Peugeot 208 1.6 e-HDi 92 CV, test drive (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

We continue with the test drive of the Peugeot 208, one of the best-selling city cars and one that attracts the most attention on the street.

In the first part we gave you all the information about its performance and its 92 CV 1.6 e-HDi diesel engine, which we liked a lot for its acceleration capacity and low consumption. In this second part of the test we focus on assessing its exterior and interior design and the quality of its finishes.

Exterior design

Striking. That is how the 208 looks compared with its predecessor, the 207, in terms of image. The 208 continues the design line that debuted with the 508 in 2011, which has since been extended to the 4008, the 2008, the 308, and the restyled RCZ and 107. The front is dominated by the new grille of the lion brand, almost triangular in shape, with a much smaller cooling intake than the 207’s.

Together with the rounded bonnet, the very elongated headlights, and the front bumper sitting very close to the ground, with the fog lights at the ends framed by a chrome outline, they form a avant-garde and youthful look. The rear, dominated by modern C-shaped light clusters, and a wide range of alloy wheels of many different types also contribute to this. Both the daytime running lights and the tail lights are LED, a technological detail increasingly common in the automotive world.

Our test unit was in ‘Intuitive’ trim, a special version available between late 2012 and mid-2013 with the 92 CV 1.6 e-HDi (diesel) and 82 CV 1.2 VTi (petrol) engines. It included 16-inch alloy wheels in the ‘Helium’ design with five double spokes, finished in two colours, chrome and dark grey (‘Technical Grey’). The latter matches the ‘Shark Grey Metallic’ body colour.

With more personality than the 207, the 208’s design leaves no one indifferent and draws glances wherever it goes.

Interior design, roominess and finishes

The modern, up-to-date look of the 208’s exterior carries over to the interior, especially in the seven-inch touchscreen on the dashboard and the instrument cluster lighting. One of the most distinctive features of the Peugeot city car is the combination of the steering wheel and instrumentation: the wheel is smaller than what one is used to and cannot be set very high relative to the dashboard, and the instruments must be read above the wheel itself. Although it is a curious layout, one gets used to it quickly. Even so, it is advisable to test a 208 before making a final purchase decision, to make sure this unusual combination is not a problem.

Once the steering wheel and instrument cluster arrangement is absorbed, the driving position is satisfactory: all controls and buttons are within reach and easy to operate, the seat has wide adjustment so people of very different sizes will feel comfortable, and there is sufficient space in every direction. The steering wheel carries several controls that let you adjust the sound system volume, choose between AM and FM on the radio, and browse the station or phone contact lists, as well as mute any device whose sound comes through the speakers.

The instrument cluster consists of four analogue gauges on the sides—speedometer and rev counter, plus one for oil temperature and another for fuel level—and a central screen. Depending on the selection, this shows instantaneous consumption, one of the two trip computers with average speed, distance covered and average consumption, what is playing through the sound system, or the current speed. In addition, there is a trip odometer and a total odometer.

The touchscreen on the dashboard works well, responding properly to finger commands. Digital natives and younger and middle-aged people will have no trouble getting the hang of it. An older person unaccustomed to touch devices may need a learning period. This screen controls the sound system, the Bluetooth hands-free device, the auxiliary connections for external audio sources—there is a USB port and an Aux-In on the console, below the climate control controls—an image viewer, and the two trip computers that also appear in the instrumentation. On the better-equipped versions it also controls the navigation system.

The quality of the materials and fit is superior to the 207’s. Although the plastics are hard, they feel good to the touch. The careful, modern design helps make the overall impression of the cabin a good one. A positive detail on the 208 is that both sun visors include reading lights. On the negative side, the absence of grab handles on the roof for the front passenger and the rear side-seat passengers to hold on to stands out.

Considering this is a model under 4.00 metres long, the 208 offers good roominess for four occupants. Five will be a squeeze, because the three who sit in the back will be quite close together. They will surely miss more width. At least the rear bench is flat, so headroom is the same in all three seats.

Both the front and rear seats have sufficient space in every direction for four adults to travel comfortably, provided they are not very large—especially those in the front seats, because otherwise they would push the bench far forward and leave little legroom in the rear.

The 208’s seats struck us as comfortable, with firm but not hard padding, and they hold the body well through bends. The headrests, both front and rear, have wide adjustment, so they can be positioned correctly for almost any driver and passenger.

Getting into the cabin is no problem at the front, where the doors open to a wide angle. At the rear it is not the same, because the doors open considerably less, so the opening to get through is not very large.

Storage and boot

The interior of the 208 has enough space to store everything you normally carry in your pockets, from a mobile phone or keys to a wallet or purse. The storage areas in the lower part of the front doors are a good size. Added to these are two spaces for cans or bottles in front of the gear lever, alongside two small trays, the 12V socket, and the USB and Aux-In connections.

There is also a small compartment behind the handbrake lever and another inside the front centre armrest (optional). The glovebox is large and cooled. Rear passengers have a storage area in the lower part of the doors and pockets on the backs of the front seats.

The boot of the 208 has a capacity of 285 litres. That is 15 litres more than the 207 and a volume similar to its rivals, such as the Renault Clio (300 litres), the SEAT Ibiza (292 litres), or the Volkswagen Polo (280 litres).

It is worth noting that the 208’s boot has no protrusions or odd shapes, so the space is 100% usable. To increase its versatility, Peugeot has fitted two bag hooks and four tie-down eyelets for securing a net or elastic straps around the load. On the left side there is a nylon elastic strap for holding a tool bag or the warning triangles, for example.

Perhaps the only thing missing is some small side compartments for storing small items. Under the floor of the boot is the spare wheel, the same size as the others, and there is room for a small toolkit or spare bulbs. The tailgate is not high and is easy to close.

In the third part of the test of the Peugeot 208 we will cover the various equipment options offered by the French brand, describe its safety systems, both standard and optional, and detail the prices of the Spanish range. Finally we will give you our own assessment of one of the benchmark city cars on the market.

Photos | Jaime Arruz and the test team

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackPeugeot 2089 versions · from 22,520 €