Used Peugeot 208 for sale: everything you need to know
Way back in the 1980s Peugeot sold a supermini called the 205, and the French call it the sacré numéro, or ‘sacred number’ - held in such regard because by the time it went off sale in the 1990s, other carmakers were still trying to create a small car to beat it. The 208 isn’t quite the effortless class-leader the 205 was, but it’s certainly one of the brand’s best small cars in years, and worthy of inclusion on your car-buying shortlist.
In terms of looks and feel it’s one of the most sophisticated small cars on the market, feeling a cut above mainstream rivals like the Ford Fiesta. It’s one of Europe’s most popular cars, and the inclusion of an all-electric model in the range, the e-208, means Peugeot has somewhat future-proofed its small model too. Read on to find out more about the 208.
Should you buy a Peugeot 208?
For a small car with a sense of style, the Peugeot 208 is one of the best choices on the market right now. Chic and distinctive outside, high-tech and high-quality inside, the 208 feels a cut above a lot of its rivals, whether you opt for the version that went on sale in 2019, or the even more striking facelifted car that arrived in 2023.
The interior is one of the stand-out features, though a word of warning, as not everyone gets on with Peugeot’s unusual layout. The brand calls it ‘i-Cockpit’, and it features a small-diameter steering wheel positioned relatively low, and an instrument cluster above. In some driving positions, the wheel hides the cluster either partly or entirely, so try before you buy - but if it works for you, the upmarket feel and interesting material choices give the 208 a unique ambience.
It’s not class-leading for space but still happily accommodates a couple of adults and a couple of children, and similarly the boot is just about competitive enough in this class. The turbocharged petrol engines offer good punch and don’t use too much fuel, but the electric e-208 could be worth a look too - you may not match its claimed 224-mile range, but for predominantly city use it’s smooth, brisk, and should have enough range for most people.
Other superminis to consider include the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, and Skoda Fabia, while the Vauxhall Corsa shares its platform and many of the benefits of the 208, just with a more conventional look and feel. It also gets an electric model, while the Renault Zoe is well worth a look as an alternative EV, and the Renault Clio is among the best cars in this class as far as regular petrol superminis go.
What’s the best used Peugeot 208 model to buy?
Allure trim (or the later Allure Premium+) is the place to start with the 208, since while the base model is hardly poorly equipped, Allure does add several features that highlight the 208’s styling and equipment to their fullest, such as a digital dash display with a floating effect, and Peugeot’s distinctive ‘claw effect’ lighting signature on the exterior. Pair it with the 100PS PureTech petrol - which has a good mix of performance and economy - and you’ll have a fine little supermini.
Used Peugeot 208 fuel economy and performance
- Peugeot 208 1.2 PureTech 75: There’s no turbocharger on the 1.2-litre three-cylinder 75PS PureTech engine, which means a protracted 14.9-second run from 0-62mph. The tradeoff is respectable economy, at 55.6mpg combined.
- Peugeot 208 1.2 PureTech 100: Now turbocharged, the 1.2-litre engine gets 100PS and the 0-62mph time drops to 9.9 seconds. Perhaps because you don’t need to work it as hard, economy also improves, to 58.2mpg.
- Peugeot 208 1.2 PureTech 130 EAT8: The most powerful version of the 1.2-litre makes 130PS, and is eight-speed automatic only. 0-62mph now takes 8.7 seconds, while combined economy is quoted at 54.8mpg.
- Peugeot 208 1.5 BlueHDi 100: In diesel form you get a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, making 100PS. It’s just a touch slower than the 100PS petrol, at 10.2 seconds from 0-62mph, but Peugeot quotes 73.6mpg economy.
- Peugeot e-208: With a 136PS electric motor and 50kWh battery pack, the e-208 is the quickest car in the range with an 8.1-second 0-62mph time, while claimed range is a useful 224 miles.
What used Peugeot 208 trim levels are available?
- The Peugeot 208 Active Premium+ gets plenty of kit to kick off, including LED headlights, power-folding door mirrors and an active safety brake system.
- The Peugeot 208 Allure Premium+ adds satnav as standard for the touchscreen infotainment system, plus a 3D digital instrument display and ‘claw effect’ rear lights.
- The Peugeot 208 GT has a sportier appearance, though there’s no proper hot hatch in the range, so the e-208 is as quick as it gets. Full LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and connected 3D sat-nav with TomTom Live updates are all standard.
- The Peugeot 208 GT Premium adds Alcantara upholstery, adaptive cruise control and hands-free keyless entry and start, on top of the regular GT trim.
Used Peugeot 208 dimensions and boot size
The Peugeot 208’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,055mm
- Width: 1,745mm
- Height: 1,430mm
- Ground clearance: 119mm
The Peugeot 208’s boot space is:
- 311 litres
- 1,106 litres with rear seats folded
Used Peugeot 208 road tax
The real penny-pincher here is the all-electric e-208, since for the time being, there’s no VED or ‘road tax’ charge for electric vehicles. The rest of the range though gets a £190 annual bill.
How much is it to insure a Peugeot 208?
The most affordable 208 to insure should be the 1.2-litre Puretech 75 model in base-level trim, with a group 12 rating. Step up to the turbocharged 100PS petrol and that jumps to group 19, while going all the way to the e-208 results in a group 26 rating. The 208’s insurance groups are a lot higher than you’ll find on a Fiesta, while the e-208 starts higher than the groups 14-25 of the Renault Zoe.
