Feeling good in the Peugeot 208 GTi

The Peugeot 208 GTi is a head turner

Style, sophistication and speed are my top three words in describing the new Peugeot 208 GTi.

The styling in this little hot hatch is a real triumph for Peugeot. It’s a hot hatch that doesn’t immediately visually scream its hot hatch credentials.

This means that it’s quite at home in any setting – demure when you need it to be and great fun when you want it to be.

At a quick glance, the exterior in this three-door carries the cute and compact body of its sibling, the Peugeot 208.

However, on closer inspection, chrome wing mirrors, a chrome double exhaust tailpipe, a chequered flag design grille, 17 inch alloy wheels and the red GTi badge distinguish the hot hatch from the supermini.

And the stunning style continues in the cabin, with luxury leather and cloth upholstered sports seats in black and red, a leather dash with red stitching glossy red and black surrounds on the centre console and doors and red trim on the instrument panel.

Peugeot has excelled in the interior styling in the Peugeot 208 GTi

Like the regular 208 city car, the GTi variant also carries the small steering wheel, which made it very easy to handle.

With this set up the instrument panel appears to float over the wheel rather than the driver looking through the wheel.

A comfortable driving position for me though meant I was straining my neck to see the digital speed read out as it was obscured.

The cabin is a lot more spacious than it looks, with good legroom back and front and two adults being very comfortable in the back. The boot is also quite large and houses a full size spare wheel.

Infotainment is provided in the form of a permanent 7″ touchscreen which operates radio, USB and Aux controls – there’s no CD player but there is Bluetooth so you could stream music from your smartphone. The unit in general is a bit fiddly though and takes a bit of time to get used to.

The car is well specced with cruise control, auto lights and wipers, tinted rear windows, dual control air conditioning and electric windows.

One thing this supermini is lacking is decent cupholders, with nothing suitable for a regular cup of takeaway coffee.

The quite large boot in the Peugeot 208 GTi can be made even bigger by folding the rear seats

While style is all very well, what really matters in a hot hatch is how it drives – and the Peugeot 208 GTi does not disappoint.

Just one spec is available in this variant – a six-speed manual with a 1.6 litre 200bhp petrol engine.

Our route in the Peugeot 208 GTi took us around the city, on the motorway and up the mountains.

This car drives well on all roads, lovely and smooth in the city and on the motorway, but it really comes into its own on winding roads.

As you’d expect, it’s great fun on the mountains, handling very well. The engine also emits a lovely little growl and the cabin is well soundproofed.

Acceleration in this car is excellent and it leaves other cars in its rear view mirror at the lights.

Overall, I loved the Peugeot 208 GTi. It’s a beautiful, feel good car that will put a smile on your face every time you sit behind the wheel.

The Peugeot 208 GTi is available now with prices starting from €27,995. Prices for the entry level Peugeot 208 range start from €14,395.

Tech Spec
Engine: 1.6 THP 200bhp petrol
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 6.8seconds
Maximum Speed: 230kph
CO2 emissions: 139g/km
Combined fuel economy: 5.9l/100km
Annual road tax: €280

Visit the Peugeot Ireland website or its Facebook page for further details.