Equipment, options and extras
Even the 208's cheapest trim level, Active, is quite well equipped, listing 16in alloy wheels, heated door mirrors, automatic lights, air conditioning and a leather steering wheel among its highlights.
Allure trim is our pick, and adds dual-zone climate control, privacy glass, automatic wipers and power-folding door mirrors, as well as a 3D-style driver display and extra parking aids.
Top-spec GT adds 17in wheels, wireless phone-charging, keyless entry and start, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Reliability
Peugeot as a manufacturer finished a fairly underwhelming 21st out of 32 in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. That's below Seat and Skoda but above Audi, Renault, Vauxhall andVolkswagen.
Every 208 gets a three-year warranty, consisting of two years of unlimited-mileage cover from the manufacturer and an additional year that's provided by Peugeot’s UK dealer network. Kia and Hyundai offer longer standard warranties, while Toyota’s 10-year/100,000-mile offering is unrivalled by everyone except Lexus.
Safety and security
The 208 was given four stars out of five when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP in 2019, while the Clio received the full five stars. If you drill into the details of the test, it's almost as good in most areas, such as chest protection and whiplash protection for those in the rear, but not as good at protecting people outside the vehicle.