Car Review: Peugeot 208 1,2 GT Line
The subcompact hatchback segment is saturated with great cars. It really is one of the toughest segments to contend in. Think Volkswagen Polo, Mazda2, Ford Fiesta and Opel Corsa. Internationally, the 208 is Peugeot’s most popular model, but here in South Africa it’s never quite faired up to its rivals. Perhaps it’s due to people’s fear of French cars or because Peugeot doesn’t have the biggest dealer network here in South Africa?
I for one am not the biggest fan of the 208, not because it isn’t a great little car, but because I would more than likely choose one of its competitors before choosing this model. I got the new Peugeot 208 GT Line (the flagship) to drive for a week and I was left feeling rather impressed.
I may not love Peugeot’s general styling, but that’s a personal thing. This GT Line however is the sporty version of the 208 and I quite liked the look. It has a special “Equaliser” grille with red detailing, a gloss black finish for the grille surround, fog lamp finishes and exterior mirror housings. It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. Also unique to the GT Line model is the chrome-finished exhaust tailpipe and privacy glass for the rear windows, which for me adds to the sporty appeal.
The interior is where I was left feeling really impressed. I love how spacious it feels and I adore the upholstery which is black and red with contrasting stitching. The red detailing on the black seatbelts continues the sporty theme and it feels upmarket. The multifunction steering wheel gets a full leather-trimmed rim. You can also expect aluminium door sill finishes and aluminium pedals. The cabin is sleek and modern! And the boot boasts a sizeable 311 litres and that’s with the full-size spare tyre in place.
The spec list on the GT Line is of course truly full house. A part from the usual standard features such as electric windows, a seven-inch colour touchscreen display,a sound system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and cruise control, the GT Line also boasts fog lamps with a cornering function, half-leather upholstery, auto-activating headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and an automatic bi-zone climate control system.
The 1,2-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine is punchy and reasonably refined. Overtaking is easy, which is something I always take note of because there are few things as frustrating as being stuck behind a truck on an incline and not being able to do anything about it. The ride is comfortable and my favourite thing; the smaller steering wheel. It really adds to the sporty feel of the car and if you are a driving enthusiast you will appreciate it as much as I did.
Thanks to the smaller engine you can expect a claimed fuel consumption of just 4,5l/100 km, but bear in mind that this is a claimed figure because I certainly wasn’t able to achieve this. I was closer to the 7,0l/100 km mark.
The thing is, if you want something that is a bit different then the Peugeot 208 is something to consider. At just under R300 00 for the GT Line (R284 900) I would rather recommend opting for one of the other models in the range (pricing starts at R169 900) where you will find more bang for your buck. The 208 GT Line’s pricing is its downfall and I foresee more people opting for other hatchback rivals. But if it is styling you are after, then give this guy a go!
All Peugeot 208s come with a three-year/100 000 km warranty. The GT Line (and the Active) add a five-year/60 000 km Premium Plan which is a full maintenance plan.