The second generation version of Peugeot's 208 supermini has been rejuvenated in this updated form. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

With this second generation 208 supermini, here usefully improved, Peugeot has brought us a small car that really pushes the boundaries in supermini design. This 208 model's engineering may not quite be unique, but all the feel-good stuff really is - the pavement presence, the avant garde cabin. Plus that's been delivered with most of the practicality and efficiency you'll need from a small hatch. Here's a car that's made other brands in its sector really sit up and take notice. And, we think, quite a few buyers who'd never normally choose a Peugeot in this class are going to do the same.

Background

What exactly should a supermini be? Affordable? Economical? Practical? All these things are important of course, but if you're a car maker and that's all you create to sell in this segment, then you'd better be prepared to sell it very cheaply. Even in this humble category you see, buyers are now expecting more in terms of style, innovation and technology. In fact, they're expecting something more like this, the revitalised version of Peugeot's MK2 model 208. The second generation 208 was first launched in 2019 and has since gone on to sell very well indeed; in fact, in 2022 it was Europe's best-selling car, de-throning the Volkswagen Golf after 15 years. Here, we're looking at the mid-term facelift applied to this car, announced in Summer 2023. There are new Hybrid engines, an upgrade for the EV version and smarter looks across the range. Plenty to talk about.

Driving Experience

The range kicks off with two familiar units, the un-electrified 75hp and 100hp 1.2-litre PureTech petrol powerplants from before, mated respectively to either 5-speed or 6-speed manual gearboxes. There's no longer a diesel option. Engine-wise, this big news with this facelifted model is that above these conventional engine choices, Peugeot has introduced two new Hybrid powertrains. These pair 100hp and 136hp versions of that same three cylinder 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine with a 6-speed auto gearbox featuring an integrated 48V electric motor. Peugeot claims that this will allow the car to run in pure-electric mode for over 50% of the time in town. If you don't want a Hybrid, then you'll be pleased to know that the The EV E-208 electric model has evolved too, gaining a new 156hp motor and a larger 51kWh battery offering a longer range of 248 miles. For most E-208s though, Peugeot is continuing to offer the old EV drivetrain, which sees a 50kWh battery matched to a 136hp electric motor, offering a range of up to 225 miles. Bear in mind that in both its forms, the E-208 is around 350kgs heavier than the ordinary version. What about the driving experience across the 208 range? That hasn't changed much. What should a small French family car feel like to drive? Much like this, we think. Peugeot hasn't bothered trying to be sporty, firm and Germanic here, so the damping control is gentle and allows for a bit of chassis movement, but gets firmer when the body starts pitching about - as it will do if you start pushing this car into corners in the kind of way a typical owner never would. Predictably, the resulting confection doesn't give you the alert responses you'd get in some rivals but for the kind of urban driving that cars of this sort tend to do, we think it's pretty well judged. What it lacks in handling finesse is well compensated for by the languid and properly Gallic way the car handles speed humps and tarmac tears.

Design and Build

The changes made to the facelifted version of this second generation 208 aren't major, but they do bring the look of this supermini into line with latest versions of the 2008 and 508. There's a bolder version of the car's distinctive three-fang daytime running light signature. Along with a broader front grille. At the back, the tail lamp bar has been revised with a trio of red 'claws' extending the width of the tailgate. As before at the front, there's a large, intricately detailed grille with triple white LED headlights. Inside, not too much has changed. There's a redesigned gearstick. And the big 10-inch centre screen that was previously reserved for top-spec models is now standardised across the range (though it gains a high-definition panel in pricier 'Allure' and 'GT' variants). As before, this 208 features Peugeot's 'i-Cockpit' design philosophy which sees you viewing the instrument screen over the top of the wheel rim, rather than conventionally through the wheel spokes. A continuing really nice cabin detail is the fold-down flap under the 'piano key'-style keys that decorate the centre console, concealing an area which can house your smartphone in several different ways while it charges - either inductively or via two charging points. And the area has an angled lip so that you can view your 'phone's screen while it's charging. At the back of this 208, you'll find decent passenger space for a car of this size. And Peugeot's keen to point out that the E-208 all-electric version has the same amount of rear seat legroom and boot space (311-litres) as the fossil-fuelled derivatives.

