Peugeot 208 hatchback - Interior & comfort

While the 208's driving experience may lack sparkle, the interior is the biggest highlight. The French manufacturer has already had great success with the design of the latest Peugeot 3008 and 5008, and this know-how has been successfully transferred into its popular supermini.

There’s an impressive amount of soft-touch material inside the 208 and it feels well built, even if the swathes of piano black plastic are likely to pick up scratches. Neat touches lie almost everywhere you look, from the lime green contrasting stitching fitted to our test car to the piano key-style switches and ambient lighting. It makes most rivals feel old-fashioned, but the materials in the Renault Clio are slightly nicer.

Infotainment and navigation

All versions of the Peugeot 208 come with a digital instrument cluster set-up, which Peugeot calls i-Cockpit. Unlike traditional instruments, these are designed to be viewed above a shrunken steering wheel, rather than through the gap at the top. However, for most body shapes, this can be problematic as it means you must adjust the steering wheel lower than you normally would, which can be rather uncomfortable – we recommend sitting inside the 208 before you sign on the dotted line to ensure you’re happy with the set-up.

On entry-level cars, the i-Cockpit is paired with a seven-inch touchscreen mounted on the dashboard – Allure Premium models and above get a larger 10-inch display with built-in sat-nav and a neat 3D effect for the dials. While this whole arrangement looks good and futuristic, it isn’t as easy to use, nor as configurable as the systems in rival cars.

Another annoyance is that the climate controls are integrated into the touchscreen; this not only reduces the area in which information can be displayed, but it also makes it difficult to adjust the temperature and/or fan speed when on the move. On a more positive note, every version of the 208 includes a DAB radio, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

A facelifted version of the 208 has been revealed and will go on sale later in 2023. Updates have been made to the cabin – including a higher-definition screen for top-spec cars, plus extra USB-C ports and multi-colour ambient lighting.

Equipment

There are five trim levels called Active, Active Premium, Allure, Allure Premium and GT Line, with each version offered with a range of petrol and diesel engines, or an electric powertrain. We’d skip the Active and choose the Active Premium, which gets 16-inch alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights with the fang design, along with tinted windows, dual-zone climate control and pre-heating for the e-208. Allure Premium adds diamond-cut alloy wheels and a 180-degree reversing camera, alongside the aforementioned larger touchscreen with sat-nav and a 3D version of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit with a head-up display. An ‘Aluminium Pack’ is also thrown in, introducing metal trim for the pedals and door sills.

Sporty GT Line cars get larger 17-inch alloy wheels, eight-colour ambient lighting, LED headlights, black wheel arches, twin exhaust pipes (except the e-208) and a black contrasting roof. Standard safety equipment includes front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking with night function.

The full-fat GT trim is reserved for the e-208. Highlights include a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat nav, a full range of connected services, adaptive cruise control, lane positioning assist, active blind spot monitoring, Alcantara and cloth upholstery, heated seats and cosmetic upgrades.

Options

There’s a small list of options for the 208 but it’s possible to tailor it to your taste with a panoramic sunroof, metallic or pearlescent paint and upgraded Nappa leather upholstery. The latter also brings heated front seats and electric adjustment for the driver's seat.