with bluetooth, sat-nav and two USB ports. The dash and fittings are made from nicely textured soft plastics and the doors are capped with more piano black plastic that appears to bleed red over the handle.VALUEThe GTi hits our roads for $29,990, a full five grand cheaper than the run-out Renaultsport Clio (and probably the new one), but almost five more than the just-announced Ford Fiesta ST. It also has the cheaper - and popular - VW Polo GTI to contend with, which also has a DSG auto and two extra doors. Peugeot will also offer future assured value via their finance arm, as well as capped price servicing.TECHNOLOGYUnder the bonnet is the same engine found in the RCZ and Citroen DS3 Sport - plus (whisper it) the Mini Cooper S and JCW. And it delivers just as much fun as in any of those cars. Smooth and muscular, it's good for 147kW and 275Nm of torque with just a six-speed manual available.But sadly, despite the efforts of the exhaust engineers, the 208 doesn't have the sporty exhaust note they were looking for and none of the exuberant poppity-pop of the JCW. It certainly moves the 1167kg 208, reaching 100km/h in 6.8 seconds. The cornering control system uses the ABS sensors to nip a rear disc to help bring the back end into line if it all gets a little unruly.SAFETYSix airbags, ABS, traction and stability control and electronic brake force distribution all add up to five stars.DRIVINGThe driving position and controls might take a bit of getting used to. The steering wheel is genuinely tiny and with the flat bottom, there's less of it than if it had been round. It doesn't really make sense - the idea of a flat bottom is to make room for your knees.You have to drop the wheel low so you can see over it to the dashboard, which seems counter-intuitive but it works, especially once you've found the paddle holding the cruise control. You may have to sit a little higher than you might normally.Out on the road, it's a very easy car to drive, even in traffic. The ride is almost limo-like for a hot-hatch, something Peugeot used to do really well. Combined with the generous seats, clear vision out and an easy clutch and gearbox, this could be any good hatchback in everyday driving.Floor it, however, and it comes alive with plenty of grip and plenty of character. Firing into a tight bend, you can feel all four corners working hard, with tyres at both ends happy to make noise as you head for the apex, letting you know where you've gone wrong and gently suggesting what to do about it.Too fast? Just lift off the gas and the nose comes straight back with a vengeance, giving you confidence and the heroic feeling that you've found its limits. The body rolls a little bit more than expected but it delivers a better experience overall than a harder, lower machine might.The brakes are strong and took a pretty serious pounding around the track and on the road without feeling like they would give up. The steering, while weightless, responds immediately, allowing you to dart left and right with a flick of the wheel - but it's not so fast a sneeze will cause an unscheduled lane change.VERDICTIs the GTi back? Yep, but it’s learned some extra manners. The 208 is civilised at all times but when you give it a kick, it'll fire up and show you it still knows the GTi tricks -- without ever losing patience and chucking you backwards through a fence.The 208 is entering a war zone that in twelve months’ time will be packed with a battalion of hot hatches to choose from. It's got a big job ahead of it but for the first time in 20 years, Peugeot is well-armed for the conflict.Peugeot 208 GTiPrice: from $29,900Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmCapped servicing: $270/yr for 3 yrs/60,000kmService interval:12 months/20,000kmSafety rating:  5 starsEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo, 147W/275NmTransmission: 6-speed man; FWDThirst: 5.9L/100km, 98RONDimensions: 3.9m (L), 1.7m (W), 1.4m (H)Weight: 1160kgSpare: Full size 

This is a little car with big shoes to fill. The Peugeot 208 GTi wants to reclaim the halo of its legendary ancestor, the 205 GTi – the feisty bantam that set hot hatch benchmarks in the 80s-90s -- and erase the blander footprints of the generations in between."The new 208GTi draws a direct link back to the original hot hatch predecessor, the 205 GTi,” Peugeot Australia boss Bill Gillespie says. “The 205 GTi built the Peugeot hot hatch reputation and the 208 GTi is a modern take on that hot hatch theme.”But while Peugeot wants the new GTi to revive the old reputation, it can’t be completely old school in the approach. Despite nostalgia for the bare bones attitude of the 205, today’s cosseted buyers would shun its spartan fit-out.VALUEWhile the 208 descendant salutes the basic tenets – including being manual only – it’s far from base spec. Australian pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the current 208 top spec is $26,490 so you can expect the GTi is likely to be around $30,000, for which you get a well-equipped package with park assist, 7-in infotainment touchscreen and enough premium fit-out to make it feel special.It faces savage competition from the hot hatch herd, but in the weigh-up the 208 GTi offers best delivery for the dollars.  