More than thirty years after it was first launched, the Peugeot 205 GTi is still heralded for being both one of the earliest and best examples of a hot hatch. Since this iconic car’s launch, however, Peugeot has for a while struggled to produce another car considered worthy to be its true successor.
The Peugeot 208 GTi, available as a three-door only, is the French manufacturer’s latest attempt at making a hot hatch that can come somewhere close to emulating the 205’s success – and it has undeniably been well received by fans.
Following its success with punters, Peugeot went on to release a limited run of 30th Anniversary 208 GTi models – and this inspired a new Peugeot Sport derivative which joined the range in 2015 along with the models mid-life facelift. The 208 GTi’s got a tough job on its hands though, facing fierce rivals like the Renaultsport Clio and the Ford Fiesta ST.
From the outside the 208 GTi’s sporty character is very subtle, with a larger rear spoiler, 17-inch alloys, a unique chequered-grille and double chrome exhaust pipes. It also features a C-pillar mounted ‘GTi’ logo that harks back to the beloved 205 GTi.
Performance
The 208 GTi equals its rivals in the pace stakes, being delightfully quick off the mark, with excellent gear ratios and smooth manual shifts making moving up the six cogs a joy.
Powered by a finely tuned 1.6-litre petrol unit with 205bhp, linked with a six-speed manual gearbox, it achieves 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds. There is also a delightful 300Nm of torque on offer as well, giving you the low-down pull a hot hatch should have.
At 6.5 seconds, the 208 GTi’s spint time is marginally quicker than the Clio Renaultsport (6.7 seconds) and the Ford Fiesta ST (6.9 seconds). Even in their top-spec models, the Renaultsport Trophy (6.6 seconds) and the Fiesta ST 1.6-litre 197bhp (6.7seconds) still fall slightly behind.
Ride and Handling
Steering isn’t quite as precise as you’ll find in the Fiesta ST, but isn’t far off its level of feedback.
This car is genuinely brilliant to drive, giving you the confidence to execute fast bends with finesse. And for such a small car, it’s a pleasure to drive for long distances too, as well as nippy jaunts in more local areas. Steering isn’t quite as precise as you’ll find in the Fiesta ST, but isn’t far off its level of feedback, while the suspension is a little less stiff on the 208 GTi. This means it has a more comfortable ride over speed bumps and pot holes, but at the same time, loses some of the feel you might expect from a hot hatch. If you go all out for the range-topping Peugeot Sport model you will get enhanced handling, with Brembo brakes, a torsen differential, wider front and rear tracks and unique shock absorbers and springs. These changes will make the ride slightly firmer but do enhance its stickiness in the corners.
Interior and Equipment
The engine used by the Peugeot 208 GTi is also available for the DS4 hatchback.
Like the standard 208, the GTi’s cabin is a lovely place to spend time, with an easy to understand layout and smart-looking materials. All GTi models comes kitted out with incredibly comfortable, figure-hugging sports seats and an array of sporty red highlights – which feature on the door sills, steering wheel, gearknob and instrument cluster. Some creature comforts include rear parking sensors, DAB radio, dual-zone climate control and USB connectivity. Go for GTi Prestige and you get heated seats, a panoramic sunroof, sat-nav and some slightly tastier 17-inch black Carbone onyx alloys. The most exclusive trim however is the range-topping GTi by Peugeot Sport. Additions of this trim include aesthetic enhancements, like 18-inch matt black alloys, red floor mats, red stitching and ‘Peugeot Sport’ badging, and the host of technical changes mentioned above. The biggest complaint about the interior of the 208 GTi is the high-mounted instrument panel above the steering wheel. While it’s a neat design, it’s impractical because it can be quite difficult to see what speed you are doing. With some clever readjustment of the seat and driving wheel position, we were able to see the speedometer above 30mph, but it’s a common gripe that needs to be addressed. Rear leg room in the GTi is a little cramped, but headroom is surprisingly generous. Boot wise the 208 GTi measures in at 285 litres, slightly less than both the Fiesta ST and RS Clio but useful enough for a trip to the shops.
Cost
The big deal though is its price. Starting at around £19,500 – which is the same you would pay for a top-of-the-range Fiesta ST.
Someone looking for a hot hatch is unlikely to have running costs at the top of the minds, but nonetheless, the GTi is relatively wallet-friendly, with CO2 emissions standing at 125g/km and it should return around 40mpg. The big deal though is its price. Starting at around £19,500 – which is the same you would pay for a top-of-the-range Fiesta ST. Go for Peugeot’s flagship GTi and you will be paying over £22,000.
Our Verdict
This car is, without doubt, Peugeot’s best GTi offering in a while, providing an excellent hot-hatch package. It’s fast in a straight line, very agile through the corners and it has that crucial fun factor which all hot hatch enthusiasts look for. At the same time the ride is smooth and more comfortable than its direct rivals. Comparatively, the Ford Fiesta ST has a small edge, with slightly more dynamism for the enthusiasts out there, and a cheaper price. But it’s a close call, and for those who want a fast supermini which is comfortable as well as swift, the Peugeot 208 GTi is a very wise option.