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The 208 is Peugeot’s best-selling car in Europe but now the French firm has set about making its popular supermini even better with a mid-life refresh.
The facelift applies to both the petrol-powered 208 and the all-electric e-208 (pictured), which both launched back in 2019. This refresh will come right on cue to help keep the car relevant in the tough supermini sector. The Vauxhall Corsa shares the same Stellantis group CMP platform as the Peugeot 208 (or e-CMP in case of the electric versions) and was facelifted this year, while close rival the Renault Clio, has also just been updated.
Peugeot has previously said the next-generation of the 208 will be electric-only, so this is the last time we’ll see an internal-combustion engine in a new version of the French firm’s supermini.
The big change for the 208 facelift, on the outside at least, is the new headlight design. There’s still a ‘claw’ headlight signature but they’ve been shifted outwards to make the car appear wider - just like the new 2008. A new front end also features with Peugeot’s updated logo and body-coloured accents within the grille.
To the rear we can see a new rear light signature with horizontal, rather than vertical, LED strips. Two out of the seven exterior colours are new - Agueda Yellow and Selenium Grey, plus new 16- and 17-inch alloy wheel designs have been added.
The trim level structure remains the same with Active as the entry-level, Allure as the mid-spec and GT sitting as the range-topper. Inside, 208 Active buyers will find an analogue instrument cluster with a 3.5-inch colour screen where Allure and GT versions get a 10-inch digital screen. GT further gains a 3D display as standard and drivers can customise the layout with different colours or information.
A 10-inch central touchscreen replaces the old seven-inch unit across all models. On Allure and GT models the screen gets improved resolution and Peugeot’s latest i-Connect infotainment system. While the 208 stops short of introducing the 308’s ‘i-toggles’, there are toggle switches under the screen to work the climate control functions.
In terms of powertrains we’ll see some new offerings with mild-hybrid technology in this revised 208. Two mild-hybrid PureTech petrol cars will be available - with 100bhp or 136bhp. Power is sent through a six-speed automatic gearbox mated to an electric motor. Peugeot says the hybrids will have up to 15 per cent lower fuel consumption.
Carried over from the pre-facelift car will be the 75bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with the five-speed manual transmission and the 99bhp version with a six-speed manual ‘box.
The all-electric Peugeot e-208 retains the recent updates from late 2022 when it got improved range from a new battery. The 51kWh battery is now capable of providing up to 248 miles of range. All e-208 models get a three-phase 11kW charger but the EV can also take 100kW rapid charging - allowing for a 20-80 per cent recharge in under 25 minutes.
Peugeot is yet to reveal pricing for the new 208 but expect a small increase in the standard car’s £20,610 and the e-208’s £31,595 starting price tags.
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