Test drive: Peugeot 208 PureTech 130 CV GT Line. It's no GTi, but it holds its own

They say looks aren’t everything, though in this Peugeot they carry a lot of weight, because it catches the eye and is undoubtedly an object of desire. With the Peugeot 208 in GT Line trim, and especially in this eye-catching, carefree yellow, Peugeot really nails it. It wins people over on design, but what matters most is that its technology and dynamics convince us.

GTi nostalgia. The Peugeot 208 GT LINE impresses with its overall balance. It is an outstanding ride comfort

I confess, those letters, GT, make me think of the GTi models, even the Rallye, in the already primitive 205s from which this 208 GT Line evolves. A long time ago now. Heir to so many others that, for enthusiasts of motorsport, bring back nostalgia for their outstanding competition successes.

The 207 won the World Rally Championship three consecutive times, and that wasn’t so long ago… But this new Peugeot 208 is not as radical, not as extreme. It’s very appealing and draws heavily on the past to offer itself as a technological compendium in terms of safety, efficiency and driving pleasure, without being a thoroughbred.

It is defined by a small-displacement engine with somewhat modest power that nonetheless gives plenty of fun. It’s the 1.2 PureTech petrol with 3 cylinders, paired with the EAT8 automatic gearbox, which shines for its quick response. It’s curious that, at least for now, the most powerful 208 in the range is… electric: the new Peugeot e-208. There are even rumours that the future Peugeot 208 GTI could be an electric car.

Peugeot has got the seat right; elegant, sporty and attractive in design, it holds you well and is comfortable.

Competition and racing used to fuel devotion to a model or a badge; now, beyond the best smartphone, what people want is connectivity, design and efficiency. These are the new times, logical, certainly, but I’m glad I also lived through the others.

GTI spirit in a city car for everyday use

I say or write this because the GT letters excited me. And the truth is that after a brief period of disappointment, this car won me over too. The disappointment came because it took me a while to get everything to my liking and to understand all the controls. The digital instrument cluster with 3D solutions, customisable screens and a multitude of functions is undoubtedly intuitive, but, I insist, it takes time.

Either way, the console exudes quality and good taste. It isn’t especially sporty, but it is well finished, with upholstered covers that feel pleasant to the touch.

The instrument cluster needs some time to get used to the different screens and to make the most of the 3D concept.

In design terms it is striking; the headlights, front and rear, with their claw-like shapes, are spectacular. The i-Cockpit also suits me perfectly: the driving position, with a sensational, sporty and enveloping seat, a small, thick steering wheel reminiscent of some past single-seater, and an overall design I find genuinely attractive.

The quality of the finish is convincing, and the equipment even stands out, so much so that on our test unit the options list seemed almost endless, with almost three thousand euros of extras. But it was worth it, and that’s without considering that we’re talking about a car that has everything imaginable to offer Level 2 autonomous driving, so much so that it almost drives itself.

The blame lies with the Drive Assist autonomous driving system, which includes things like adaptive cruise control with Stop&Go function, the emergency braking assist with pedestrian detection and night function, traffic sign recognition, and active lane keeping assist.

As I said, it drives itself too. I even like the engine. Yes, three cylinders, but turbocharged, and with 130 CV of absolutely spectacular class. This Peugeot comes from a brand-new generation that has inherited everything good from the previous one in terms of driving feel, and improves on the one it replaces in every way, because it can be a fully electric car just as it can be a combustion one like the one we’re dealing with here.

And let it be said up front that I’ve also tried the electric version, and it’s a spectacle how well it goes… although it makes no noise.

The tuning of the stability control, ESP, is very correct: it lets you play and intervenes late, which is undoubtedly appreciated in a car of this type.

A car that is a technical demonstration of how to build a “light” GTi to enjoy, a small bullet with pepper and claws that barely shows. No, it isn’t a conventional GTi, but for now it is the most GTi-like of the family. And if you like the engine, the best part is undoubtedly the eight-speed automatic gearbox with sequential control and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The engine pulls well; let’s say it is adequate at low revs and becomes fun, even playful, in the mid and upper range of the rev counter. But to enjoy it you have to resort to the paddles and wring it out a little… otherwise it is more of a workhorse, with electronics that favour absolute smoothness and keeping fuel consumption down.

The 208 GT Line is a stable, safe car, perfectly suitable for drivers of all kinds. Nowadays you can’t build radical cars that put less experienced drivers in trouble. Nor was that the intention. There is a lot of design here, because the sporty GT Line trim includes powerful oversized wheel arches that give the shape a great balance.

The three-cylinder engine and a reasonable weight provide character

The Peugeot 208 GT Line is, above all, an excellent bearer of an elegant, sporty and technological image. Its look is striking with its seventeen-inch alloy wheels, the dual exhaust outlet and that discreet yet bold rear spoiler which, in black on yellow, stands out from a distance.

This car’s idyllic terrain is… any road. But being light and small on the outside, it performs outstandingly on the twistier stretches with medium, slow corners. There the 208 GT Line is among the best in its class, thanks to the balance achieved in the chassis. The engine is good, cheerful, small and frugal, but it lacks 30 CV to be a true 208 GTi. The whole package is outstanding; it only lacks a bit of power, but then it would be a GTi.

Image gallery: Peugeot 208 130 CV GT Line

(Photo: Pedro Morera)

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackPeugeot 2089 versions · from 22,520 €