How it performs in a crash may not be the top of everyone’s priority list but clearly Peugeot 208 GTi safety was an important consideration for the manufacturer. In the EuroNCAP tests the regular 208 achieved five stars, the car’s standard-fit driver-set speed limiter coming in for special note.

Peugeot 208 GTi practicality is on a par with its main rivals. It’s actually 7cm shorter than the 207 GTi that came before it, but that change in stature hasn’t been achieved at the expense of cabin or luggage space. In fact the boot is 11 litres larger than that of the RenaultSport Clio at 311 litres in total – and the Peugeot fits in a full-size alloy spare wheel as well.

It’s a three-door only, so while the larger front opening does a decent job at providing access to the rear, it’s not ideal for families. Once there though, children will fit without problem, unlike anyone approaching six-foot whose headroom will be cut short by the sloping roofline.

Small rear side windows restrict rear passenger’s views out too, making the panoramic glass roof a worthwhile option.