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I recall back in 2004 when I first bought the Suzuki Swift, everyone I knew had an opinion about how rich I was in throwing away money buying such a small car. This was a time when the default hatchback choice of Malaysian today, the Perodua MyVi was just launched and Kancils reigned on the roads. At that time, I still remembered the CBU Swift was asking for about RM82k and while it wasn’t cheap (heck, what car is cheap in Malaysian anyway?), it was one of the most affordable CBUs with Japanese reliability, continental-like cornering ability and a good all-rounder for a small family.
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Still, one has to wonder how much people are willing to pay for a particular segment, barring luxury marques such as the Mini, of course. Back when the Swift was launched, naysayers (regardless of era, there shall always be those who practice Murphy’s Law) commented how the Suzuki brand was more popular with the Jimny and Vitaras and the last Swift introduced was back in 1991 … too far behind to have any link with the present then. Fast forward today, we see Swifts almost as much as we see Kancils
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Coming soon would be another hatchback set shake the segment (if rumours of its pricing are to be believed). The Peugeot 208, the supermini that first appeared in 2011 is said to be launching in Malaysia and kensomuse is proud to be one of the first automotive sites to bring you some interesting tidbits on the car(s) we’re due to see in Peugeot showrooms nationwide soon.
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Design
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We’ll be getting not one, but TWO variants: a two-door (well, three if you count the boot) and a four-door (five with the boot). Measuring 3,962mm in length, 1,739mm in width and 1,460mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,538mm, the 208 is only about a finger nail longer, wider and higher than the Ford Fiesta. The wheelbase is significantly longer as the 208 trumps the Fiesta by 49mm but that does not necessarily mean a larger cabin. It all depends on how its designed inside.
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Tell me which has a prettier ass? The red 208 or the white Fiesta? Hmmmm.
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On second thought, I can think of no other B segment hatch that has LED tail lamps as sexy as this. Those 3 curved lines …. reminds me of what you’d find on a guy’s back after a rough night with a French vixen.
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Nor would you find another car in the segment with DRLs as provocative as this.
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Other areas include 17″ wheels for the 3 door while the 5 door gets 16″.
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Performance
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Nothing conclusive but rumors seem to point to one engine variant being offered and it’s not a turbocharged unit. The 208 is likely to get the relatively problem-free 1.6litre VTi engine as found in the 308 VTi, serving 120bhp and 160Nm of torque (pretty much on par with the Fiesta’s 120PS/152Nm output). The engine is mated to the same 4 speed gearbox as found in the 308 and unlike the 308 (which we have tested HERE), the 208 should benefit from the lighter weight, thereby giving better power. Until the official launch, we don’t have any official 0-100kph nor top speed numbers.
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Cabin Convenience
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And this is probably where the 208 makes its biggest case. The 3 door comes with panoramic roof which has a blue light rail that lights up like this:-
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Not sure if we can choose the color or not though but guys, if you wanna create that romantic moment, no other Peugeot gives you the ambiance as this.
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Also rarely seen in this segment is a touchscreen head unit. Too bad it does not come with GPS. The sound system has Arkamys processing and is relayed trough a 6 speaker system.
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3 door buyers can also expect semi bucket seats that looks semi leather, semi fabric.
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Small little car also gets dual zone air conditioning. Not bad.
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The meters looks easy enough to read. I’m guessing the blue line we see in the center corresponds to the rail lights.
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Ownership and Maintenance.
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No one knows for certain how much each variant costs but if I were to guess, I’d say the 3 door would be slightly higher than the 5 door …. and prices is said to be north of RM90k which is certainly a whole lot more than, say a Fiesta and encroaches into the VW Polo Sport which are the 208’s closest rivals. Looking at how Peugeot models are being offered here in Malaysia, a 5 year warranty with unlimited mileage is almost a sure thing.
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So, between a 208, Polo Sport and a Fiesta, which would you pick?
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13 Comments
WOW. Now that is a Fiesta killer maybe? We need the FL Fiesta with MyKey and all
Between a Fiesta or the 208? Definitely a 208…even though dynamically a Fiesta is better..
Err…isnt the new Rio a worthy car to compete too?
kenso only states between a polo, 208 and fiesta, so among them i would had chosen the pug. maybe kenso just want to compare it to other continentals.
Alphawolf is right, the comparison is more against similar segment continentals only. If we take into account the Rio, then we also have to factor in the Suzuki Swift, Mazda 2 and of course, the Perodua MyVi … and I have a feeling the 208’s main competitors aren’t going to be these asian-made cars
ops. i thought you had directed the question at me. my bad. rio is a good car too.
Interesting insight, thanks for that Kenso. I have been waiting to get behind the wheel of the 208 for a while and once I did get there, I was kinda disappointed. I know its different strokes for different folk, so I’ll keep this brief. There is no doubt that the 208 murders the previous 207 for on-road abilities,but the plain truth is it just doesn’t have enough grip in the corners to inspire confidence and it isn’t particularly agile either. Surprising for me at least, is how much it leans If you enter a corner at higher than average speeds. I have driven the 1.6 Litre 120 Hp VTI variant, albeit on an 8 mile test drive but it just didn’t feel composed on the road, truth is, handling wise it’s not as composed as a Ford Fiesta or VW Polo. It kind of wallows along…..
The 1.6-petrol 120bhp feels to be more refined in the 208 than found in the 308 and is great I would imagine if pottering around town, but on the highway it didn’t seem to have enough grunt and it often required a couple of downshifts to carry out normal overtaking manoeuvres. It also felt like it needed another gear on the highway. Gear changes were smooth though (five speed manual). I have heard that the automatics are a bit notchy and that Peugeot are already working on software upgrades.
Going back to the question you posed at the end of your post, if the new Fiesta arrives in town, then I guess that would be what I would go for….
just saw em 208, the 2 door looks sweet.
they’re on 205/45/R17 tyres
4 speed? Y not 6 speed??
Because the engine and gearbox combo is taken off from the 308 VTi. To re-engineer a 6 speed for the VTi engine makes little economic sense unless they’re planning to roll it out to all non-turbo engines
looking forward for a test drive review, as well as comparison with the 208’s competitors
and oh my for tall ppl, when the steering is adjusted to suit our height it blocks the view of the meter panel. how did pug overlook this? and what a puny glovebox. anyway it has a awesome sound system. perfect and fail at the same time!
you’re supposed to adjust the steering wheel lower. viewing of the meters is above the wheel now as compared to traditional designs where you look through the wheel.