Peugeot 208 review

We’ve been testing the entry-level Peugeot 208 hybrid complete with 99bhp. Or in Peugeot parlance, the Hybrid 100 e-DSC6. It’s a sweet powertrain that matches the 208 well, peppy enough when called upon but ultimately nothing exciting.

The biggest grin it’ll put on your face is when you scroll to the trip computer and find it’s averaging 47mpg if you’re on national speed limit roads regularly, and 55mpg if you’re more about town where the car will spend more time being whooshed along on e-power alone. Almost half of the time, in our experience. Helpfully the speedo’s figures change from blue (EV) to white (petrol) to simply signal what power source is being used when.

Actually, it’s not ‘whoosh’. The hybrid drivetrain does occasionally make the odd beep and whine that are perhaps better concealed in bigger, more insulated cars but sometimes give the 208 the demeanour of a moody robot.

Is it comfy? Fun to drive?

Active and Allure trim offer a less bobbly ride than GT cars, and the combustion 208 as a whole is better suspended than the e-208: the suspension’s here to cushion bumps, not stop the battery slapping the floor. 

Because of the 208’s tiny steering wheel, the steering is extremely assisted, so as a result it’s not a confidence-inspiring machine to hustle about. The automatic gearbox does its best to keep up (the clunky paddles have sluggish response so are best ignored) and overall the car errs more towards gentle progress than Fiesta fizziness (RIP).