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Peugeot 208 Review 2024

2024 Peugeot 208 1.2 PureTech Active 5dr Peugeot 208
1.2 PureTech Active 5dr
£16,782
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Peugeot 208 At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Peugeot 208 is a style-focused small car with a premium interior, lots of standard kit and a comfortable ride. it's also available with fully electric power, too. It's not the most spacious or the cheapest small car, however.

+Stylish and upmarket design inside and out. Good comfort and refinement. One of two small cars still available with petrol, diesel and electric power.

-The closely related Vauxhall Corsa is more affordable. The electric e-208 is substantially more expensive. Rear space is tight for larger adults, and the driving position isn't for everyone.

New prices start from £17,805
On average it achieves 0% of the official MPG figure

The latest Peugeot 208 has upped the game in the desirability stakes by quite a bit, showing small cars don't have to be dull and feel built down to a cost. There's a few compromises to be made in the name of design, but as our Peugeot 208 review shows we reckon it's well worth considering among the best in this class. 

Remember when small Peugeots had a touch of style about them? The 205 still looks pretty sharp today, but later cars (in particular the lacklustre 207) lost that joie de vivre that helped them stand out from the usual small car tedium.

We're happy to report that the latest generation Peugeot 208 marks a return to form on that front, with that striking design and interior that's more club class than cut price. But the beauty is more than skin deep, as the 208 is the first Peugeot to be offered with three power sources: petrol, diesel and fully electric - the latter badged the Peugeot e-208. 

There's another small car that offers that trio of motor choices: the latest Vauxhall Corsa. That's because both are very closely related under the skin, with the Vauxhall offering a more conventional design but a more affordable price. The Peugeot, on the other hand, competes with the Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio as a slightly higher class offering. 

The Peugeot's interior might be well-equipped and (in higher spec trims particularly) very appealing, but there's some negatives. Firstly it isn't the roomiest small car money can buy in the back, and secondly the unusual iCockpit cabin design (more on that in a bit) won't suit all shapes and sizes. 

Most people will buy the petrol Peugeot 208, which uses a 1.2-litre Puretech turbo petrol engine in a couple of outputs. There's a frugal 1.5-litre diesel for motorway hacks, while the Peugeot e-208 has a punchy electric motor and a range of up to 217 miles. To drive the 208 majors on comfort and refinement over outright fun whichever version you go for. 

Overall there's a lot to like, and if you're willing to pay a little more over the Corsa for something that stands out in the supermarket car park it's a good - if not perfect - buy. 

Looking for the older version? You'll want our Peugeot 208 (2012-2019) review.

What do owners think of the Peugeot 208? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Reviews for Peugeot 208's top 3 rivals

Vauxhall Corsa
3/5
Rewarding to drive, well-equipped as standard, excellent 1.2-litre 100PS petrol engine.
Volkswagen Polo
5/5
More Golf-like than ever, will carry four large adults in comfort, huge boot, excellent TSI petrol engines....
Hyundai i20
3/5
You get lots of equipment for your money, the back seat is roomy, plus the mild-hybrid engine is economical...

Ask Honest John

My son's new car has developed problems already, what are my rights?

"Hello HJ, my son purchased a 2020 Peugeot 208 GT Line from a local non-franchised dealer. The vehicle was registered on 13 August 2020 and has done around 12800 miles. It was sold with a new MOT and fresh service. After 5 days and approximately 120 miles the oil warning light has come on and my son has topped it up with half a litre of oil. I have read there may be an issue with the wet cam belt. I have notified the dealer via email and will contact them again next week after the bank holiday. Could you please advise me of what my son’s rights are in this case and on how to approach the dealer. There is a 3-month dealer warranty and he purchased an extended 3 year warrant as the car is now just out of manufactures warranty."
You can read more on how to reject a vehicle here: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-reject-a-car-your-consumer-rights/ but in brief you should give the dealer at least one opportunity to repair the fault under warranty, but if this is not completed you may be able to reject the vehicle and receive a refund. Keep a copy of all correspondance and communication with the dealer, and you should also read closely any documentation you have relating to the sale and the warranty.
Answered by David Ross

Can you recommend a small narrow car?

"I wish to buy a new car soon. I'd buy a new Nissan Micra if they were still made, or a Skoda Fabia if there wasn't a 22 week wait. Please identify for me some smallish 4/5 door petrol cars, not automatic, with under 1.5 litre engines. If possible, please specify width as I have a narrow space for parking."
If you're quick, you'll be able to get an as-new Ford Fiesta which would fit the bill nicely. Production of the Fiesta is ending this week, but it remains one of the best small cars you can buy. There are a number of pre-registered examples available at dealers, allowing you to save money and skip the waiting list compared to buying a brand new car. The Fiesta measures 1735mm wide. Alternatively, we'd recommend a Volkswagen Polo or Peugeot 208.
Answered by Andrew Brady

The tyres on my Peuegot 208 are noisy, are there quieter alternatives?

"I own a Peugeot 208 GT fitted with Michelin Primacy 4 205/45/17 tyres, which are quite noisy. I understand that among others, the Hankook Ventus Evo 3 can reduce the noise in the cabin by about half. I wonder if this is true and ask if there is any other makes in the above size that would reduce the noise significantly."
The good news is that tyre manufacturers have made life a little easier for customers, as new rules introduced in 2021 mean that all new tyres have to display an EU label which indicates performance in terms of rolling resistance, wet grip and noise. If you're looking for the quietest tyre available, look for those in your size which carry the lowest rating for noise, measured in decibels (dB). However, it is important to note that the measurement is taken from outside the vehicle, so the improvement in noise levels may not be as significant from the inside. A quick look on Blackcircles.com shows that Michelin Primacy 4 tyres in your size come with a variety of noise ratings depending on which speed rating you choose, while the lowest dB tyres we could see were the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 and the Yokohama Advan Fleva V701 at 67 dB. We should also say it is unlikely that any tyre is going to reduce the cabin noise by half, so you should expect a modest improvement rather than a total transformation.
Answered by David Ross

Can you recommend a torque converter automatic?

"I am looking for a small automatic that is run by torque converter, which cars do you recommend? "
Assuming your looking for a new car (there are plenty of used torque converter automatic options) then the Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa both have good automatic gearboxes. Most other small cars have dual-clutch gearboxes, however there is also the Honda Jazz abd Toyota Yaris that come as hybrids with CVT or e-CVT transmissions.
Answered by Lawrence Allan
More Questions

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