Peugeot 208 GTi Review and Road Test

by under Review on 30 Apr 2014 04:20:38 AM30 Apr 2014
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2014 PEUGEOT 208
Price Range
$NaN - $NaN
Fuel Consumption
NaNL - NaNL/100km
4RATING
PROS

Ripper turbo 1.6-litre; interior is sporty and stylish; classy Euro looks

CONS

Handling not as racy as some rivals (or the original 205 GTi)

Volkswagen lays claim to the original hot hatch with the Golf GTI, but Peugeot wasn’t far behind with the 205 GTi, the vehicle which chartered much of the French giant’s early World Rally Championship success. Now Peugeot says the legend has returned in the form of the all-new 208 GTi – a hot-hatch which has what it takes to mix with the best of them.

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

 
And yep, we’re with them on that one. Quicker than most rivals, easy on the eye inside and out and comprehensively equipped in the Peugeot way, the 208 GTi is a hot hatch star…and that’s saying something when the field is already bursting with stars.
 

Peugeot 208 GTi Overview

With the beautifully styled 208 (arguably the nicest-looking hatchback on the market) as a starting point, Peugeot would have to have made a complete hash to mess-up the GTi. Fortunately it’s the opposite - styling and technical changes are spot-on and the racy GTi is worthy range-topper for the Peugeot 208 lineup.

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

 
Boasting a gloriously sporting interior, subtle-but-effective styling changes outside and significant technical improvements under the bonnet and for the suspension, the Peugeot 208 GTi does reflect all of the knowledge Peugeot has gleaned from other hot hatches it has produced which wore the GTi moniker.
 
Peugeot Australia has launched the 208 GTi in one model (six-speed manual transmission only) priced at $29,990.
 

Peugeot 208 GTi Engine

Peugeot’s turbocharged 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine is familiar – it also powers the gorgeous RCZ sports car. It’s a high-tech pearler with variable valve timing on inlet and exhaust valves and variable valve inlet lift.
 
Maximum power is 147kW at 5500rpm and peak torque of 275Nm available at 1700rpm. Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 5.9l/100kms.
 
Drive is to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
 
The Peugeot 208 GTi covers zero to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds. By way of comparison, the Renault Clio R.S. 265 takes 6.7 seconds and both the Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Polo GTi take 7.0 seconds.
 

Peugeot 208 GTi The Interior

Well we think we have a new winner in the ‘World’s Smallest Steering Wheel’ award – the Peugeot 208 GTi. It’s a marvel, looking like it came straight from one of the company’s Le Mans racers, and beautifully finished in perforated leather with the ubiquitous red stitching and marker to accentuate its sportiness.

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

 
Combine that with red-accented sports seats in full grain Club Nappa leather with Caro Weave cloth, aluminium pedals and footrest and the aluminium gear lever…well this Peugeot 208 GTi simultaneously screams high-performance and European-chic.
 
Still not convinced? Then check-out the high-mounted (like all proper high-performance cars) instrument panel with dials featuring a chequered flag background and white needles.
 
There’s also a seven-inch multi-function touchscreen and six-speaker audio system with the usual connectivity.

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

 
Rear seat accommodation is on-par with others in this class and the seat split-folds 60/40 for load-carrying versatility. With the rear seat in-place, cargo capacity is 311-litres or 1152-litres when folded. 
 

Peugeot 208 GTi Exterior & Styling

It’s pretty much unanimous – the latest 208 GTi is Peugeot’s best looking hatchback to-date. And we reckon the changes to the GTi make it the best of the 208 lineup.
 
Things are off to a cracking start with the front-end highlighted by the prominent bonnet which reaches low to the chrome-trimmed grille with its stylish execution of the Peugeot badge. Underneath is a very sophisticated lower lip and air duct, balanced on either side by very stylish fog-lights.

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

 
The side of course has that accentuated sculpturing (the French are onto something there – just look at the latest Renault Clios) and the ‘kick-ups’ for the front quarter windows in front of the mirrors are again a sophisticated touch.
 
At the rear the sophistication and complexity of the 208 GTi’s design is again apparent with those abundant curves accentuating width, lots of shape for the hatch and very stylish tail-lights. At the rear, the GTi features its own spoiler and rear skirt in gloss black and a trapezoid chrome-finished double exhaust tailpipe.
 