Market and Model

Expect prices to sit in the £21,000-£35,000 bracket, so much as before, with the E-208 EV starting from just under £28,000. As before, there are three main trim levels - 'Active', 'Allure' and 'GT'. A 10-inch central infotainment screen is now standard across the range with built-in 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. But combustion versions with base 'Active' trim still use an old-tech analogue instrument cluster with an incorporated 3.5-inch colour screen between the dials. 'Allure' and 'GT' models now come standard with the brand's 'Peugeot i-Connect' package, with the option to upgrade to 'i-Connect Advanced' which features live TomTom navigation and natural voice recognition. 'Allure'-spec gets you 16-inch 'Noma' diamond-cut alloy wheels, upgraded to 17-inch 'Yanaka' diamond-cut two-tone alloy rims on 'GT' versions. The 'GT' variants also get a 3D instrument screen, dynamic ambient lighting, 'Adamite Green' stitching across the dashboard and upholstery trimmed in black alcantara with 'Adamite Green' stitching. Customers will choose between seven body colours, two of which are freshly added - 'Agueda Yellow' and 'Selenium Grey'. the other colours are 'Cumulus Grey', 'Nera Black', 'Bianca White', 'Elixir Red' and 'Vertigo Blue'. All 208 models feature gloss black door mirrors, irrespective of the colour chosen, and the 'GT' variants come as standard with gloss black wheel arches. As you'd expect, a wide range of driver assistance and safety technologies are available this time round. Go for the Hybrid or e-208 models and the adaptive cruise control system you can have has the ability to make the car automatically stop and go in heavy traffic. You can have this system with a manual gearbox too, where it operates down to 18mph. Lane departure warning, auto parking and blind spot monitoring systems are available too.

Cost of Ownership

If you can't quite stretch to some kind of electrified 208, then you'll find that the 100hp PureTech manual model is rated at up to 58.2mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and is supposed to return an WLTP-rated CO2 reading of up to 109g/km, which is pretty good going for a car in this segment. The 75hp version has a CO2 reading of up to 55.2mpg and 114g/km. You no longer have to stretch to an E-208 if you want a really frugal version of this supermini. Thanks to a battery that recharges during driving, the freshly introduced electrified technology now available in the Hybrid 100 and Hybrid 136 versions of this car offers extra torque at low revs and up to 15% lower fuel consumption. In urban driving, Peugeot claims that Hybrid 208 models will operate for more than 50% of the time in 100% zero-emission electric mode. They return around 65mpg and around 97g/km of CO2. What about the EV version? Well Peugeot is continuing to offer it with the old 50kWh/136hp drivetrain offering 225 miles of range. But manyt customers will want to stretch to the longer range of the more up-to-date version, which comes with Peugeot's latest 115kW (156bhp) electric motor and a larger 51kWh battery capable of up to 248 miles between charges. A 7.4kW single-phase charger is supplied as standard on all E-208s, while a three-phase 11kW charger is available as an option. A 20-80% charge is estimated to take less than 25 minutes when using a 100kW rapid charger, extending to 4hrs and 40 minutes when using a 7.4kW charger. Finally, you'll also need to know about warranties. In a class where Hyundai offers a standard five year warranty, Kia offers a 7 year package and Toyota can cover you for up to ten years, Peugeot, like most of its other rivals, persists with the usual three-year, 60,000 mile package - which can be extended up to five years and 100,000 miles at extra cost. A year's free breakdown cover is also provided, along with a six-year anti-corrosion guarantee. On an e-208, the battery is covered by a separate 8 year /100,000 mile warranty to 70% of its charge capacity.

Summary

So this second generation 208 has evolved - but not beyond recognition. In improving it, Peugeot has certainly tried to cover all the bases, while being very conscious that trying to please too many people too much of the time is a sure-fire recipe for failure - or at the very least, a distinctly compromised and forgettable end-result. 'It's OK to have 20% of people not liking this car', the company's MD used to say, 'as long as the other 80% love it'. In this case, we reckon his brand doesn't have too much to worry about. There may be a few supermini buyers who don't like the cabin layout, want something better suited to cornering on its door handles or who might prefer the value proposition of a budget brand - but we're guessing they'll be in the minority. Most will recognise that in this improved 208, Peugeot has perfected for us the supermini it was always capable of. A smart small car choice - in more ways than one.

Body Glass

Tailgate with heated rear windscreen and wiper blade

Variable front intermittent wipers

Dark tinted rear side and tailgate windows

One touch electric front/rear windows with pinch protection

Rear windscreen wiper triggered automatically in reverse gear

Acoustic windscreen

Brakes

Electric parking brake

ESP with Hill Assist

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and EBA (Emergency Braking Assistance)

Front and rear disc brakes

Communication

Bluetooth telephone facility

Smart phone docking station

Driver Aids

Speed limit recognition and recommendation

Front and rear parking sensors

Driver attention warning

Drive mode select (Eco/Normal/Sport)

Wireless mirror screen with apple carplay and android auto

Driver Convenience

Gear lever - e-Toggle

Push button start

Driver Information

Exterior temperature indicator with ice warning

PEUGEOT i-Cockpit with 10" configurable colour head up instrument panel

PEUGEOT SOS and assistance

PEUGEOT i-Cockpit with 10" HD capacitive colour touchscreen

Emergency call service

Multi function trip computer

PEUGEOT i-Cockpit with compact steering wheel

Driving Mirrors

Electric heated and power folding door mirrors with courtesy floor lighting

Electrochrome rear view mirror

Embellishment Trims

Carbon effect Dashboard, front and rear door panel finish

Entertainment

DAB Digital radio

Peugeot i-connect infotainment system - 10in HD touchscreen,AM/FM/DAB digital radio, Wifi Mirroring, Bluetooth & 2 USB connection

