Reviewed: Peugeot 108

With Peugeot not having a great history among South Africans in the past. The car manufacturer is pursuing to change perceptions in the minds of consumers with its latest models.

According to Peugeot, its aim is to support its consumers better than ever with an improved product and after sales service. With this in mind we had to try and remove all previously set notions of the brand and enjoy this new version of the 108 for what it actually is. Without further adieu, here are our thoughts of the new Peugeot 108.

First things first, lets step inside the 108. Upon entry, the interior of the Peugeot 108 looks and feels comfortable, and one noticeable thing is that over time its petite size starts to grown on you. Or you grow accustomed to it. Either way, its something worth writing home about. There’s no crammed up feeling when you’re in the drivers seat or hailing shotgun.

We quite liked seeing the body colour of the car as it moves into the interior. This broke the black from the dash and seats and made the 108 a little bit more attractive.

In terms of seating arrangement, the Peugeot 108 does limit the size of your rear passengers but a medium sized adult can fit but we wouldn’t see them comfortably seated for a long journey. The boot space is tiny and would only allow for small grocery shopping. However, should you have relatively larger cargo to transport the rear seats can fold to create more space for your goods.

The Peugeot 108 has a pleasantly decent sound system that we were surprised by and is paired up with the easy to use infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but be warned, the much-vaunted touch screen system isn’t as responsive as your phone and the plastics on the dash are cheap and scratchy.

We were particularly pleased with the multi-function steering wheel as it allowed us to control so much without having to let go of the steering wheel. Another thing we couldn’t ignore and was the six airbags that come standard in the vehicle. It’s also important to point out that Peugeot is making safety a priority with all its models moving forward.

We’d best describe the exterior of the Peugeot 108 as cute and will admit that we grew fond in liking its peculiar shape over some time. Our specific review 108 has been fitted with day time running lights and the distinct Peugeot claw like rear lights. The 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated engine is targeted for individuals that have placed fuel efficiency at the top of their needs.

Did You Know?

This new 108 marks the second generation of Peugeot’s tie-up with Citroen and Toyota to build a cost-effective city car. The division of responsibilities means that Toyota has been responsible for much of the engineering, while the PSA Group (Peugeot–Citroen) has been in charge of applying thumbscrews to the suppliers to help reduce costs.

Producing 53kW and 93Nm of torque, the 108 does manage to tick the relevant boxes when it comes to efficiency as we managed to get our average fuel consumption down to 5.1l/100km.

I see Peugeot encapsulating first-time buyers and corporates that are looking to invest in a pool car to run errands in. Coming with a 5-year/100 000km comprehensive service plan and comprehensive warranty, roadside assistance and 24-hour customer care contact centre. This would be a no-brainer for individuals seeking to buy their first car that’s fitted with key safety features, a decent infotainment system and great fuel-efficiency from only R184 900.

The Peugeot 108 not for you liking? Have a look at the Toyota Aygo, Suzuki Celerio or Volkswagen Up