What is it?
Meet the perky little Pug that sits at just under R260,000 but offers percolating performance you’d associate with something a fair bit dearer. We’re still in enthusiastic yapping territory here rather than full-blown barking, ‘tis merely a 1199cc three-cyl after all, blown by means of forced aspiration to the tune of 81kW and 205Nm.
If this was 1985 we’d be in hot hatch territory. But it isn’t so we’re not and that’s okay because there are two rare things here; engagement and chuckable fun with an albeit slightly mushy 5-speed manual gearbox and a suspension that flirts with the firm side. I’m not talking about stirring of viscera as much as widening of grin which at this price is very much appreciated. You’ll trot to 100kph in 9.6 seconds, less impressive unless you’re the getting there is half the fun sort.
Hmm… Looks fast
Visually, it benefits from the tinsel of motorsport – that’s the Allure trim peppered with the Equalizer grille (cousin of The Punisher?) in gloss black and licked with red detailing and GT Line badges. In fact there are several of these badges on and around the 208 you’ll be glad to hear, in case someone mistakes yours for the garden variety. The gloss black treatment too adorns fog lamp shells and mirror surrounds as well as features on the bi-tonal 17″ Caesium diamante alloy wheels.
Find out more next week after our full evaluation of what is a great pocket rocket. Where the pocket in question is really, really small.
Peugeot 208 1.2L GT Line Specs:
| Price | R259,900.00* |
| Engine | 1199cc, turbo petrol, inline 3-cylinder |
| Power | 81kW |
| Torque | 205Nm |
| 0-100kph | 9.6sec |
| Top Speed | 190kph |
| Emissions | 104g/km |
| Economy | 4.5l/100km |
*Includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty and 3 year/45 000km service plan.
