You can often get a feel for how good a car really is by opting for its least expensive trim level. In the case of Peugeot’s 208 supermini, that’ll mean choosing one of the Access models, where you can select between 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engines, plus a frugal 1.4-litre HDi diesel.
Fancy a bit of Gallic style in your city runabout? Here’s a good place to start.
When you’re buying a supermini, you’ll probably have a wishlist in mind when it comes to standard equipment. You’ll definitely want power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, six airbags, ABS and ESP stability control and a decent quality stereo with steering wheel controls and an aux-in point for all your electronic devices. Cruise control and air conditioning would be nice too.
Peugeot seems to understand this wishlist, for all of these features are included at base Access trim level for the 208 supermini. Why pay more?
Most 208 Access buyers are going to be ordering their cars with the three-cylinder VTi petrol powerplant we tried, available either in 82bhp 1.2-litre form or, as here, in 68bhp 1.0-litre guise. As an alternative, there’s also a 70bhp 1.4-litre HDi diesel on offer.
The VTi unit isn’t an immediately obvious candidate for delivering much in the way of fun. The 208 is a big car and an 68bhp engine would appear to be chronically underpowered, but understand this: the 1.0-litre, three cylinder engine is so much lighter than, say, the 1.4-litre four you’ll find further up the range. In fact, t he three-cylinder engine takes a massive 95 kilos out of the car’s front end and that has an absolutely definitive effect on the way the car handles.
The body control, the steering response and the tenacity of the 1.0-litre car’s front end means you may find yourself dissolving into gales of laughter as you punt it down a twisty road.
So while the 1.0-litre model’s 0-62mph time of 14 seconds doesn’t promise much on paper, get behind the wheel and you’ll experience one of the most rewarding small cars you’ll have driven in a very long time.
Peugeot has clearly thought long and hard about cost of ownership because its figures are among the best in the business.
We’ll start with Peugeot’s innovative Just Add Fuel scheme. This is available to drivers over 21 and rolls all of the costs associated with running a car – including three years insurance, servicing and road tax – into one monthly payment. As the name suggests, your only additional outlay is the fuel.
Decomplicating the ownership process is a clever move as many younger drivers find themselves daunted by the sheer admin demands of buying and running a car.
You won’t have to put too much fuel in either. This 1.0-litre model returns 65.7mpg on the combined cycle and puts out just 99g/km of CO.
What’s also clear is that this is a car that pays more than mere lip service to environmental concerns. With 25% of recycled or natural materials making up its mass of polymers, it walks the walk. The rear bumper and apron assembly are made entirely using these materials, saving around 1,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide in manufacturing alone per year.
The 208 has proved to be a landmark car for Peugeot and it is still appealing with affordable Access trim levels installed. Go for a three-cylinder petrol model like the entry-level 1.0-litre VTi variant we’ve been looking at here if you want the most fun behind the wheel and the lowest overall running costs.
If like most supermini buyers you have, say, £10.000 to £13,500 to spend on a car of this kind, this French contender is an appealing option, and in Access guise has just enough luxury to make urban motoring pleasurable. Stick it on your shopping list.