The supermini that is out to impress
IT was not too long ago that those interested in purchasing a supermini would have only a limited range of uninspiring cars to choose from. That, however, has changed in recent years and the recently released Peugeot 208 is definitely eye-catching. The latest supermini from French carmaker Peugeot definitely gets heads turning wherever it goes.
Featuring styling cues from its bigger brother — the Peugeot 508 — this small hatchback certainly looks the part. The exterior of the Peugeot 208 is similar to other cars in the brand with its large grille seamlessly incorporated into the bumper.
Churning out 122ps and 160Nm of torque, this car is not just all show with no go. Although it is paired to a four-speed automatic, the nippy little hatch can easily cruise at the highway speed limit without a fuss, and while it may not be your next track-day special, the Peugeot 208 can provide sufficient amounts of shove when needed. The smooth drivetrain also comes with three modes for the gearbox, which are Normal, Sport and Snow.
Aside from European good looks and class-leading performance, one thing that must be highlighted about this Peugeot is its ride quality.
Gliding over bumps and potholes well, the 208 remained ever so poised when cruising along uneven KL roads.
Open the door, hop in the car and you will see how much thought went into designing the interior of the 208.
It is safe to say that it has one of the best looking interiors.
The first thing you will notice when in the 208 is the stylish multimedia screen that controls everything from the lighting of the car to the six-speaker Arkamystuned audio system.
Devices can be connected either via Bluetooth or USB. Music can only be played through these two channels or the radio as the 208 does not have a CD player. In our opinion, this is the only down side to the 208.
Another cool feature the 208 has is its interior mood lighting. The five-door we tested had a cool blue glow from under the meter cluster that blended very well with the rest of the interior.
Amazingly, four adults are able to sit in relative comfort during an hour-long car ride with everyone being happy with their personal space.
Also, the headroom is more than adequate even for a sixfooter, which is excellent for a car this size.
Adding to the premium feel of the car is the dual-zone, airconditioning system with all the controls being within reach and placed intuitively; each button being exactly where it is supposed to be.
Safety-wise, the 208 is a leader in its class.
It has six airbags, an antilock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake assist (EBA), electronic stability programme (ESP) with anti-skid regulator (ASR), dynamic stability control (DSC), automatic blinker activation during emergency braking, hillstart assist and a remote childlock button close to the driver.
If you are keen to buy a subRM100,000 car, you should give the Peugeot 208 a go as it is one of the best equipped and best looking hatchbacks in the market today.