But the changes for the GTi run more than skin-deep. In fact the sporty version of the 208 runs a 10mm wider front track and a 20mm wider rear track (part of the major changes to the suspension). So, with that wider track, the diamond finish 17-inch alloy wheels really fill the wheelarches as any good high-performance hatch should (and provide a good view of the GTi-unique red brake calipers). 
 

Peugeot 208 GTi On The Road

When we first tested the original Peugeot 205 GTi way back when… Well part of our test procedure involved a standing start at the bottom of a hill in the Sydney suburb of Jannali and the 205 GTi was the only car we ever tested which lifted its wheels and flew at the top of the hill (combo of acceleration and light weight).
 
Those memories were rekindled when we finally got to some serious driving in the Peugeot 208 GTi after days of just doing the city commute (where the GTi was pleasant and easy to drive). Of course the latest Peugeot 208 GTi is a lot more luxurious, better equipped, heavier (but at 1160kgs it’s lighter than Ford Fiesta RS and Volkswagen Polo GTi) and not as edgy as the original 205 - those days have passed and buyers have different demands -  but it’s still tantalizingly sharp, quick and balanced.

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

 
That’s because Peugeot equips the 208 GTi with a unique McPherson strut front/torsion beam rear suspension system – firmer shock absorbers, springs, front sub-frame and rear cross member plus a thicker anti-roll bar. There’s also unique 17-inch wheels with 205/45 tyres and bigger brakes (302mm front/249mm rear).
 
And that turbo 1.6-litre engine plays its part - aided by slick changes from the six-speed manual transmission rapid, acceleration is assured. In fact the combination of engine and transmission seems ideally suited to the Peugeot 208 GTi (it’s 200kgs lighter than the RCZ).
 
Over our high speed mountains road test route, the Peugeot 208 GTi turned-in a performance which had us talking about the Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Clio R.S. – and they’re currently the hottest cars in this league. Crisp turn-in, a nice ‘set’ mid-corner and good reactions to changes in throttle input – the 208 GTi didn’t miss a trick.
 

Peugeot 208 GTi issues

OK, we have the advantage of being able to test cars in a controlled high-speed environment and there, by the slightest of margins, the Peugeot 208 GTi is not quite as sharp as the Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio R.S. But we’re taking marginal differences you’ll probably struggle to detect driving within the speed limits on public roads.
 

Peugeot 208 GTi Verdict

Love hot hatches? Then you’ll love the Peugeot 208 GTi.
 
Faster than Fiesta RS and Polo GTi zero to 100km/h, the 208 GTi delivers with a wonderful chassis set-up which even the most enthusiastic drivers will appreciate and its standout looks and classy interior will win-over the most pedantic of European car fans.

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

 
And we like it because it’s just a little bit different. On the one hand you have the Germans (Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo) and on the other you have the French (Peugeot 208 GTi and Renault Clio R.S.) – both camps exude obvious quality and performance so it gets down to individual styling tastes. 
 

Peugeot 208 GTi The Competition

Ford Fiesta ST is CarShowroom.com.au’s (and just about everyone else’s) favourite in this category. Surprisingly, Ford’s 134kW/240Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre is outpunched by Peugeot’s 147kW/275Nm. German origins are obvious in the Fiesta’s interior and for ride and handling this one maxes-out the ‘fun factor’ (in fact one of our automotive media colleagues was so impressed he bought a Fiesta ST). At $25,990, the Fiesta is great value too ($4,000 less than the $29,990 Peugeot 208 GTi).
 
Our other favourite is the Renault Clio R.S. 200 EDC. Priced from $28,790, the Clio R.S. is so racy it could only come from a company at the forefront of Formula One (as Renault is). With 147kW/240Nm of turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Clio R.S. is fast, sophisticated and rapid. Good as the six-speed is, we wouldn’t mind a manual too.
 

2014 PEUGEOT 208 3D HATCHBACK GTI

Volkswagen Polo GTI was the category champion until the Fiesta arrived and at $27,990 (three-door) it’s value (although not as good as the Fiesta ST at $25,990). Hallmark Volkswagen quality, seven-speed automatic transmission and the excellent twin-charged 1.4-litre engine delivering 132kW/250Nm are the Polo GTI highlights. Some reckon the lack of a manual transmission is a negative for the slick German. 

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