Peugeot’s hatchback is a real showstopper
Peugeot 208 From around €20,000
PUNCHING well above its weight among the millioneuro-plus supercars unveiled in Geneva this month was this rather more affordable hatchback... which arguably stole the show.
Early reservations for Peugeot’s perky new 208 – with the latest and cleanest Euro 6d petrol and diesel engines, plus an all-electric ‘e-208’ version – can be made this month and the car will be available in Ireland in early 2020.
This is a smart rival to the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta. Expect prices from around €20,000 to €25,000, with the battery-powered zero-emissions version from around €30,000. The new second generation 208 is 30kg lighter and replaces the first which ran from 2012.
It is the spiritual successor to the legendary and much-loved Peugeot 205 that became an iconic ‘yuppy’
car of the Eighties, selling 5.3 million globally.
New buyers can opt for a frugal 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbo-charged PureTech petrol engine that is available in 75hp with a five-speed manual gearbox, 100 hp with a sixspeed manual or eight-speed automatic, and 130hp with eight-speed automatic.
Alternatively, there is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder BLUEHDI turbocharged diesel with a six-speed manual. And then there’s the e-208 electric version. The battery-powered e-208 marks the beginning of a new generation of electric plugin Peugeots. It is powered by a 100kW electric motor and a 50kWh
IT’S THE START OF A NEW ERA OF ELECTRIC PEUGEOTS
battery, producing a range up to 340km.
This is the first step in the French firm’s commitment to an electrified version of its entire range by 2023. Driving aids for the new 208 include cruise control, lane assist, parking assist, and the latest automatic emergency brake assist. At speeds of up to 137kph, the latter detects pedestrians and cyclists.
The top level electric e-208 GT trim level is enhanced with Alcantara grey upholstery and 17in alloy wheels.