Now that you are excited and have seen the image of the new Peugeot 208 , let's go to the test.
Difficult question: "Do you prefer a petrol or diesel car?" After reflecting for a few moments, I opted for the gasoline version, this because the difference in fuel prices makes little difference and, in fact, nothing like the emotion of a good gasoline engine.
However, there I received the keys to a Peugeot 208 Allure 1.4 VTi 95 hp , something that made me happy but at the same time disappointed. Happy , because the Allure version is the top-of-the-range version, which means that you would have the opportunity to observe all the potential of the most diverse equipment. Disappointed , because the idea was to try the 1.6 VTi of 120 hp, which would have been a huge pleasure.
interior
Before taking the little lion to "hunt" it was mandatory to spend a few minutes appreciating its interior, and I confess that I was pleased with what I saw and felt. The steering wheel was perhaps what caught my attention the most, despite being small, it is quite sporty and elegant – without knowing why, it aroused in me an incredible desire to go do some “turns” the old-fashioned way.
The 7″ touch screen is another attractiveness that doesn't go unnoticed. Equipped with 6 speakers and two USB ports, this touch screen brings a multimedia team ready to make the taste of all fans of gadgets. But interestingly, as soon as I asked to see the performance of the GPS the machine had a real "brain stroke". However, I'm going to leave this question on the back burner because my lack of patience for the GPS didn't help at all either.
Without wanting to go too far with the interior of the 208, it is also important to emphasize the enormous comfort of the front seats, the performance of the bi-zone automatic air conditioning, the refinement of the various chrome finishes spread throughout the cabin and the grandeur of the space offered for the habitability of passengers.
At the wheel
Eager to hear the starting gun, I buckled up to convey my need for driving, and so it was: My prayers have been answered. The first observation was clearly for the direction. Quite light at the start but not shy on the move, the 208 is an easy and pleasant car to drive.
In spite of raining anvils everywhere, I had carte blanche to free the child in me and of course I didn't ask for help… But first I have to explain the reason for my initial disappointment. This 1.4 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 188 km/h , numbers that do not arouse great enthusiasm.
It is also true that by 17,250 euros I can't ask for much more, in fact, this price is a real bargain considering all the car's capabilities.
As power isn't everything – especially for those traveling on bumpy roads – let's focus on the 208's road behavior. Here, the 208 is no joke! The suspension behaves at the height and the noises that we usually hear as we pass by a more degraded road are barely heard. Stability is excellent, even more when compared to my Peugeot 207.
See the type of road shown in the image above? Well, now add the potholes and the rain and imagine the car I had in my hands at a speed between 90 and 100 km/h… What is certain is that the 208 passed the test without any problem whatsoever.
Upon returning, I noticed that the average fuel consumption registers an exaggerated 8.4 liters per 100 km, something that really worried me. According to Peugeot, this car has a mixed consumption of 5.6 l/100 and if so, this is too great a difference even for someone with a heavy foot. The excuse given by the person in charge was simple: “Since the car is new, the engine has not yet had time to “open” and, therefore, the consumption counting system is not yet fully set”. This answer was enough to shut me up, but still, I'm not totally convinced...
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Peugeot 208 Allure 1.4 VTi 95hp:
As you can imagine, I didn't have much time to test the car to the fullest, everything that was possible to ascertain at first glance is explained here, however, it is normal that in the future (if you have the opportunity to drive it again) you may change your mind about to a few points.
If you want to know more about the new Peugeot 208, you can see some of the articles we have already published:
– Peugeot 208 2012: Prices for Portugal;
– First images of the new Peugeot 208 GTI;
– Peugeot: Family 208 in Geneva.