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Little hatches became popular in the 60’s and 70’s with the Mini and the Golf brands. In line with this trend, French manufacturer Peugeot produced the then popular 205, and the 205 GTi in the 1980’s. French flare, enhanced suspension, sports kit and a wicked engine under the hood, proved to be a recipe for success and one which placed the European manufacturer on the map in this segment.

We hit 2013, and so the legend returns with the new 208 GTi from the Peugeot stable. The descendant of the 205 icon boasts some grand new features, but we’ll get to that, right now let’s chat about the experience.

I literally had a smile on my face every time I pressed my foot on that pedal. The 208 GTi glides into action and takes control of the road like a cheeky teenager who doesn’t realise how short they are. But man, oh man, can that car move. The engine is the 1.6 turbo mini engine but tuned up to 147kW/275Nm, with a claim of 0 – 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds – although to be honest, I didn’t test that out. All this, packed into a compact little 3 door hatch, which is light weight, and has a striking design.

Design

The 208 GTi is gifted in the looks department. Although small in stature, it has a broader front and rear track, which creates an aggressive stance along with enhanced wheel arches. Also from a design perspective, there are a number of small details which elevate the look of this vehicle to a very classy and sexy platform. The chrome detail in the front grill; the inset “Peugeot” label under the bonnet just below the badge; the sleek detail of the bonnet; the day light running lights and chrome finish to the fog lights, all pop as you look at the 208 GTi’s façade.

While we’re still on the exterior, the 208 GTi has dramatic alloy wheels and tinted windows as standard, which add to the appeal.

Inside the cabin you are confronted with a smooth and sophisticated look with hints of sporty sass throughout. I particularly liked the small, racing steering wheel which made controlling the car a lot of fun. The trim is half leather as a standard feature, and there is leather detail on the dash and door panelling as well. Colour splashes fading from a racy red to black on the panelling and centre console is just one more detail which sets this interior apart - Red on black motif really gives the cabin of the 208 GTi a sports look and feel.

Technology

The tech is often my favourite aspect of a new car, aside from the power, the new Peugeot offers everything you want, while not over doing it in order to keep the weight down. The full function touch screen, allows you to control everything from syncing your smart phone, to the radio and media player at a touch. The entertainment system can also be controlled from the multifunction steering wheel.  

An amazing feature, which unfortunately I didn’t test out is the use of ultrasonic sensors for the automatic parallel parking system. Yes you heard me, automatic. You push a button and the 208 GTi takes over. The system determines if the parking space is adequate, and then performs the parking for you, with the driver only managing the accelerator and brake. I was heartbroken after realising I’d forgotten to give this a go.

What I liked:

- It goes without saying that had I tried the automatic parking function, I would have loved it.

- The interior is sporty and accommodating – I didn’t even notice the compact size of the cabin.

- Performance – speechless… it just goes!

Not so hot:

- The only thing I thought was odd, was that the combination of my seat setting and the steering wheel setting meant the top of the steering wheel was right in my line of site, obstructing the dials. I had my seat all the way down and all the way back, and the steering wheel up and out.

What more is there to say, but go out and try it? If nothing else you’ll enjoy the test drive, and at best you’ll become a convert.

Comparing the 208 GTi to its peers:

Peugeot website