From Germany, there are the $27,990 Skoda Fabia RS and Volkswagen stablemate Polo GTI at $28,990, but the Peugeot is more fun and better looking.Fellow Gallic rival, the Renault Clio RS 200, has the next model waiting in the wings – with a 1.6-litre turbo engine that delivers more than the current model’s 2.0-litre. But even when the newcomer is being tipped to come in under the current $36,490 price tag, it's a big stretch over the Peugeot.  Up around that level, Ford’s brilliant (and larger) $38,290 Focus ST has already proven its performance ability, as has the $40,700 Mini Cooper S . TECHNOLOGYFor its part, the 208 GTi squeezes 147kW of power and 275Nm of torque from its 1.6-litre turbo-petrol – the same unit in Peugeot’s RCZ and the Citroen DS3 -- delivering to the front wheels via a six-speed manual, with the purist promise of no auto option.There’s no start button, either: you kick it into action with a traditional key. And none of the exhaust-note tweaking wizardry found in some rivals. But the little firecracker hasn’t completely spurned tech trickery, with accelerometer data fed to a cornering-assist system that trails the inside bake calliper on the bigger, beefier discs. It’s all about agility, but there’s enough urge on tap as well. It posts the 0-100km/h at 6.8 seconds – and from 80-120km/h in 8.4 -- peaking at 230km/h. It’s slung lower and wider -- 10mm at front and 20mm at rear -- on 17-in wheels, and woven into the greedier footprint is a stiffer version of the suspension’s McPherson-strut front and multi-link rear.And some of the best news: Peugeot has trimmed the weight to 1160kg – 165kg under the 207 GTi and to varying degrees also lighter than the main rivals.DESIGNThe 208 is already a good looker, and the GTi builds on that with subtle sporty flourishes: flared arches, touches of bodykit, mesh grille flanked by daytime running lights, trapezoid twin exhausts embedded through the rear fascia and GTi badging on the C-pillar saluting the 205.A scatter of satin chrome and red accents inside set off the dash and deep-bolstered leather sports seats, aluminium pedals and gearknob and tiny, chunky steering wheel with its red centred marker.The car is small, but -- unless you’re of massive build – you’ll feel snugly embedded rather than cramped. But it can take some jockeying to get the wheel and yourself to a drivable position where you can take in all the instruments. If you have the wheel low enough to clearly see over the top, long legs will tangle with it every time there's pedal action.You get 285 litres of boot space, so it offers some practicality, but you won’t be carting any fridges home.SAFETYThe 208 gets a five-star safety rating, with six airbags on board, stability control and anti-skid brakes with extra assistance for panic stops and to counter uneven loading.DRIVINGThe GTi is all about response, and getting the job done without fuss. The styling isn’t attention-seeking, and if the exhaust note isn’t as rorty as you’d like, it won’t matter once you get going – the attitude will be rousing enough.Push that pedal and the engine answers instantly, keep the revs high enough and it keeps giving more. Up above 3000 is where it really generates heat, but a wide torque band means it’s smooth and strong in the lower register for normal – or mildly keen – jaunts. At that level it’s surprising comfortable, with the firm suspension still managing to baffle all but the worst ruts.There’s joyous snicking through the close-ratio gear slots with the sharp, precise shift feel. And while the GTi may not lead for firepower, it’s not falling behind in the fun stakes. Get it going and the car feels suctioned to the road, sashaying through corners with smooth glee. Pushed hard, it’ll betray a touch of body roll, but overall it’s well-balanced and confident.There's no argument about the steering accuracy. Turn the wheel and the Pug obeys. And it’s that all-round tractability is the 208 GTi’s charm. You can fire it from corner to corner, then tickle it around town – and it will step up to the plate at either end of the job sheet.VERDICTIs it the 205 GTi? No, of course not. But a worthy successor, most definitely. It’s nimble, fast and fun – everything a hot hatch could be. And it’s stylish, well-equipped and good quality, which is everything any car should be.Peugeot 208 GTiPrice: under $30,000Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmCapped serivicing: $270/yr for 3 yrs/60,000kmService interval: 12 months/20,000kmSafety rating : 5-starEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol, 147W/275NmTransmission: 6-spd manual; FWDThirst: 5.9L/100km; 98RON; 139g/km CO2Tank: 50LDimensions: 3.9m (L), 1.7m (W), 1.4m (H)Weight: 1160kg