Peugeot 208 Hatchback (2012 - 2019) practicality

• Five-star rating from Euro NCAP
• Decent levels of standard safety kit
• Autonomous emergency braking is extra, though

In crash tests by independent safety body Euro NCAP, the Peugeot 208 achieved five stars with positive overall feedback. It’s also worth pointing out this test was conducted in 2012 and the safety standards of superminis has continued to improve since then.

The 208’s safety kit list includes six airbags (two up-front, a pair at the sides and two curtain types) plus two Isofix child seat fixings with three-point attachments in the rear seat.

All 208s feature electronic stability control with anti-skid, electronic brake force distribution, and cornering brake control. The stability system also includes hill start assist, which helps prevent you rolling backwards, and traction control.

Frustratingly you have to pay extra for Active City Brake – Peugeot’s name for its autonomous emergency braking system – as well as the Connect SOS and Assistance system. This automatically contacts the appropriate emergency services in the event of an accident. The system is triggered by airbag deployment and the exact location of the stricken vehicle can be pinpointed by emergency crews.

• Compact exterior; roomy interior
• Boot space suffers compared with larger rivals
• Lack of storage space for odds and ends

Compared with its 207 predecessor, the Peugeot 208 is more spacious and practical, despite its length and height being reduced but 7cm and 1cm respectively.

By making the packaging more efficient, there’s more space on board, allowing four six-foot tall adults to be accommodated easily – providing the headroom-robbing Cielo glass roof isn’t specified.

The front feels especially roomy, in large part because of how the dashboard in front of the passenger is scalloped away.

Given the minimalist look of the 208’s cabin, storage for odds and ends isn’t great and right-hand drive cars have a pathetically small glovebox due to the fusebox taking up about half of its potential volume.

The 208 is a doddle to drive around urban areas thanks to its diminutive dimensions, aided on higher spec models with rear parking sensors.

For an extra fee you can also specify a self-parking function but it’s very easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces anyway.

With the rear seats in place boot space is pegged at 285 litres, increasing to 1,152 litres with the rear seats folded over. You can’t access the release levers to fold the seatbacks from the boot, which makes performing the task irksome on three-door 208s. Be aware the seat doesn’t fold completely flat.

In later years all 208s had a 60:40 split rear seat as standard but this wasn’t the case on early lower-spec models.

It’s not the widest of boot openings either, plus the design means the tail lights encroach into the width of the opening – a point for form over function there.