With smart styling inside and out and a very enjoyable drive Peugeot’s latest addition, the 108, has a lot to offer writes Suzanne Keane
What is it? The 108 is Peugeot’s offering to the city car sector and is based on the same platform as the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo but with its own quirky features to make it stand out from the crowd.
Who is it aimed at? The 108 is aimed at someone who wants a fun and functional city car.
Styling? Peugeot’s 108 is cute with loads of customisation options and with the roof folded back and pop-out rear windows open it really is full of character with quite a mean looking front end.
Under the Bonnet? Our test car was the 82bhp Puretech 1.2 Vti 108 in Allure TOP! trim. Other engine options include a feisty 1.0 litre 68bhp.
What about inside? Inside it doesn’t feel exceptionally small and once the roof has opened it’s a bright and spacious cabin. The piano black finish around the touchscreen is a nice touch but did seem to be prone to fingerprints! Up front there is plenty of legroom and adjustment in the seats and the boot will take 2 cabin sized suitcases – however leg space in the back is minimal! The shape of the front seats gives it a sporty look and there are plenty of usable cubby holes for storage although when it rains the canvas roof does give the effect of being inside a tent!
On the Road? The 108 is surprisingly comfortable on the road given its size! The 1.2 block has plenty of power and you don’t have to over rev the engine to get going. It doesn’t feel small on the motorway and isn’t afraid of bends on back roads. Brakes also respond well and overall it’s a pleasure to drive. I drove this same car at the Irish launch in March and a few extra km on the clock has done wonders for the engine – especially when idling.
And Safety? The 108 has a 4 star Euro Ncap rating with ESP, Seatbelt Alarm, Front side and front and rear curtain airbags and tyre pressure sensors.
Options? There are 3 trim levels – Access, Active and Allure. The 108 has been designed for personalisation and therefore has 11 different styling themes to choose from along with 8 colours and 2 two-tone options. The TOP! Model, which we drove, comes with a folding fabric sunroof for an extra €1000. The car tested was the Allure TOP! spec which has a reversing camera, speed limiter, leather steering wheel and gear knob, a rev counter, front fog lamps, chrome door handles and mirrors and 15” ‘Thorren’ Alloy Wheels.
Will it break the bank? Price can be an issue, while the 108 starts at €13,290 the model we tested costs €15,870. In terms of economy our test car returns an impressive 4.3 litres per 100 which should help to keep fuel bills low while emissions of 99 grams means an annual road tax bill of just €180.
Verdict? The 108 is a fun and practical city car with plenty of customisation options but do yourself a favour and upgrade for the open roof; it is an essential extra!
Why you’ll buy one? Looks; Five year warranty.
Why you won’t? Price
Rivals
Toyota Aygo – priced from €12,625
Citroen C1– priced from €10,995
Hyundai i10 – priced from €11,995
Peugeot 108 Allure 1.2 82bhp TOP
Engine: 1199cc 82 bhp @5750rpm 116Nm @2750 rpm
Max speed: 170km/h
0-100 kph: 11 seconds
Emissions (Motor Tax) : 99 g/km (€180)
Model price range: €13,290 (Test car €15,870)
No of Doors: 3 doors
Euro NCAP : 4 stars
Fuel type: Petrol
Fuel Economy (combined cycle): 4.3 litres per 100 ( 65.7mpg)
Boot Capacity Seats up(down): 196 litres (868)
Car Seats: 2 isofix in the rear.
Length: 3475 mm
Width: 1615mm
Height: 1460 mm
Wheelbase: 2340mm
For more information check out Peugeot.ie, the Peugeot Ireland Facebook page or follow them on twitter here
Suzanne Keane
30th April, 2015
