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" For anyone vaguely interested in cars during the 1980s, Peugeot&amp;#039;s 205 hatch was the French manufacturers icon made even more so by its success on the World Rally Championship scene and especially in its fabled Group B guise. And whilst succeeding 206 and 207 models were sales successes they didn&amp;#039;t achieve the same levels unbridled praise and fan base that the 205 did. Well, I think the new 208, available in boththree- and five-door formats, could be capable of carrying on where the 205 left off.  In an era where successive models inexorably grow, Peugeot&amp;#039;s engineers have managed the neat trick of chopping 2.7 inches off the car&amp;#039;s overall length whilst increasing interior cabin space by 1.9 inches and improving truck volume by half a cubic foot. It&amp;#039;s a neat trick that rivals ought to take heed of. As a result the cabin is a roomy, airy environment to be in. The downside is that the designers have given the 208 what looks like a comically small steering wheel that, no matter how I adjusted its rake, the upper rim obscured the speedometer upto the 30 mph increments as well as the trip meter. Good job, then, for the digital speedo located between the two main dials.  With engine downsizing all the vogue in Europe, Peugeot has joined others in developing a three-cylinder engine: 1.2-liters, 82 bhp at 5750 rpm and 87 lbs.-ft. of torque at 2750. It&amp;#039;s a remarkably smooth, well-balanced power unit that&amp;#039;s insulated from the occupants, so there&amp;#039;s none of that distinctive three-cylinder beat you get from Ford or VW&amp;#039;s three-potters unless you really wind it up and, even then, it remains muted. Of course, the downside of these fuel sippers is that as you demand more power, so the fuel economy \u2013 which is engine&amp;#039;s main selling point \u2013 tumbles southwards. The ride, though, on optional 16 inch wheels, was as good as I can remember from Peugeot with that, almost, uncanny, ability to soak up poor surfaces, manhole covers and the like whilst still delivering high levels of cornering ability.  On the negative side is electric power steering that is lifeless at commuting and low speeds with no feedback and excessive assistance. It cures itself as speed increases, but those early miles on the test route through Manchester left me less than impressed. What emphasised it even more was brief drive in a diesel engined version where the heavier weight over the front wheels markedly improved the steering dynamics. Peugeot is, rightly, pinning big hopes on its little hatch and the hot variant should be well worth the wait with all the promise that it will inherit the genes of its renowned forebear, the 205 GTi of 30 years ago. Related posts:  2012 Peugeot 208 Revealed 2012 Peugeot 208 XY and GTi Concepts Driven: 2012 Renault Twizy  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/a21950/driven-2012-peugeot-208-36205/>