Peugeot 108 review

The new Peugeot 108 is designed for city driving. Fun, affordable and available in a choice of four trim options – as well as a cabrio model with retractable fabric roof – this compact yet chic car is sure to appeal to you if you’re looking for a more stylish way to commute to work. So what else does it have to offer?

Exterior

Less boxy than some of its rivals, the Peugeot 108 has sleek lines and stylish looks that make a great first impression. With its signature Peugeot ‘floating’ front chrome grille and LED daytime running lights, it boasts a lower roofline than the Hyundai i10 and measures 3,455mm bumper to bumper, making it considerably more compact than the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Up!

Choose the 108 TOP with its electrically-operated retractable fabric roof (available in 3 colours), or personalise your model of choice with one of 8 paint finishes and 7 personalisation themes.

Available in 3-door or 5-door models and 4 trim levels, it’s easy to see why the majority of buyers opt for the entry-level access trim, which still comes with its fair share of kit such as electric windows and USB connectivity. You could have a hard time deciding which trim level to go for, with Active, Allure and Feline options also on offer. Our choice has to be the Allure, available as a 3 or 5-door option, with keyless entry, 15” alloy wheels, auto headlights and reversing camera – great for squeezing into even the tiniest city centre parking space.

Interior

Peugeot has outdone itself with the interior of the 108, which boasts a more high-end feel than the 107. The robust, stylish design of the cabin features a dash with central 7” touchscreen, while the air conditioning will keep you cool all year round (Active models and up). Whilst there’s no sat-nav option, the infotainment system features Bluetooth, aux-in and USB connectivity for your smartphone or music player, with a Mirror Link function for Android devices, allowing you to utilise your phone as a sat-nav.

A leather steering wheel and adjustable height driver’s seat add to the cabin’s comfort, with 6 interior options to choose from. Opt for Feline spec, and you’ll get black leather seats too.

Peugeot’s latest offering may be compact, but it can still seat four adults, although the lack of a rear central seatbelt means the 108 isn’t suitable for five people. 50:50 split folding rear seats come as standard in all models except the entry-level Access, whilst on 3-door models the front seats include a handy memory function; after tilting them to let passenger into the back, they return to their original position.

As you might expect from a compact city car, boot space isn’t enormous, but do without the (optional) spare wheel and you’ll find the Peugeot 108 offers a 196-litre capacity. The boot lip has also been lowered by 20mm compared to the 107, making it easier to load heavy shopping or luggage.

On the road

With its soft suspension and supportive seats, the Peugeot 108 is comfortable to drive both in the city and on rural roads, and it’s definitely an improvement on the 107 when it comes to refinement at speed, with noticeably reduced wind and road noise. Its small body and light control ensures this compact car really excels at city driving.

With a choice of two petrol engines – a 1.0-litre three-cylinder 68hp and a 1.2-litre PureTech 82hp – there’s no diesel option available. We’d recommend the 1.0-litre for trips around town or picking the kids up from school, whilst for motorway driving or more rural roads, the 1.2 excels. Both engines boast similar fuel efficiency, so make your choice based on the type of driving you expect to do.

Our model of choice, the 1.2-litre, takes 15.9 seconds from 50-70mph in top gear, with a five-speed manual gearbox and fuel economy of 65.7mpg (CO2 emissions of 99g/km). This is the engine we’d recommend for anybody planning on driving at high speeds, although if you’re more concerned about green credentials, the smaller engine has an Active Stop & Start option with CO2 emissions of 88g/km and fuel economy of 74.3mpg. Go green with this option and you’ll only pay around £250 more than for the standard 1.0-litre engine – a worthwhile investment if you spend a lot of time commuting.

With both versions exempt from road tax, insurance for the 108 should be relatively affordable, starting from Group 6 for the 1.0-litre 3-door Access through to Group 11 for the 1.2-litre Feline.

Safety is always a priority for city driving, and the 108 doesn’t disappoint, gaining a four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, with six airbags and stability control as standard. Additional safety features include ISOFIX child seat mountings, a City Braking system and lane departure warnings (Allure and Feline models).

Our verdict

Ideal for couples, commuters and younger families, the new Peugeot 108 is compact, fun and affordable, with a range of personalisation options, plenty of kit and a three-year (60,000 mile) warranty.

Peugeot also offer a Just Add Fuel contract for this car. A monthly repayment scheme to cover all your motoring costs (apart from fuel), and the opportunity to own it at the end of the three year contract if you opt for the ‘purchase’ option.
Resale values are predicted to be competitive, with a list price ranging from £8,445 for the 3-door Access to £12,795 for the 5-door Feline.

For more information on the Peugeot 108 or any of our other new cars and vans, get in touch with your local Perry’s dealershiptoday!