New ooh-la-la for Peugeot 208

The French carmaker has retained its entry-level Active model with a normally aspirated 1.2-litre engine (criticised in the past for being a tad under- underwhelming) which still only produces 60kW and 118Nm, although it has been tweaked for reduced fuel consumption and emissions.

The sportier GT Line PureTech is now turbo force-fed to boost performance to 81kW and 205Nm. This version is available with a five-speed manual or, for the first time, a six-speed automatic transmission. The new engine won the coveted Engine of the Year Award and it is a good pairing for the 208's sportier looks and flagship status.
Peugeot says this sportier manual will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.6 seconds with the auto version just 0.2 sec slower. Both models have a claimed top speed of 180km/h.

At the short media drive, I was at the helm of this sportier model equipped with the new auto shift (particularly well-suited to stop-start commuter traffic) and I liked the noticeable improvements in ride smoothness, cheekier performance, good handling and the classy, well-insulated living quarters - a combination which is particularly impressive on a subcompact hatchback.

The only thing not to like was a slight shudder when coming to a stop which feels as though the engine is about to choke off. This could be due to an early intervention of the stop-start system which, thankfully, can be switched off.

All three models are well decked-out in terms of looks, safety, security, comfort, driver aids, multi-media, and they all provide the peace of mind of a three-year/ 100 000km warranty, so it comes as no surprise that this upgraded 208 has already sold close to a 900 units worldwide before arriving on our shores.

Standard across the range are features such as electric folding mirrors, LED rear lights and day-time running lights, ABS, EBD, EBA automatic drive away door locking, child locks, ISOFIX child anchors, power steering, electric front windows, fully adjustable steering wheel and flexible 60/40 seating, Bluetooth, 7-inch touchscreen and multi-function steering wheel.

What elevates the GT Line to top dog status are additional features such as bigger wheels, tinted windows, black side mirrors, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, sporty aluminium pedals and a scattering of leather trim

The 208 is a key player for Peugeot SA and it currently makes up 50% of the brand's sales volume over here, in spite of fierce competition from competitive tykes such as the Citroen C4 Cactus, Ford EcoSport, Honda HRV, Renault Capture, Nissan Juke, Suzuki SX4 and Opel Mokka.

However, like Fiat and Alfa Romeo, Peugeot dealerships are few and far between, particularly in the Western Cape, which only has three dealerships. In this segment of the market, dealer convenience in terms of service and repairs count for a lot but Peugeot SA's medium-term focus is on making its existing dealerships more profitable rather than extending its local network.

The upgraded Peugeot 208 models and prices are:
208 Active 1.2 PureTech - R209 900
208 GT Line 1.2 PureTech Turbo - R269 900
208 GT Line 1.2 PureTech Turbo Auto - R289 900