USB-C data and charge socket and USB-C charge socket in front

USB-A socket (x1) and USB-C socket (x1) - rear

Voice recognition for radio, navigation and telephony features

6 Speakers - 2 tweeters and 4 door speakers

Exterior Body Features

Gloss black rear cluster connecting strip

Diamond black rear spoiler

Rear bumper with gloss black finish

Gloss black front bupmer grille with body colour accents

Model designation badges front and rear in basalt grey

Gloss black B pillar

Gloss black door mirror shells

Rear side wing doors

Roof spoiler

Body coloured exterior door handles

Antenna - Gloss Black 'fin' design

Exterior Lights

2 X Rear number plate lights

Automatic hazard light activation upon heavy brake application

Headlights left on audible warning

Eco LED headlights with electric height adjustment

LED daytime running lights with distinctive 3 claw signature

LED 3 claw horizontal rear lighting signature with daylight function and LED brake lights

LED Rear lighting with distinctive 3 claw horizontal signature with daylight function

LED third brake light

Rear reversing lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Automatic mono zone climate control air condition

Interior Features

Quartz contrast stitching to front and rear door armrest

High centre console with 2 cup holders

Grained black DRL and lower/upper bumper trim

Tri material cloth/leather upholstery

Piano keys gloss black plated toggle switches to access main functions of the vehicle

Front centre armrest with storage compartment

Multifunction leather steering wheel

Map pockets on the backs of the front seats

Electric power steering with reach and rake adjustable steering column

12V socket

Roof lining - light grey

Interior Lights

Front interior light with 2 reading spotlights

Boot lighting

Packs

Visibility pack - 208

Safety

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Driver/front passenger side airbags

Child locking functionality on rear doors

Remote plip(x2) for locking, unlocking, includes emergency key blade

3 rear 3 point seatbelts

Front and rear curtain airbags

Front optimised safety headrests and 3 x rear retractable headrests with height adjustable

2x Isofix child seat fitting on outer rear seats

Front three point retractable seatbelts with force limiters

Driver and front passenger airbag with passenger airbag deactivation

Seats

1/3 to 2/3 split folding rear seats

Driver and front passenger comfort seats

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Seatbelt unfastened on the move audible and visual alert for front and rear seats

Driver and front passenger seat manual adjustment in longitudinal and back rest angle

Rear centre headrest

Single front passenger seat

Driver seat mechanical height adjustment

Security

Electronic code immobiliser

Alarm - Connected, volumetric ,perimetric, anti lift sensor

Automatic door locking when moving off

Acoustic vehicle alert system (AVAS)

Deadlock

Remote central locking

Wheels - Alloy

16" Noma two tone diamond cut alloy wheels

Emissions - ICE

Noise Level dB(A): 65

CO: 0.48

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 97

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 117

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 103

HC: 0.04

NOx: 0.017

HC+NOx: N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

Particles: 0.0002

Engine and Drive Train

Gears: 6 SPEED

Number of Valves: 12

Camshaft: DOHC

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Compression Ratio: 11.5:1

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Catalytic Convertor: No

Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

CC: 1199

Cylinders: 3

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 90.5

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 75

Engine Code: EB2LTDH2

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 46

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 65

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 71.8

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 54.5

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 53.9

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 60.6

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 73.7

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 59.4

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 74.7

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 62.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 4.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 6.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 5.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 4.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 4.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 3.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 3.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 4.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 3.8

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 5.2

General

Special Edition: 0

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Coin Series: Allure

Coin Description: Hybrid 136

Service Interval Mileage: 12500

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Badge Power: 136

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 28E

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Badge Engine CC: 1.2

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 2

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

Engine Torque - NM: 230

Top Speed: 127

0 to 62 mph (secs): 8.1

Engine Power - BHP: 136

Engine Power - PS: 0

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Torque - MKG: 23.5

Engine Power - KW: 101

Engine Power - RPM: 5500

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 170

Engine Torque - RPM: 1750

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Wheel Style: NOMA

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Wheel Type: 16" ALLOY

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Tyre Size Rear: 195/55 R16

Tyre Size Front: 195/55 R16

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4055

Width: 1745

Wheelbase: 2540

Width (including mirrors): 1960

Height: 1430

Height (including roof rails): N

Weight and Capacities

Max. Loading Weight: 462

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 650

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1200

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 352

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 44

No. of Seats: 5

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1690

Minimum Kerbweight: 1228

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1163

Exterior Body Features

Premium paint

Special metallic paint

Special solid paint

Packs

Drive assist pack plus with stop and go - 208

Navigation and vision pack - 208

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Ageuda yellow

Paint - Special

Special solid - Bianca white

Special metallic - Cumulus grey

Special metallic - Nera black

Special Metallic - Selenium grey

Premium - Vertigo blue

Premium - Elixir Red

Towing

Tow bar manually retractable with 13 pin harness, TSM (trailer sway mitigation) and specific cooling

Trim - Part Leather

Tri material leather/cloth - Casual lomsa trim with quartz stitching

Wheels - Spare

Space saver spare wheel preparation - Allure