The Peugeot 206

Introduction

The Peugeot 205 was retired from new car sales in the early 1990s, over a prolonged period, and buyers awaited the replacement, the 206, with eager anticipation. The 206 had a lot to live up to. The 205 has a reputation for an excellent blend of handling and ride and a good engine range, coupled with attractive looks and a usefully sized interior.

But the handling and ride combination is just a reputation, and I’ve found that the 206 doesn’t quite live up to this.

By the time the Peugeot 206 arrived on the scene, the game had moved on (with the Mark Four Ford Fiesta to blame) - the 206 does not out-drive the competition in the same way the 205 did when it was released in the early 1980s. Actually for many models the 206 doesn’t come close enough. Still, it does drive well enough for the majority of people and the 206 has certainly proved popular.

Engines

The Peugeot 206 originally came with a choice of three litre petrol engines and a two diesels (one turbocharged). Since launch, the engine range has been bolstered with new additions.

The entry level petrol engine is the PSA group’s smooth 1·1 litre donk that dates back to the 205. This engine offers 60 PS and provides the 206 with adequate performance coupled with decent fuel economy. Furthermore, the engine is smooth and refined, and suits the car well.

The 1·4 litre petrol feels a good deal quicker and offers drivers 75 PS thanks to a hefty increase in torque. The 1·4 is almost as economical as the 1·1, especially on a run. Having experienced both engines, if you intend on getting air conditioning, then the 1·4 is the better engine to have.

Peugeot’s original 1·6 litre engine produced 90 PS, and this has been supplemented by a new 16v version with 110 PS. Of these two engines, the original 8v unit does make for more relaxed progress, whereas the 16v version feels rather peaky in comparison. The 16v is certainly quicker.

Finally, the 206 GTI comes with a lusty 2·0 16v engine borrowed from the 306 and 406 models. This engine is smooth and willing, and delivers lots of low down torque together with quite brutal top end heave. Make no mistake: the 206 GTI is certainly quick, posting an acceleration time from rest to sixty of 7·6 seconds. The GTI 180 uses a 2∙0 engine with – you guessed it – 180 PS. It’s bonkers. A bit over the top when the ordinary GTI feels rapid.

There are four diesel models in the 206 line up, one is an “atmo” engine, two are derivatives of the 90 PS 2·0 HDI engine and the fourth is the 1∙4 HDI unit as seen in the fifth generation Fiesta. Dealing first with the “atmo” engine, Peugeot have used their XUD 1·9 litre engine, which produces 70 PS of power. The latest generation of this engine is quieter, smoother and punchier than previous models, and the 206 feels quicker than the figures would suggest.

The HDI versions come in two flavours, but both have 90 PS and offer similar performance (and rather brisk at that too). The base model HDI is a “clean burn” variety offering very low CO2 figures and a Combined Euromix figure of almost 63mpg, whereas the higher specification variants come with higher CO2 output figures. In all cases, the Peugeot 206 HDI is a swift and economical car, but it is pricey.

The 1∙4 HDI is the economy champion of the 206 range, at least on paper. On the road there’s not much between the 2∙0 HDI and the 1∙4. It’s a likeable little diesel engine (if you like your turbodiesels of course), smooth and refined. The 206 doesn’t have the same transmission weakness as the mark five Fiesta so driven back to back against the Ford, the 206 feels quite a bit quicker.

Ride & Handling

Most versions of the Peugeot 206 have a smooth, supple ride combined with a reasonable amount of grip, but also with quite a lot of roll. Peugeot have probably designed this into the car to make them more user-friendly for most drivers, even if ultimately not as satisfying. Sportier models do feel very fluid when driven at a brisk pace. Press on hard enough, and the lower models feel a little bit untidy before the handling becomes wayward, but they can be something of a ditch finder for the unwary with lift off oversteer if one overcooks it.

Interior

The first thing that strikes you about the interior of the 206 is that it has a certain charm about the dashboard. Oh, sure, there’s a decent amount of room – but it feels like its a good place to spend time. In terms of driver comfort, thankfully the 206 does not suffer the same fate as the 106, and it is reasonably easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. Most models can have air conditioning in lieu of an electric sunroof, which I would recommend.

Exterior

It looks cute from some angles and it does have some unusual touches - such as the wipers that look set up for left hand drive, but which cover almost all of the screen, and the on-bonnet air intakes for the ventilation system. Many models have front fog lamps (and many drivers suffer from not knowing where the off switch for these is, heh).

Verdict

It’s easy to see why the Peugeot 206 sells well. It’s a good looking supermini that offers a useful amount of space, has a smooth ride and is cheap to run. The diesels and the GTI are superb, but for what it is the 1·1 is a good drive. The cooking models make good, comfortable motorway cars.

Personally, I value air conditioning rather more than a sunroof and it is for this reason that I would recommend the 1·4 over the 1·1. Air conditioning does sap power and the 1·1 I tried did struggle somewhat with it turned on, whereas the 1·4 felt better able to cope with it. However, if you’re not bothered by air conditioning, then you’ll probably be happy with the 1·1.

If you deem the running costs of the GTI too much, certainly consider the DTurbo model, which uses the 2·0 litre HDI engine. The DTurbo drives well and will probably retain its value very well, too. The car has tremendous mid-gear acceleration and will return at mid-50s to the gallon without too much trouble.