Peugeot 108 (2014-2021) Review

Small, economical and with the option of a big fabric sunroof, the Peugeot 108 is also a used bargain

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Nippy around town with good visibility
  • Good value in Active trim
  • Very cheap at one year old
  • The 1-litre engine lacks power out of town
  • Less interior space than rivals
  • Loses value quickly from new

Peugeot 108 prices from £8,267   Finance from £150.69 per month

Small and economical, the Peugeot 108 is unashamedly designed for the city, where its compact dimensions make it ideal for nipping through traffic and squeezing into a tight parking space.

Its cheap to insure, too, so it's an appealing choice if you're a new driver on a budget. Used Peugeot 108 prices start from just  £4,547 on BuyaCar, with monthly finance dropping below £90 for relatively low mileage 2015 and 2016 models. Pre-registered deals are available too, from as little as   for a 2020 model, some way off the £12,665 list price. It might not look as cute or distinctive as the Fiat 500, but the iconic Italian is £2,000 more expensive as a pre-registered option on BuyaCar

The 108 is available as a three-door or a five-door, the latter is more practical for regular users of the rear-seats. There’s also a convertible option, with a folding fabric roof, called the Top, which coms into its own on sunny days. Despite the 108’s small dimensions, the car does have just enough headroom and legroom for two average-size adults to remain fairly comfortable on short journeys at least.

There are only two seatbelts in the back and two sets of Isofix points, which make it easy to secure child seats. However, if their young occupants begin to feel car sick, note that you can’t open the rear windows in the three-door entry-level Access version to give them fresh air. They only pop out on the five-door model to leave a narrow opening. Further back, the 196-litre boot is small, but a low lip makes it easy to load.

The Peugeot 108 doesn’t offer the same amount of interior space that you’ll find in the similarly-priced Volkswagen Up, Skoda Citigo, Seat Mii, Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10. The materials used inside also feel of lower quality too, although equipment levels are reasonable.

Since the middle of 2018, all new 108 models have been fitted with a seven-inch touchscreen which, with the exception of entry-level Access cars, includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Older models still have the seven-inch touchscreen (apart from Access cars) but fewer were fitted with CarPlay or Android Auto. Every 108 apart from early Access versions also include air-conditioning and a height-adjustable driver's seat, while higher-specification Allure cars have a reversing camera and keyless start as standard. 

On the move, the 108 is less accomplished than the competition. Designed to offer comfort, with a soft ride over speed bumps, and easy driving thanks to its light steering, the 108 makes sense in town. But on faster roads, that steering doesn’t feel very sharp when you change direction, while the soft suspension bounces over bumps and causes the car to lean noticeably in corners.

New models are available with just one engine; a 1-litre petrol engine with a manual or an automatic gearbox. Prior to 2019, you could choose from two petrol engines: a less powerful 1.0 litre and a larger 1.2-litre engine, with better acceleration that makes the 108 a tolerable motorway performer. Expect around 50mpg in real-world conditions, whatever engine you choose, which the same or slightly better than its rivals.

Rivals, including the Hyundai i10 and VW Up feel more stable at speed. Better still, a used small car, such some versions of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa or Volkswagen Polo, are larger, cost little more than a second-hand 108, and provide more comfort, quietness and stability on faster roads.

Larger cars are also likely to prove safer in an accident, although the 108 performs well in crash tests, and was awarded four stars by the independent Euro NCAP safety organisation in 2014, a respectable mark for a city car. However, cars tested more recently must undergo tougher tests, so the four star standard has risen since then.

 

Key facts

Warranty Three years / 60,000 miles
Boot size 196 litres
Width 1615mm
Length 3475mm
Height 1460mm
Tax £125 in first year, £140 thereafter

Best Peugeot 108 for...

Best for Economy – Peugeot 108 Active 1.0 5dr

The 108 will return about 50mpg in real-world driving with the latest 1-litre, 72 horsepower engine. It's good value in Active trim, which has a reasonable level of equipment.

Best for Families – Peugeot 108 Allure 1.2 PureTech 5dr (used)

It's no longer available new but the 1.2-litre 108 is best for full car loads because it has extra power. Allure models come with useful extras, including keyless entry for when your hands are full.

Best for Performance – Peugeot 108 GT Line 1.2 PureTech 5dr

Although no quicker than other 1.2 versions the GT Line (no longer available new) looks it - especially thanks to it racy rear spoiler, special wheels and sporty exhaust finish.

One to Avoid – Peugeot 108 1.0 Access 3dr

Access trim is extremely basic and could be very frustrating in the long-term. Better-equipped Active trim is around £1,700 more when new, but the difference is much less for a used model.

History

  • July 2014 New 108 goes on sale. Range encompasses basic Access, Active, Allure and Feline. Soft-top version called the 108 Top also launched. Engine choice between 1-litre 68hp and 1.2 82hp petrol versions.
  • May 2015 Roland Garros special edition based on Allure model, as an open-roofed Top model in white, or black metallic, paint. Extras include climate control, 15in alloy wheels with orange centre caps, keyless entry and Roland Garros branding
  • 2015 Recall of 108s built in November 2014 launched concerning performance of front bumper in a crash.
  • 2016 Recall of 108s built during September and October 2014 concerning failure of steering column.
  • August 2017 Peugeot 108 Collection launched in five colours with contrasting interiors.
  • May 2018 New, cleaner 1-litre 72hp petrol engine becomes the only power option 

Understanding Peugeot 108 names

Trim level Allure

Each trim level offers a different amount of standard equipment. The cheapest and most basic is called Access and goes up to Collection (GT Line on pre-2019 used cars).

