Peugeot 206 GTi 180 2003 Review

What we liked
>> Great road-holding and handling
>> Smooth torquey engine
>> Could handle more power

Not so much
>> Poor driving position
>> Notchy gear shift
>> Could handle more power

OVERVIEW
Peugeot's 206 hatch has been a global success in both showrooms and rallying, and Peugeot's reputation for building driver's cars has been further enhanced. the French carmaker has always had a hot hatch in the lineup, and now as a means of building a stronger connection between the rally success and the road car, the GTi gets a 180hp (133kW) performance boost.

Based on the 2.0-litre four cyclinder engine, the GTi 180's engine ups power and torque over the standard GTi 2.0-litre by 30kW and 20Nm to 133kW - or 180hp in the old money, hence the tag - and 202Nm. Enough power, according to Peugeot, to shift the little three-door from 0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds.

Apart from the engine, the GTi 180 features a modified suspension and five-speed gearbox, more equipment and a full body kit.

The 206GTi 180 goes on sale in Australia in October 2003, and will add about an extra $5000 to the cost of the standard GTi, We expect a price of $35,000.

FEATURES
Outside, the GTi 180 is distinguished by a rear spoiler mounted on the top of the rear hatch, twin chrome-plated tailpipes and big 17-inch alloy wheels shod with Pirelli 205/40 tyres.

Inside, the sporty theme continues with big body hugging leather seats in the front while the rear seat eschews the three positions of the rest of the range with just two individually sculpted positions. There is also plenty of cosmetic enhancements such as a leather trimmed instrument cover and steering wheel, aluminium pedals and gearshift knob and plenty of chrome and carbon fibre highlights.

The GTi 180 is not all sporty show however, and apart from the changes to the engine to increase power and torque, the suspension and transmission have been modified. The rear suspension is shared with the forthcoming 206 SW wagon but features stiffer springs, two torsion bars and retuned dampers. The gearbox is still a five speed - Peugeot wanted a six-speed but packaging restrictions under the bonnet ruled it out - the ratios have been altered to give it a longer first gear.

MECHANICAL
While the 206 GTi 180 has obviously had a styling makeover, it is the mechanical changes that are at the heart of its increased sportiness. Chief among these has been modifying the 2.0-litre 16 valve DOHC four cylinder engine to boost power and torque to 130kW and 202Nm. Through the application of variable valve timing, changes to the crank to enable a maximum engine speed of 7300rpm, a remapped engine control unit and modified exhaust, the GTi 180's engine delivers 30kW of power and 22Nm of torque more than the standard GTi 2.0-litre.

The other main area that came under scrutiny was the suspension, which uses two torsion bars on the rear, bigger front and rear anti-roll bars and stiffer springs and shock absorbers. Peugeot remains one of the few car-makers to manufacture its own shocks which allows to very specifically tailor their operation for each model.

COMFORT
From the moment you open the doors of the GTi 180, there is no doubt you are getting into a sporty car. The big body-hugging leather and mock suede seats resemble racing pews right down to a design that looks like it could accommodate a five point harness.

But while the seats themselves are comfortable, getting a good driving position is not easy. The steering wheel only adjusts for rake and unless you have short legs, there isn't enough length in the floor to sit comfortably. Given our past experience in the rest of the 206 range, once the car is in right hand drive, the positioning of the pedals also makes for a slightly awkward driving position.

In the rear, Peugeot opted for just two seats, although it still uses the frame from the standard car and so offers a 60/40 split back to increase the size of the luggage area.

Sitting at top end of the range, the car is well equipped with fully automatic climate control, power windows and mirrors, a single in-dash CD sound system, automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor and automatic headlights.

SAFETY
On the active safety front, the 206 GTi 180 excels with a suspension tune that delivers a very solid and firmly grounded drive. The big, low-profile Pirelli tyres provide lots of grip and there is plenty of feedback to the driver of exactly what is going on at the road surface.

Just in case you push too hard, there are also the electronic aids of ESP and anti-lock brakes on the four discs. The ESP is very well tuned so as not to be too intrusive and can be switched off. It also incorporates emergency brake assist which not only applies the brakes when it detects an urgent action on the pedal from the driver, but also activates the hazard warning lights to let other drivers know the car is braking suddenly.

Passive safety is also well catered for with dual front and side chest/head airbags mounted in the front seat backs. The seat belts are fitted with pre-tensioners and belt force limiters and all four head restraints are adjustable.

