Peugeot 208 Feline 1.6 BlueHDi

Just as Peugeot unveils an updated 208 at the Geneva motor show, we’ve got behind the wheel of the latest addition to the current 208 line-up, powered by the very latest 1.6-litre BlueHDi 120 engine. It’s the first diesel engine in the supermini range to meet the upcoming Euro 6 emissions regulations. It replaces the e-HDi 115 powerplant, and boasts an extra 5bhp and 11lb ft of torque, as well as propelling the 208 to 62mph in 0.3 of a second faster. The cost of this additional pace is an extra £250, but some of this can be offset by the car’s 5g/km reduction in CO2 emissions and additional 4.2 miles that can be travelled with every gallon of fuel. Available in top-spec Feline in five-door guise, and luxury XY trim with three-doors, it’s the former that we test here.

With 118bhp under your right foot, it’s a swift performer away from the line, delivering gutsy performance throughout the rev range. Plentiful mid-range torque is aided by a slick gearbox with six well chosen ratios. The quick, precise steering gives a go-kart-like feel through twisty bends, helped by taut body control, excellent grip and low levels of lean. Out test involved a 100-mile high speed dash along waterlogged motorways and back roads, and the baby Peugeot displayed huge levels of
grip, feeling planted and surefooted.

Most rival small cars would become scary, aquaplaning and getting buffeted by the changing surfaces, but our 208 remained a delight to pilot. The new BlueHDi engine is quiet and refined, especially from cold, and even remains subdued when the accelerator pedal is at full tilt. Only a firmer than ideal suspension set-up at lower speeds spoils the party, transmitting potholes and broken surfaces into the cabin, delivering a jittery ride, though at faster motorway speeds, the ride comfort becomes quite calm. There’s a smidgeon of wind noise at speed, though road noise is nicely contained.

Despite having one of the smallest footprints in the supermini class, especially compared to the Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa, the engineers at Peugeot have worked wonders on packaging, as the 208 is actually pretty roomy. The boot space is close to class leading, with 311 litres available with the seats up, and 1,152 litres with the chairs tumbled down, while both front and back, there’s a decent amount of legroom. Up front, there’s a good levels of headroom, though in the rear, taller passengers will find that their head brushes the ceiling of the panoramic roof. The design of the cabin is attractive, using classy materials, with a mixture of soft-touch mouldings, metal appliquésand piano black detailing.

Oddment space is pretty good, thanks to a a big central bin ahead of the gear lever and large door pockets, though due to the location of the fuse box, the glovebox is disappointingly small. While to many the small diameter steering wheel and instruments mounted high up are like marmite, and a controversial talking point, we actually quite like them, with the arrangement suiting average height drivers particularly well. The white on black dials look smart, are easy on the eye and are a model of clarity, while all BlueHDi 120 models come with standard-fit satellite navigation and this is placed neatly within the driver’s field of vision and operated via the intuitive touchscreen.