A star is born: we are testing the new Peugeot 208

[[MC]Ronin[MC]]

A star is born: we are testing the new Peugeot 208

Yes, 208 is more expensive than Clio, but it is definitely much more attractive in terms of vision, interior and perception.

 

Lady Gaga is a star I don't like. Vision, stage behavior and music - all this is fundamentally different from my understanding and musical preferences. But still, watching the movie with Bradley Cooper and Gaga, I was sure it would be a reboot of her career and Shallow would be a hit. I'm not that much of a music critic, but the song in question just hits your head like a hit by Louis Fonsi, which even made me get on the phone with Rammstein, Maiden, Metallica and company.

With the same certainty with which I was ready to bet on the success of the musical before, I am now ready to bet that 208 will become a market hit that will rank at the forefront of the chart. I gained that confidence in March when the Geneva Motor Show debuted in Geneva. Even then, I knew I was witnessing the birth of a star. And after the test of the standard 208, as well as its electrical version, I have no doubt.

That's right, the Peugeot 208 debuts simultaneously in a conventional and all-electric variant, which was the first (of several) super bold moves by Peugeot with this model. The reason is that usually such a debut is split into two every few months to become two media events, to talk twice more about the make and model. But Peugeot skipped that and for me it was the first sign of the brand's confidence in its product qualities.

The second (though set right from the start in the model's DNA) super bold move is this design! In today's world, design is the main parameter for customers to choose a new car. For the last 20 years that I have been reflecting on car topics, I have not seen a more attractive and daring car in segment B. Even a very high-ranking Mercedes man told me that the Peugeot 208 was one of the most attractive models at the Geneva showroom, showing cars with a speed of 480 km / h and costing € 16.5 million.

I am sure of one thing: Gilles Vidal has transformed Peugeot products from widespread need into an attractive force for every customer, for whom appearance and a statement of life status are very important. Previously, under the leadership of Patrick Le Camon, Peugeot seemed to have lost its looks, but the brand's current design makes it one of the bravest companies to experiment with customer perceptions.

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I will not tell you about lines, elements, lion's nails and so on. I will say that there is no angle from which I do not like 208. There is no detail that annoys me. The design is so modern, attractive and even bold that I don't know why the model was not named 209. It really has nothing to do with the vision of the 208 so far, moreover: they both look like models from different companies. And now there are competitors whose design looks outdated, though they are on the market very soon. And the vision of 208, dare I say, will be relevant for a long time. Especially if you bet on the cruel yellow or blue color.

Peugeot's bold moves continue in the interior. I've said it before, I won't be embarrassed to say it right now: Peugeot is now making one of the best interiors, and the 208 is a good fit for the D-segment. ) and the design is flawless. The characteristic small steering wheel is still on the line, but the typical i-Cockpit has jumped one level up. Not only is the design of the instrument panel itself different, but the instruments are already fully digital, you can see them in 3D (in 5-6 different views)! Let me remind you: I'm talking about a car from segment B. And here I continue to enjoy the piano keys that control the air conditioning system, and the touch surfaces at the base give them access to the multimedia system.

However, I should note that the leg area in the front is narrower, forcing me to hold my right leg almost vertically throughout the test drive. The "lever" gear lever stands slightly higher than the optimum position. The boot of the 208 is smaller than that of the Clio, but below that of the Peugeot, there should be room for the 208's battery as well.

Referring to the electric version, I must also pay due attention to the Peugeot 208. Another bold move on the part of the company that provided us with the 208th test drive in Portugal. Brave, because the electric versions were pre-production models, with still unspecified driver assistance systems. For this reason, the organizers had prepared a 16-kilometer route for us to get a first idea of the car.

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I have to say that she won me too, but since they were only 16 km on a very flat and straight stretch, I will reserve the right to tell you about the model when she arrives in Bulgaria and I can give it more. For now, I will only be able to mark the key features, namely the 340 km WLTP cycle, which are guaranteed by a 50 kWh battery. It has a warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km for 70% of its capacity. It can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes by a 100 kW public charger.