COMPETITORS
It seems there has been a plethora of hot hatches coming onto the market lately with small sporty models from Ford, Holden and Toyota. Add to that the existing Euros like VW Golf GTi and Renault Clio Sport and the 206 GTi 180 is up against a fair whack of competition in what is a relatively small market niche.

Price-wise, it will sit in about central position undercut by the Corolla Sportivo and Clio Sport but cheaper than the Astra SRi turbo, Focus ST170 and Golf GTi. Power-wise it's a similar story with the little Pug offering more kiloWatts than the Golf, Focus and Clio but outgunned by the Astra and Corolla.

Numbers aren't everything and in this market much of the appeal comes down to the overall driving package. Here Peugeot's experience in developing superior chassis dynamics could come into play and without having driven the rivals back to back, the 206 GTi 180 may well be close to the top of the class.

ON THE ROAD
The view from the outside promises a sporty drive and once on the road the little Pug delivers. Flatten the right foot and the car pulls away strongly - it's not a rocket off the line but the engine delivers a smooth linear surge that keeps going right through to the 7300rpm redline.

Hot hatches aren't in the market for straight line speed and once you get onto the twisty bits, the 206 really shines. It feels very solid and firmly planted on the road, with superb feedback through the nicely weighted engine-speed variable power steering.

Push it hard into a corner and at the extreme, it will start to understeer but ease off slightly and the grip from the big tyres quickly pulls it back into line. The steering is not quite Alfa-sharp but still provides a direct and responsive line to the front wheels.

While the handling provides plenty of confidence to push on, the ride remains surprisingly comfortable. There is no doubt it is firm but it doesn't transmit harsh bumps like some hot hatches.

The only let down in the driving stakes is the gearshift. Although it is a shorter throw than the standard car, it is still a bit notchy and ill-defined and requires a degree of concentration for quick shifts.

BOTTOM LINE: A noticeable step up in handling and performance at a fair price

Peugeot didn't invent the hot hatch -- that was Volkswagen with its Golf GTi -- but it's certainly helped make the style popular with top-selling models like the 205 GTi. While Peugeot has lost some ground recently with its current 100kW GTi, the pumped-up 180 version puts the French maker back in the hot hatch game, with a host of engine, suspension and styling improvements that add $5000 to the base GTi's price.

Externally, the 206 GTi180 looks the part with big 17-inch alloys, twin exhaust pipes, and rear roof spoiler that add to an already attractive three-door body. The sporty theme continues inside with two large, well-bolstered sports seats up front, classy leather and mock suede trim, alloy gear knob and pedals, and stylish white on black instruments.

But the main change is the reworked 2.0-litre, 16 valve, DOHC four-cylinder engine which now pumps out 130kW at 7000rpm and 202Nm at 4750rpm -- 30kW and 12Nm more than the lesser GTi.

Around a second faster to 100kmh -- from 8.6 to 7.4secs -- the more potent engine responds with gusto, offering ample torque off idle for swift around town commuting. While the rorty engine works best in the upper range between 4000rpm and the 7200rpm redline, flooring the pedal results in a steady rather than neck-snapping surge.

The five-speed manual 'box has closer ratios and shorter throws to help keep the little Pug on the pace, although the shifts feel rubbery and imprecise particularly when rushed.
Our best efforts to win the traffic light sprints obviously had an affect on fuel consumption, but we still managed 12.5l/100km during mostly suburban driving.

A hot hatch is best judged on its cornering ability, and the pumped-up Pug certainly excels in the tight stuff, with little body roll and high levels of grip. Stiffer springs and shocks, thicker anti-roll bars, uprated bushes, and grippy Pirelli tyres, serve to make it well-mannered and predictable in corners.

Push hard and the tendency is to understeer, but lifting off the throttle mid-corner is less of a problem than in the standard GTi. Traction control and ESP (it can be turned off) provide added security without spoiling the fun.

While the power steering is on the heavy side for domestic duties, get out on some fast back roads and it lightens up considerably, while offering good feedback through the front tyres.

Likwise, the suspension tune initially felt too firm, transmitting even the smallest road ripples into the cabin. But it's more compliant than some small Euro cars with an ability to soak up the bigger potholes.

The only other niggles in an otherwise impressive driving package were pedals set too close together, and steering wheel too far away even with the seat adjusted correctly. The boot provides reasonable luggage space, but there's just two, albeit well-contoured, seats in the back and tyre foam in lieu of a spare tyre.

Far from a minor makeover, the '180' upgrade offers a noticeable step-up in performance and handling from the standard version. At around $35,000 it's good value compared to its main rivals.