Peugeot 208 GT Line | Test Drive | Auto Class Magazine

Peugeot 208 GT Line | Test Drive

4 May 2020 Redazione News, Tested

PARBLEU!

Words by Richi Mackie / Photos by Andy Williams

In a perfect world we would all have an Aston Martin, or a Ferrari, a Porsche, a McLaren in our garage. But reality is that we still have to finish the bills for our house and by then the garden will have to be made once again from scratch. And then there are taxes, the university for our children, more taxes and who knows what else. So why not buy a Peugeot instead? The new 208 for example, not surprisingly the car winning this year’s “Car of the year” award.

First of all, it’s all new and even if it shares the platform with its cousin Opel Corsa (both part of the PSA group) it has its own personality. You notice it immediately, even giving a quick look, appreciating the many details offered above all by the front headlights with those long vertical fangs placed on the sides, while at the back we find the three inclined elements that we have already appreciated on the other models of the brand, in this case joined by a horizontal black profile that runs the entire tailgate of the 208. Small dimensions therefore, it is a car designed for those who spend most of their time driving in the cities, but what the new 208 brings in the world of hatchbacks the possibility of making special what is already an excellent starting point. It must be said that the basic version, starting from just over 15 thousand Euros, offers the same practicality as the richer versions in terms of output power and options, but in this case you will have to give up the fully digital cockpit which also introduces a 3D display not always comfortable, especially while you’re on the move. There are five doors and by adding a few coins you will have the opportunity to check for the excellent 8-speed automatic transmission and for the more spirited 101 or 130 horsepower versions – all of which are, however, 3 cylinder turbocharged 1.2-liter.

Focusing on our specific one, we cannot but be amazed by how much technology, usually prerogative of higher segment models, and how much substance the small 208 is able to offer. If outside it maintains small dimensions such as a length of 406 cm and a width of 175 cm, inside there is room for five people, with a rather large trunk and everything you could wish for thanks to the multimedia system shared – for example – with the big sister 3008. Too bad for some climate controls that being only accessible from the touch screen distract when driving, but now this seems to be a prerogative of almost all car makers. The automatic transmission is precise, but there are also some very nice paddles at the steering wheel, the latter as usual small in size and placed a bit lower. You have to get used to it, but after a handful of days everything comes back to normality. Still in the center of the dash we have some proper buttons, piano-key-style, while in front of the driver there is the aforementioned 3D display which comes as an optional compared to the traditional and analog one.

The price of the model we are testing is practically double that of the entry level, but take into account that it really offers twice the things, including a set of 17-inch wheels and GT Line package, which makes the look of the little French girl even more appealing. The 3-cylinder performs well and proves to keep the revs low even on the motorway, a truly surprising aspect where the fact of having 8 speeds helps in limiting consumption, which in the mixed cycle stops at just 4.5 l/100 km. It is almost impossible to find a weak point in what the latest generation 208 is able to offer, since it moves with agility and with the 130 horses it is also brilliant and suggests that the incoming GTI will know how to delight those who do not intend to give up to the sporty heritage of the French brand.

Now be honest and try to tell me that you would have expected a little gem like this. I wouldn’t believe you. The reality is that Peugeot came out with one exceptional model after another, from the 3008, the 508 and now this and the 2008, which have really changed their skin. The care for the choice of materials and the avant-garde design have now become a trademark that put the brand in perfect competition with what until a few years ago seemed unreachable, also adding what is a very wide electric range, an aspect on which Peugeot is investing several resources. The 208 itself is in fact also available in a fully electrified version, with prices starting from € 33,600 and reaching over € 38,000 for the richer GT, guaranteeing an 340 km of full electric range, which is more than enough for the typical home-work daily journey. Parbleu! They’ve done it again. And who knows, maybe with what we’re going to save on petrol, we can all buy an Aston Martin then?!