A week after the Toyota Aygo passed our test, here we have its half-sibling, the Peugeot 108. Peugeot, Citroen and Toyota, this trifle of city cars has been produced together in Cologne since 2005. A light spring facelift moves this, already the second generation of city cars, again a step further.
The mentioned Aygo was tested for you by my colleague Martin, so I had to make do with the Peugeot. Our experiences and insights with these half-siblings are therefore conveyed to you from two, of course, independent perspectives.
At first glance, I have to state that the original intergenerational leap "one hundred and eight" clearly benefited, it now looks a lot more aggressive, mainly thanks to its front part, its headlights, the structure of which it took a look at from its larger factory siblings. The tested car had Calvi blue metallic paint, which elegantly contrasts with the chrome, which is most noticeable in the front area around the grille of the front mask, or in the place of the fog lights. The side and rear profile of the car are unfortunately not that interesting anymore and are carried in the spirit of great simplicity and rounded curves.
What gave the tested vehicle a certain originality and sex appeal was the canvas sunroof, which is quite prominent when looking at the vehicle and thus pleasantly enlivens it. And that's only good in the end, because, for example, when compared to the Ayge, the exterior of the Peugeot 108 is a bit boring. For example, when you think of the exterior of the Peugeot 5008 or the new 508, it's a pretty weak concoction.
As for the interior, we don't have to compare so much between the Cologne siblings, because it is quite identical. The interior does not look valuable at all, but it is nevertheless imaginative and playful, as is usually the case with cars of this category. A kind of segment containing the body of the steering rod itself is inserted into the dashboard, on which a circular speed indicator is placed, which has a small circular digital display in the middle, providing basic information about driving. Furthermore, this circular speedometer is equipped on one side with a tachometer (whose reporting capabilities are difficult to comment on) and on the other side with an indicator for a suitable shift. The mentioned segment also includes a kind of "alien head", which incorporates a seven-inch touch screen of on-board infotainment (supporting Android Auto or Apple Car Play), a controller for warning lights and complete climate control. The center panel features a pair of drink holders, a classic manual gear selector and a classic handbrake. The huge currency of the entire interior of the tested car was clearly the extra chargeable sunroof. You will be pleased with its overall simple processing, both externally and internally, and the same applies to its control. The extent of its opening is also worthy of praise, even occasional passengers in the back seats will enjoy the sun overhead to their heart's content. The space on the back seats and in the luggage compartment is really modest. The prioritization of space in the front positions is clearly visible and quite logical.
The car, similarly to its Cologne siblings, does not have a classic fifth door, the entire glass part of the rear part of the car can be folded out here. It will take you a while to get used to the control of the tilting of this glazing, at first it is not completely logical.
The Peugeot 108 is offered with only one power unit. It is an engine with a volume of less than a liter and a power of 53 kW. The car we tested was also equipped with a manual five-speed gearbox. The absence of certain doping in the form of turbocharging makes it quite lazy at low revs. The recipe for a more nimble ride, that is, if you require it, is appropriate and frequent shifting. On the other hand, once it starts spinning, it can roll along the highway at 150 km/h. However, it is clear that this is a city car, and here this liter engine is really enough for this car. The consumption, which during the weekly test was around the value of 4.8 l/100km, also became pleasant.
The Peugeot 108 is therefore a suitable candidate for the urban environment, here it feels like a fish in water. Compared to its cologne competition, it unfortunately seems a little settled, but that is a matter of taste for each of us. Its biggest drawback, in my opinion, is the purchase price. The basic price of the five-door model in ACTIVE equipment starts at 220,000 CZK including VAT. The car tested by us in TOP equipment! The ALLURE, which also had heated front seats, automatic air conditioning, tinted rear windows, a reverse parking camera and a retractable roof, costs CZK 317,000 including VAT. The current promotional offer slightly lowers its purchase price and you can purchase it for just 265,000 CZK including VAT.
Enough with the math, if the one hundred and eight appealed to you, I assume that it is mostly due to its external appearance, the version with a canvas roof looks really cool, and you don't have a problem with the higher purchase price, go for it.
