My story this week starts with a long drive from Dublin to Dingle, leaving in good humour, arriving with a face that would stop a clock – and returning with mixed emotions. I’ve put some distance between my test drive and publishing this review because I wanted to double check a few things and put them in perspective. I was driving a “mild hybrid” version of the latest Peugeot 208 supermini hatchback.
It has to be one of the sharpest and smartest-looking superminis on the market. In your rear-view mirror, the new-look claw design will immediately identify it as a Peugeot. On test, I had the mild hybrid 100 e-DCS6 version in Allure spec, priced at €30,495 in stand-out Agueda Yellow.
The starting price for 208 models is €26,195 (for the Active spec PureTech 75). For some reason I could not settle into it at all, especially on the outward journey. I found it difficult to get a comfortable driving position.
The small steering wheel – which I love as part of the brand’s i-Cockpit set-up that lets you see the critical driving details over its flattened top – did not have nearly enough adjustment. My knees were either jutting up to my chin, or I was sitting too far back. Either way I was constantly complaining and changing seat and steering wheel combinations.
I suppose there is little Peugeot can do about that, it just didn’t suit my frame. The main criticism I had was the ‘clunkiness’ of the mild-hybrid system I also felt I had to put too much effort in .
