Peugeot 208 vs Audi S3
What's the difference?

Peugeot 208

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2019 price

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Audi S3

$73,980 - $98,888

2025 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2019 Peugeot 208

2025 Audi S3

By Tom White

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 3, 1.2L

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

4.5L/100km (combined)

7.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Unique styling
Sporty drive
Spacious and comfortable

Athletic and sporty in all the right places
Improved engine outputs
Gorgeous cabin space

Dislikes

Pricey
Missing advanced safety
Barely any cabin storage

Tiny back seat
Missing some premium features
Lots of road noise

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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2025 Audi S3 Summary

In a world where car upgrades often feel like saying, “Can I upsize that?”, it’s refreshing to hop into the updated Audi S3 Sportback.

The flagship RS 3 may still be the holy grail of hot hatch dreams, but with boosted engine outputs and upgraded tech, the S3 is stepping up.

Is the S3 Sportback the smarter pick over pricier rivals? It delivers serious performance and polish without stretching into RS 3 territory. With fierce competition in the segment, let’s see what this contender brings to the table.

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Deep dive comparison

2019 Peugeot 208 2025 Audi S3

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.

Verdict

The updated Audi S3 Sportback is a fun-sized dynamo with impressive outputs and athletic road manners. It’s missing a few premium features, but its compact size paired with a gutsy engine makes it a compelling option for drivers who don’t want to compromise on performance (just space).

Peugeot 208 vs Audi S3 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Peugeot 208 vs Audi S3
What's the difference?