Peugeot 208 GT-Line 2016 Long-term review - 4

Peugeot 208 GT-Line
Long-Term Test (Update #3)

One of the benefits of having a car through the office for more than a few days is that you have time to paw over it and focus on certain elements you may otherwise gloss over. For the Peugeot 208 GT-Line we currently have on long-term test, the most striking single element, for me at least, is the quality and presentation of the car’s interior.

In the Light car segment in which the 208 competes, most competitors feature hard, black plastics, low-grade cloth or ‘leather’ (who are they kidding; we know it’s vinyl) and utilitarian controls and instrumentation designed only to do their job, and little else. There’s no sculpture to their dashboard and door cards, no bolstering of the seats and nothing 'new' or 'daring' that makes you feel invested in your purchase. In short, most Light cars are a head decision.

OK, the GT-Line variant tested is considerably more expensive than the rivals I've prefaced but the fundamentals are common, the higher-spec model offering better upholstery, garnishes and equipment. Even top-spec models elsewhere are usually bolstered only by a better infotainment system, or maybe heated seats.

But look at the Peugeot 208 – really look at it – and you'll notice it's in another league, with its split-tier dashboard seeing the perforated leather steering wheel located beneath the slimline instrument panel.

Travelling in a blizzard, Peugeot's senior designers Yong Wook Sin and Adam Bazydlo discovered the amount of time their eyes were off the road — focussing on speed and navigation directions — which meant less time was spent concentrating on driving. The redesigned dashboard and smaller-diameter steering wheel solved the issue, and unexpectedly improved cabin entry and exit and blood circulation to the driver's arms.

The idea has since gone on to inspire Peugeot dashboard design, the so-called Crysalide Concept initially targeting wellness and fatigue, the model later inspiring the i-Cockpit version 2.0 we'll soon see in production vehicles.

The 208's centre stack, whilst classy, is rather typical of others in the segment, though the height of the infotainment screen makes it easy to sight at a glance. As you move below the centre vents and HVAC controls the cup-holder area seems compromised by the 'weight' of the area above it, the holders themselves suitable only for small cans or bottles – unfortunately there are no bottle holders in the door pockets.

We find the 208's centre console simplistic, but nicely crafted. The handbrake is set low so as not to interfere in normal driving, while the leather-capped gearshift sits higher, falling easily to hand when parking in tight spots. The armrest-cum-storage-tray is perfectly placed to rest one's elbow and folds out of the way when not required – say, when driving more enthusiastically.

The seats are deeply bolstered up front, yet still offer the kind of comfort you're thankful for after hours at the wheel. The sculpting of the seat is such that, once adjusted, you feel supported and comfortable, negating the need to continually fiddle with the recline or other 'adjustables'. Lumbar support is excellent, and the relationship between the driver's head and the head-restraint is spot-on at 10-15 degrees.

Accommodation in the cabin is also rather surprising. The 208 offers enough space for four adults, and considering its dimensions provides decent rear-seat leg and head-room. A shame, then, that the boot is a little on the small side.

I know the 208 hasn't been to everyone's taste during its tenure here at motoring.com.au, but I think it's a car you need to learn to love. It's a good drive on the open road and in spite of a lack of some technology and amenity items, the 208 has the fundamentals well covered.

Add the opulent interior to the deal and it's simply a matter of figuring out where your priorities lie – and if long trips in a comfy cab are top of the tick list, you could certainly do a lot worse.

2016 Peugeot 208 GT-Line pricing and specifications:
Price: $27,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 81kW/205Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.5L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 104g/km (ADR combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked:
>> Forward-thinking dash design
>> Plush, supportive seats
>> Passenger accommodation

Also consider:
>> Renault Clio (from $18,000 plus ORCs)
>> Skoda Fabia (from $17,140 plus ORCs)
>> Suzuki Baleno (from $15,990 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>> Peugeot 208 GT-Line Long-Term Test Introduction
>> Peugeot 208 GT-Line Long-Term Test Update No. 1
>> Peugeot 208 GT-Line Long-Term Test Update No. 2
>> Light Hatch 2016 Comparison