Peugeot 208 Review

• Typical used price (UK): £9,000–£18,000 (2020–2024 cars; nearly-new and higher trims at the top)
• This car: £13,999 (MW74NDD, HPL Motors Stockport)
• Insurance group: 21P
• MPG: 58.2 (official combined)
• CO₂: 118 g/km
• Best for: Style-led city and commuter driving; a nearly-new small car with a premium-feel cabin

Is It a Good Choice?

If you want a small car that feels a bit special, the Peugeot 208 is a strong pick. It stands out in a sea of superminis with sharp styling and its trademark three-claw LED lights, and the interior lifts it further, with the i-Cockpit layout putting a high-set digital display above a compact steering wheel. It's genuinely eye-catching in a way most rivals aren't.

This example is the Allure, a mid-range trim that's generously equipped, and it's barely run in at 7,615 miles with one previous owner. You get 16-inch alloys, full LED headlights, a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, sat nav, parking sensors and a strong suite of safety kit. Under the bonnet is the frugal 1.2-litre PureTech petrol. At £13,999 for a nearly-new car that cost well over £20,000 new, it's a lot of style and equipment for the money.

Pricing & Running Costs

The current 208 has been on sale since 2019, with a refresh in 2023, so there's a good spread of used examples. Prices depend mainly on age, mileage, trim and whether you go for petrol or the electric e-208.

Typical UK Used Price Ranges:

• Early cars (2020–2021): roughly £9,000–£13,000
• Later petrol cars (2022–2024): roughly £12,000–£18,000
• Nearly-new, low-mileage examples: toward the top of that range
• This car (2024, very low mileage, one owner): £13,999

Running Costs

• Insurance group 21P — reasonable, though a little higher than the very cheapest city cars
• An official 58.2mpg, with a realistic 50–55mpg achievable in mixed driving
• Standard flat annual rate of VED road tax (check the current DVLA figure)
• Peugeot servicing is competitively priced, and independent specialists are widely available
• Euro 6 means it's exempt from ULEZ and Clean Air Zone charges

Performance & Driving Experience

The 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder turbo is the mainstay of the 208 range, and in this 100ps form it strikes a sensible balance. It produces 99bhp and reaches 62mph in 10.1 seconds, which is brisk enough for town and comfortable on the motorway, and the little engine is smooth and eager while returning strong economy.

On the road the 208 is easy and composed, with light steering that makes it a doddle in town. The i-Cockpit's compact steering wheel gives it a nimble, go-kart feel that many drivers love, though it's worth a test drive to check the small wheel and high-set dials suit your driving position, as a few find the view of the instruments obscured. Ride comfort is good for the class, soaking up bumps well while staying tidy through corners.

Key Performance Figures:

• Power: 99 bhp (100 ps)
• Cylinders: 3
• Engine capacity: 1,199cc (turbocharged)
• Gearbox: 6-speed manual
• Drive: Front-wheel drive
• 0–62 mph: 10.1 seconds

Interior & Technology

The 208's cabin is where it really justifies itself. The i-Cockpit set-up pairs a 10-inch central touchscreen with a 10-inch configurable digital instrument display, and this Allure adds smart toggle switches, ambient lighting and quality-feel materials that make it feel more upmarket than the price suggests. Connectivity is excellent, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in sat nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB-C.

Other standard kit on this car includes automatic air conditioning, cruise control with a speed limiter, an electric parking brake, heated folding mirrors and keyless start. It's not flawless: the glovebox is small because Peugeot doesn't move the fusebox for right-hand-drive cars, and the touchscreen can take a moment to respond. But overall it's one of the most stylish and modern-feeling cabins in the class.

Space & Practicality

Practicality is the 208's weaker suit. It's comfortable up front, but rear space is tight, so fitting taller adults behind taller adults is best kept for short journeys. The 311-litre boot is a little smaller than rivals such as the Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo, and there's a raised load lip to lift heavier items over. There's clever cabin storage, though, including a handy phone tray ahead of the gearlever. As a stylish city car and commuter it works well; as a load-lugger it has limits.

Dimensions:

• Length: 4,055 mm
• Width: 1,745 mm
• Height: 1,430 mm
• Boot: ~311 litres
• Seats: 5
• Doors: 5

MPG, Emissions & Tax

• Combined MPG: 58.2 (official)
• CO₂: 118 g/km
• Euro status: Euro 6
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Engine: 1,199cc, 3-cylinder turbo
• Gearbox: 6-speed manual

Running costs are a strong point. Euro 6 compliance means it's exempt from London's ULEZ and other Clean Air Zone charges, and real-world economy of 50–55mpg is easily achievable, with more on a steady run. Road tax is charged at the standard flat annual rate, so check the DVLA's current figure at the time of purchase.

Safety & Reliability

The 208 comes with a genuinely strong list of standard safety kit, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, speed-limit recognition and front and rear parking sensors. In Euro NCAP testing it scored four stars, with high marks for adult and child occupant protection, held back from five mainly by pedestrian protection and a marginal chest-protection result.

NCAP Ratings (Euro NCAP, 2019):

• Overall: 4 Stars
• Adult occupant: 91%
• Child occupant: 86%
• Vulnerable road users: 56%
• Safety assist: 71%
• Note: rating expired at the start of 2026 as tests became more demanding, so it's best compared with rivals of a similar age

On reliability, Peugeot has improved markedly in recent years, finishing a strong sixth in the 2024 Driver Power owner-satisfaction survey, ahead of several better-known brands. One thing worth knowing about the 1.2 PureTech petrol is that earlier versions used a "wet" timing belt that could wear prematurely; Peugeot's parent company has since revised the engine with a more durable timing chain on newer cars and runs a support scheme for affected owners. Because that change was phased in around this car's age, it's worth confirming with HPL which set-up this specific car has and that servicing is up to date. Reassuringly, this is a nearly-new, one-owner example with service history, and HPL adds its 128-point check and a warranty for extra peace of mind.

Alternatives

• Renault Clio — stylish, roomier boot and strong hybrid options; a close rival.
• Volkswagen Polo — more practical and grown-up, with a quality cabin.
• SEAT Ibiza — one of the roomiest superminis, sharing its engineering with the Polo.
• Ford Fiesta — the class's keenest driver's car, if fun matters most.
• Toyota Yaris — the hybrid choice, with excellent economy and reliability.
• Vauxhall Corsa — the 208's close mechanical cousin, often keenly priced.

Verdict

The Peugeot 208 is one of the most desirable superminis you can buy used, blending standout looks, a hi-tech i-Cockpit cabin and low running costs. This nearly-new PureTech Allure adds a generous kit list and represents strong value at £13,999 given how little it's covered. It isn't the most spacious small car, the boot trails some rivals, and it's worth checking the engine details and service history as you would with any car. But for style, equipment and near-new condition at this price, it's an easy one to recommend.

Overall Rating: ⭐ 4.3 / 5