Peugeot 206+ 1.4 HDi 70 CV, test drive (Part III)

We’ve reached the final part of our test of the Peugeot 206+, this time with the diesel engine, an old acquaintance of the French group: the 70 CV HDi. If you want to know how the 206+ behaves or how its 70 CV diesel engine performs, you can see it in the first part of the test. In the second part we talked about the design, remember that it is partly an updated 206, and we also covered the interior and its roominess.

And now, in this final part of the test, we turn to the equipment (including safety equipment), our overall assessment of the model and what we think of it, as well as the price list for the Peugeot 206+ which starts at 11,670 euros (for the 206+ 1.1i 60 CV 3-door) (and without discounts). It may seem a high price, but there is usually some discount at the dealership or when buying the 206+ that lowers the initial price.

Equipment

In terms of standard safety, it is rather limited, with front airbags and ABS with EBD, but ESP can optionally be fitted as well. That said, it is not available for the base 1.1i 60 CV petrol engine, and ESP comes within an equipment pack (either with air conditioning or with the Plus pack), so you must pay at least 1,500 euros (ESP + air conditioning + CD radio with six speakers). What the safety equipment lacks are side airbags (equipment the 206 did have and which has not been kept), and in terms of side protection that would be a necessary addition. Even so, if we look back at the famous EuroNCAP tests, which in this case is basically a 206, in the tests carried out in 2000 on a unit with front airbags only, it earned four stars.

But in terms of safety, if we compare it with some of its rivals, such as the Dacia Sandero, the 206+ wins on safety, because the Sandero has achieved only three stars and cannot take ESP (few cars in the segment can), and practically all its rivals have dual front airbags as standard and no side airbags (only some as an extra). Therefore, in terms of safety, it is (within its segment and price) quite well placed, and at least it can have ESP, something important.

As for the rest of the equipment, as standard we find a radio pre-installation with wiring for two speakers and an antenna (it’s a pity the radio is tied to the air conditioning in the pack, because it is not recommended and lacks MP3 playback). It also comes as standard with a metal gear lever knob, aluminium pedals (not very practical, as I mentioned) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. On the exterior, fog lights are standard, as are the chrome grille and electric, heated mirrors, among other elements.

The list of extras consists of closed equipment packs, mostly aimed at the two higher engines, namely the 1.4 HDi 70 CV and the 1.4i 75 CV. For the base 1.1i 60 CV engine, the available extras are air conditioning + CD radio (for 1,000 euros) and the Visibility Pack with light sensor and automatic rain-sensing wipers (200 euros).

The options for the rest of the engines are as follows: (petrol engine price/diesel engine price)

• Cruise / speed limiter (200 euros / 192.13 euros)
• Plus Pack: Automatic climate control + RD3 CD radio + 15” Interlagos alloy wheels and spare wheel (1,600 euros / 1,537.06 euros)
• Air Pack: Air conditioning + RD3 CD radio (1,000 euros / 960.67 euros)
• Plus Pack + ESP (2,100 euros / 2,017.39 euros)
• Air Pack + ESP (2,100 euros / 1,441 euros)
• Visibility Pack: Automatic rain-sensing wipers + automatic headlight activation (200 euros / 192.13 euros)
• Metallic paint (approx. 290 euros)

Option prices vary between petrol and diesel engines because of the registration tax, since diesel pays less, which explains the difference in extras. And the spare wheel, according to the Peugeot configurator, comes as standard in 14″ (with the 15″ optional), and as I already mentioned in the previous part, according to what I’ve found out, the latest 206+ units are being fitted with a spare wheel; therefore the kit would be something specific to our press unit, just as, if you look at the photos of the press unit, it was fitted with side airbags, something which according to the 206+ equipment sheet is not even available as an option.

In the equipment there are features rare in the segment, such as the cruise/speed limiter, which works very well and is the same one that a 3008, for example, can have, the automatic climate control, or the light and rain sensors, which could be dispensed with entirely, and side airbags should at least be available as an option.

Overall Assessment

The Peugeot 206+ can be summed up very well in a few words: a very decent car with good equipment and finish levels for the price and segment it is aimed at. In my view, Peugeot has made a good call by launching a low-cost model without giving up quality, instead recycling an already amortised model and updating only some aspects to make it more attractive to the eye. If we look at low-cost rivals such as the Sandero, the Peugeot 206+ is undoubtedly somewhat more expensive but it is much more car and safer, and compared with a Chevrolet Aveo it can sit at a similar level in price and safety/equipment (the Aveo only achieved three EuroNCAP stars). I leave out the Tata Indica because I think it sits a rung lower in equipment and price; at least the higher versions of the Sandero can match the 206+.

Over its commercial life the Peugeot 206 has been quite successful and is a thoroughly proven model, as are its engines, so the 206+ carries on that legacy, and if we don’t want to move up to the 207, which raises the price a little more (and since its last update has moved even further away from the 206+), this can be a good alternative. On the other hand, compared with the Peugeot 107, the 206+ is much more car (and it has five seats, not four).

In conclusion, I think the Peugeot 206+ is a very complete low-cost model at a good price. It has odd gaps in its equipment, but at the same time it can be fitted with elements not commonly seen in the segment, and ESP in particular is one of those elements that sets it apart and makes it a more interesting car. Another drawback I see, besides the equipment gaps (and the fact that prices can climb and make the 206+ less attractive, depending on the optional equipment we fit), is its exterior look which, despite the changes it has undergone, is already familiar and in a short time may look dated again (in terms of image).

Looking closely at the options to fit on the Peugeot 206+ and if we don’t mind much having a car always with the very latest design, then the 206+ is a good option for not spending a lot of money on a very complete and capable small car, especially with the HDi engine, ready to run without worrying about consumption.

Prices and versions (without discounts) (all versions can use the 2000E plan but I have not included it in the price):

• Peugeot 206+ 1.1i 60 CV 11,670 euros
• Peugeot 206+ 1.4i 75 CV 12,270 euros
• Peugeot 206+ 1.4 HDi 70 CV 13,170 euros
• For the five-door add 450 euros.

If you are interested in the 206+, ask at a Peugeot dealership, because they have occasional offers that considerably reduce the price of the 206+.

Our test unit was the Peugeot 206+ equipped with the 1.4 HDi 70 CV engine and as optional equipment: cruise / speed limiter, Plus Pack + ESP and Visibility Pack. Its price (according to the Peugeot configurator) comes to 15,696 euros.

Photos | David Taboada