Engine 1.0 PureTech

The size of the engine is shown in litres. In general, larger motors are more powerful. PureTech is the name for Peugeot's latest technology.

Gearbox 2-Tronic

The Peugeot 108 is available with an automatic gearbox called 2-Tronic or a manual gearbox.

Peugeot 108 Engines

1.0 PureTech 72hp
Mid-2018 & earlier engines: 1.0 Puretech 68, 1.2 PureTech 82

The 108 comes with just one engine: a 1.0-litre petrol producing 72 horsepower. It’s nippy and gets the car away promptly from junctions and traffic lights. It's smooth too and emits a burble that sounds quite sporty. You can expect fuel economy of around 50mpg.

The most common cars on the used market use the older Puretech engines. Equa Index figures show that typical fuel economy in normal driving is also around 50mpg; some way off the 65mpg+ of official figures.

If you regularly head outside the city, then the more powerful 82hp 1.2-litre PureTech is a better choice. The last new ones were sold at the end of 2018, so you can still get a reasonably new model.

It's more relaxing to drive on the road, because you have more acceleration when you need it; not just from a standstill but when you’re already travelling at speed. Because it doesn't have to work quite so hard, it’s almost as economical as the smaller engine, with a real-world mpg figure of just under 50mpg.

Whether fitted to the new engine or the older one, the automatic gearbox is not very impressive. It’s slow to react, meaning you push the throttle hard for maximum acceleration and then face a lengthy wait until the car gets into the right gear.

 

Fuel

Official fuel economy

Power

Acceleration (0-62mph)

Top speed

1.0 PureTech 72

Petrol

57mpg

72hp

13.8sec

99mph

1.0 PureTech 68

Petrol

67.3 – 68.9mpg

68hp

13.0 – 15.9s

99mph

1.2 PureTech 82

Petrol

65.7mpg

82hp

10.9s

106mph

Peugeot 108 Trims

Access, Active, Allure, Collection, GT Line

New and used, Access trim is available only with a 1-litre engine and is very basic. It might have front electric windows and a height-adjustable steering wheel but the wheels are steel, the rear seat is a single piece and there’s no radio (there is a USB socket for an external audio device). It’s cheap but you should check out rivals before you buy.

Active is a better choice. It’s available with three and five doors - only the latter has separate back doors for rear occupants. Life’s much better in this trim thanks to air conditioning and a seven-inch touchscreen with digital radio and Bluetooth for connecting your phone wirelessly (new models have more features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). Conveniently, it has a split-fold rear seat that allows you to fold one of the back seats to create more luggage room and leave another up for a passenger. The price is around £1,700 more when new but the premium is far lower for used Peugeot 108s.

Allure trim brings more equipment. Used ones are available with the old 1-litre or 1.2-litre petrol engines but all new versions have the 1-litre 72hp petrol engine, the only engine currently offered. It comes in three and five-door body styles, and introduces alloy wheels, automatic headlights, privacy glass, a colour-reversing camera, keyless entry and start, and a leather-covered steering wheel.

Collection also comes with the old 1.0 and 1.2 engines as well as the new 1.0-litre unit and in both body styles, but looks a little more upmarket and has contrasting colour finishes.

Top-spec GT Line is no longer available new. It’s powered by the 1.2 PureTech engine and has a five-door body (there’s no three-door version). This sportier trim adds touches including a rear spoiler above the back screen, climate control and leather seats.

Peugeot 108 Reliability and warranty

The Peugeot 108 has proven to be reasonably tough and eliable since it was launched. Customers rated the car in the 2017 Auto Express Driver power survey, where it had an average reliability record, with 6 per cent of owners having a problem with their cars.

The warranty is an industry-standard three years. On the other hand, the Toyota Aygo, which is very closely related to it, has a much more impressive five-year warranty.

Used Peugeot 108

When new, the Peugeot 108 is not the cheapest city car you can buy but you'll save money with a used one, as prices plummet and.  Even 2018 cars with low mileage are substantially cheaper than when brand new. Current BuyaCar prices for these models start at £8,267, or from £150.69 per month with finance.

It’s a good age to buy since there’s still two years of warranty remaining and mileages are low. Five-door versions should hold their value better than three-door models.

Older versions are an excellent budget choice, particularly as first cars.  BuyaCar prices for four year-old 108s currently start at £8,267. Finance looks particularly affordable, with monthly payments from £150.69 per month. Access models are the cheapest, but only a few hundred pounds less than the better-equipped Active cars, which are a better option for most customers.

 

 

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

Best for performance Peugeot 108 GT Line 1.2 PureTech 5dr

n/a

Best for families Peugeot 108 Allure 1.2 PureTech 5dr

£8,790

£8,790

£8,790

Best for economy Peugeot 108 Active 1.0 5dr

n/a