The lion roars again

FIRSTDRIVE PEUGEOT 208: PEUGEOT HAS created the prodigal son of superminis. In the 1990s, it was the small hatch that others wanted to imitate. Its 205 – albeit in GTi form – adorned the bedroom walls of petrolheads from Mullingar to Majorca. While we were less enamoured by the more feminine wiles of its replacement 206, with its softer lines, we still admired its cheeky appeal.

Then came the 207. It was like meeting your childhood hero after a few years out of the limelight and finding he’s spent too much time in the takeaway. It was fat, frumpy and well below par. There was nothing lithe or nimble about this French lion anymore.

It’s a trait that has dogged most of the brand’s model range ever since, up until the advent of the RCZ coupé. Even smart and practical models like the 3008 crossover could never be described as pretty, with the gaping front grilles, like carp fish on a feeding frenzy.

Well, the good news is that this little Pug has been to the fat farm, shed the pounds and is back with a bang. The new 208 harks back to the days of the 206 in its looks and hints at the 205 in its handling. Suddenly Peugeot is back again with a car that warrants the supermini tagline.

Everything about the new car, from its exterior styling through to the small steering wheel, is in keeping with what a supermini should be. It’s a tidy little package that can cope with the functional needs of family life but does so with fun and flair.

Several new features impress, not least the new cabin layout. Peugeot has moved the central dials up to the driver’s eyeline and the smaller wheel gives a far more immediate feel to the 208’s handling and charm.

A new touchscreen system in the central console – offered in the second-tier specification and a feature that’s expected to be fitted on 80 per cent of 208s sold in Ireland – is a smart addition. It’s not in any way the equal to the tablet computers on the market, despite the claims of various Peugeot marketing executives, but it’s great to see it replace the plethora of buttons and knobs that have long cluttered the cabins of Peugeots for years now.

The firm is launching a new stable of apps for the device, including versions of the Michelin hotel and restaurant guide. But they seem to be expensive gimmicks – at an estimated €350 in the initial year and €150 annually thereafter – and pointless when you consider what’s on offer on a decent smartphone these days for less than one per cent of that price. Don’t expect a queue of customers for this particular feature.

Where the new car really excels is in its ride and handling, harking back to the glory days of the 205. The ride is much more refined than on the 207, capable of soaking up the bumps and potholes, particularly when shod on 16-inch wheels. It’s dynamically much better as well, cornering at speeds and holding a tight line in bends without too much body roll.

During our test drive, we pitted it against some of the worst road surfaces we’ve come across since a recent trip to Connemara and it soaked up every bump and pothole without complaint.

Its cornering ability is just what you want from a small fun car, sharp and reassuring in the bends, encouraging you to kick on.

Overall, this car feels far more nimble and eager than the frumpy 207 ever was. It all bodes well for the introduction of a GTi version, which is supposedly in the pipeline.

The 208 comes in both three and five-door formats, with a few styling differences between the two, including the use of chrome strips on the side of the three-door.

Despite being slightly smaller in stature, the 208 manages to offer more interior space than its predecessor. An extra 5cms has been added to the backseat legroom, for example; it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s noticeable once an adult jumps in.

The engine line-up boasts significant improvements in both fuel economy and emissions, although Irish drivers aren’t likely to reap the benefit of this.

The impressive 1.6-litre diesel and petrol powertrains may seem perfectly mated with the new look of the car, but the mainstays for the Irish market will be a 1.4-litre diesel and two versions of the firm’s new three-cylinder petrol engine.

The new three-cylinder engine comes in 1-litre and 1.2-litre format. I got to test the latter and, while it’s noticeably slower off the starting blocks than the larger four-cylinder engines, it is neither noisier nor tediously slower when you get it up to speed. With emissions below 100g/km, the slightly longer take-off will be regarded as a price worth paying for many Irish buyers.

Unfortunately, the five-speed manual gearbox on the three-cylinder engines is not as good as the one fitted to the larger engine. Engage fifth gear and it’s as if you are reaching for the passenger glovebox. Slower off the mark and a sloppier gearbox seems to be the price Irish buyers will pay for being in the thrall of our motor tax regime.

On a more positive note, the smaller steering wheel makes a big difference to the cabin and the driving feel. Other nice touches include the new speedometer and rev counter binnacle that places the dials and information in the driver’s eyeline, and the touchscreen centre console.

Although the car is arriving here on June 30th, prices have yet to be finalised, but given its main rival will be the Toyota Yaris and its ilk, we expect the new 208 will enter the market below €15,000.

Peugeot is going through the financial wars like many of its European counterparts, struggling with overcapacity and losses in lacklustre European markets.

While a restructuring seems on the cards, everyone knows that the most important recipe for recovery remains a garage of good cars. With the 208, Peugeot is dramatically improving its chances of a return to profit.

Factfile

Engines: For Ireland, a 1.4-litre 68bhp HDi diesel and two new three-cylinder petrol engines – a 1-litre 68bhp and a 1.2-litre 82bhp.

Emissions: 1-litre – 99g/km; 1.2-litre – 104g/km; 1.4-litre HDi – 98g/km.

0-100km/h: 1-litre – 14 secs; 1.2-litre – 12.2 secs; 1.4-litre HDi – 13.5 secs.

Specification: Three levels on offer, Access, Active and Allure. All will feature ESP, six airbags. Active will include the new seven-inch touchscreen system.

On sale: 1.4-litre diesel from June 30th; 1.2-litre petrol in August; 1-litre in September.

Prices: No details yet, but expect to start below €15,000 for 1-litre.