1 week Ago
My story this week starts with a long drive from Dublin to Dingle, leaving in good humour, arriving with a face that would stop a clock – and returning with mixed emotions. I’ve put some distance between my test drive and publishing this review because I wanted to double check a few things and put them in perspective. I was driving a “mild hybrid” version of the latest Peugeot 208 supermini hatchback.
It has to be one of the sharpest and smartest-looking superminis on the market. In your rear-view mirror, the new-look claw design will immediately identify it as a Peugeot. On test, I had the mild hybrid 100 e-DCS6 version in Allure spec, priced at €30,495 in stand-out Agueda Yellow.
The starting price for 208 models is €26,195 (for the Active spec PureTech 75). For some reason I could not settle into it at all, especially on the outward journey. I found it difficult to get a comfortable driving position.
The small steering wheel – which I love as part of the brand’s i-Cockpit set-up that lets you see the critical driving details over its flattened top – did not have nearly enough adjustment. My knees were either jutting up to my chin, or I was sitting too far back. Either way I was constantly complaining and changing seat and steering wheel combinations.
I suppose there is little Peugeot can do about that, it just didn’t suit my frame. The main criticism I had was the ‘clunkiness’ of the mild-hybrid system I also felt I had to put too much effort in to maintain a good driving line. That was especially the case when we decided we would bypass Limerick’s Adare.
It was a Friday afternoon and rather than sit in the snail-pace tailback, I took the narrow scenic route. Back roads and byways added to my sense that things were not going so well. I was not enjoying the drive.
The main criticism I had was the “clunkiness” of the mild-hybrid system. It works so that during deceleration, the car’s kinetic energy is captured and stored in a 48-volt battery. When you accelerate, that energy is released to help boost the engine via the electric motor.
The motor can complement the engine, thereby reducing fuel consumption or improving performance. That’s the plan anyway. Normally I wouldn’t notice but in this case it shunted a bit when I lifted off the accelerator and, I felt, the car slowed a bit too quickly in its regenerative action.
I also blame the 6spd automatic transmission for being a bit sluggish when I wanted to accelerate. I have to say I was surprised. Peugeots don’t normally do that to me, I like the cars and have followed its fortunes as it blossomed into a marque boasting some of the best cars in their segments.
Apart from having difficulty getting it to “fit” me, I had good elbow and headroom as did my front-seat passenger. But room at the back was borderline meagre. The boot is OK on space at 311 litres, though there is a high loading lip.
The 100 e-DSC6 3cyl petrol engine was a peppy enough little power source. It is well tried and trusted at this stage and it had that nice distinctive three-cylinder sound. The infotainment screen interface worked fairly well.
It took me a little while to re-acquaint myself. I’m not sure it needs to be as intricate to merely adjust the likes of heating, airflow, media and settings. But at least there’s still a knob for the volume, and shortcut buttons for demisting the windows.
It was a long tiresome drive and I arrived with such a face on me that waiting friends couldn’t help but laugh. By the time we got back to Dublin (no bad back roads), I had resolved to try out another 208 for a few days – just to see if there could be a difference. Always make sure the car fits you and not the other way around It was an exact replacement, except it had fewer kilometres on the clock.
I won’t say it was radically better, but the slow-down blip wasn’t nearly as clunky, the car overall felt much more together as a driving unit. I still had issue with getting a good driving position. I mention these facts knowing that separately you might accuse me of highlighting niggles on a bad day.
Maybe, but they did impinge on my driving experience and I have reported them as faithfully as I can. In extrapolating from my individual 208 experience to the general car-buying mindset, I re-learned a lesson. Always make sure the car fits you and not the other way around.
That means spending time in it and seeing, simply, how easy you find it to drive. If I were buying a new car I’d ask if I could take it for a few hours just to be certain. If someone else is likely to drive it, then bring them along.
And don’t be put off if it happens to be a new Peugeot 208. It may very well suit you down to the ground. Factfile Peugeot 208 supermini hatchback.
