You won’t need a heart monitor for this racy little number. The 208 GTI is not a bum nipping, scary hot-hatch. The new Peugeot is more korma than vindaloo. But do not despair, it handles a treat and the performance is all the more usable for that.
Instead of the frantic Ford Fiesta ST or red hot Renault Clio 200 Turbo, the Peugeot is more of a pacifist. It is kinder and softer to your nether regions than either of the former. The suspension is more supple and the wheels are ‘modest’ 17 inchers, so at least they’ve got some air-filled rubber wrapped around them.
In fact it looks a lot faster than it goes. That’s not to say the 200 hp 1.6 Turbo is a slouch, it does get off its mark quite sharply with the turbo adding a good deal more whoosh once it catches up. That also means it’s pretty nifty at nipping past slower traffic on country roads. With the turbo spinning you probably won’t need to drop a gear to get past tractors and lorries, but the resultant oomph is all the more satisfying if you do.
It’s only when you are at the bottom of the rev range that turbo lag is noticeable, but the word ‘noticeable’ should be taken quite literally here. That’s all it is. The vast majority of folk won’t notice any hesitancy at all, only those used to the more fiery response from the more serious hot hatches. The big advantage here is that this softer approach will catch fewer people out. Stamping on the loud pedal out of corners will reduce the velocipede’s desire to trim the hedges on the outside of the bend!
But as I said, it looks quicker, and that’s down to the slightly wider front and rear track, bodykit and the little chrome and red-trim highlights, and that’s before you get to the inside.
The first thing that grabs your attention is the low-slung steering wheel. The high-set sports seat had me reaching for the steering column adjuster, only to find it was already raised to its highest point. And maybe that’s why the steering wheel has a flat bottom and is not round all the way round, if you see what I mean. All the better to accommodate those with a paunch, but for those who prefer the ‘Touring Car’ sit-up set-up, forget it.
Not my ideal location, but the red trim round the dials and dash soon takes your mind off such trivialities. Red stitching on the leather, piano black on the centre console and the other shiny highlights create a pleasing interior that is on the bright and tinselly side of good taste. And as for the garish red band at the 12 o’clock position on the small, cuddly leather rim wheel, I don’t know who that would appeal to. It’s just annoying. If someone has to use that to tell them which way they are pointing then they shouldn’t be allowed out on their own, never mind in charge of a car.
I suppose it was never designed to appeal to an old codger anyway, but to those who say it’s not a proper GTI, well they’re wrong. It’s the quickest one yet. Cast your mind back to the original 1.9 litre 205 GTI which first saw the light of day nearly 30 years ago in 1984. It had 130 bhp and a 0 to 60 time of 7.8 seconds which was considered outrageous for a so-called family saloon at that time. This latest evocation of the breed has 200 bhp and will sprint from rest to 60 in 6.7 seconds. And if you’re flat out in the new car, you will be going 20 mph quicker than you did when Thatcher ruled and Filofaxes predated the mobile phone.
The 206 and the 207 GTIs never really matched the promise and potential of the first one, but this lasts model makes a decent stab at putting Peugeot back in the mix when it comes to choosing a compact and quick car.
Like other real hot hatches this is a joy to drive, but comfortable to ride as well. This is an everyday hot hatch that is as smooth to drive in heavy stop/start traffic jams as it is on the open road. And it won’t terrify the mother in law.
I really liked it, but it’s not for me, not unless I can tone down the decoration.