The Peugeot 108 is a great city car that is surprisingly spacious, excellent value for money, costs very little to run and is quite fun to drive. If that sounds like the kind of car you’re searching for, you can find out everything you need to know in this guide.
Other city cars you might want to consider include the easy-to-drive Citroen C1 and the simple and sturdy Toyota Aygo (both closely related to the Peugeot 108), along with the comfortable Hyundai i10 and the classy Volkswagen Up. The Hyundai is a bit more spacious and the Volkswagen has more of a premium feel, but the Peugeot 108 is a strong contender that is well worth considering.
The Peugeot 108 works really well as a city runaround. Its small size and large windows mean parking is an absolute doddle. It feels light and nimble when making tight turns. The doors open quite wide, so getting in and out many times a day won’t cause any undue strain, while the engines feel perky. There’s space for four people inside, plus a decent boot for a car of this size.
It works well beyond city streets, too. It’s quiet and comfortable enough to tackle long journeys, and it feels stable on the motorway. If you regularly embark on long journeys, the more powerful 1.2-litre VTi engine is the better bet; it accelerates more quickly and cruises at 70mph more easily. Other plus points are a pretty generous serving of standard features, along with very low running costs.
High fuel economy figures translate to low running costs. It’s generally very reliable and servicing and repair costs are at the more affordable end of the spectrum.
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When it comes to the engine, there's a straight choice between 1.0- and 1.2-litre petrol engines, with the larger 82PS engine dropped in mid-2018 when Peugeot increased the power of the 1.0 to 72PS in place of the previous 68PS output. There is the option of an automatic gearbox - it’s actually an automated manual rather than a true auto - but makes ponderous gear changes and leaves the Peugeot 108 feeling sluggish, so it’s best avoided.
As far as the model choice is concerned, the Active version makes a strong case. It comes with many desirable features as standard, and so is the most sensible option. The Allure and Collection models look smarter thanks to the addition of alloy wheels and other visual changes but they only add a few equipment upgrades.
The engines offered in the Peugeot 108 across its lifespan were not exactly powerhouses, but the 1.0- and 1.2-litre motors work well in this city car. There was also the option of an automatic gearbox in some models.
Peugeot 108 1.0 68PS petrol - This was the entry-point motor to the Peugeot 108 range when it was launched and remained until mid-2018 when the 72PS was introduced in its place. It's easy on fuel and works well around town and occasional foarys on to faster roads. Acceleration from 0-62mph in 13.0 seconds is decent, while economy and emissions are both in its favour. It was also available with the 2-Tronic automated manual five-speed gearbox, which is best avoided unless you really must have an auto.
Peugeot 108 1.0 72PS petrol – This 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine produces 72PS – a modest amount of power, but enough to get the lightweight Peugeot 108 from 0-62mph in 12.6 seconds. In 2021, it was only available with a five-speed manual gearbox, however a 2-Tronic automatic gearbox had previously been available. In either case, CO2 emissions can be as low as 110g/km, in part thanks to the S&S (engine stop/start) system.
Peugeot 108 1.2 82PS petrol - The extra power of this 1.2-litre engine is worth having if you routinely spend a lot of time on the motorway. It makes for more relaxed cruising and still delivers excellent fuel economy and sub-100g/km carbon dioxide emissions.
There were many trim levels available on the Peugeot 108 over the years. The Peugeot 108 was sold from 2014 to 2021. The model range was tweaked and altered several times, but the car went without significant changes while it was in production.
Peugeot 108 Access - Access was only available on three-door Peugeot 108 models. Standard features included LED daytime running lights, remote central locking, USB/aux connection for external audio players with steering wheel-mounted controls, six airbags, ESP stability control and two rear ISOFIX mountings.
Peugeot 108 Active – You might expect a basic city car to have almost no standard features, but the Active is actually pretty well equipped. You get a touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth and manual air conditioning.
Peugeot 108 Allure – The mid-range Peugeot 108 gets a more upmarket look with alloy wheels and a black roof. You also get some more features, including keyless entry and start, plus a reversing camera.
Peugeot 108 Feline - The Feline was the top trim level when the 108 was launched in 2014. It came with automatic headlights, front fog lights, reversing camera, 15-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, and Claudia leather upholstery.
Peugeot 108 Collection – The top-of-the-range Peugeot 108 adds automatic air conditioning and a package of interior styling details that are coordinated with the exterior colour.
The Peugeot 108’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 3475mm
Width: 1615mm
Height: 1460mm
The Peugeot 108’s boot capacity is:
Rear seats up: 196 litres
Rear seats folded down: Not quoted
None of the Peugeot 108 range will unduly worry your bank balance when it comes to paying for 12 months of road tax. Most models have sub-100g/km carbon dioxide emissions, which means free road tax for cars registered before 1 April 2017. For models put on the road after that date, you'll pay the standard £180 flat fee applied at the time of writing.
As a budget city car, the Peugeot 108 is at the lower end of the insurance group ratings. Depending on exactly which model you choose, it’s ranked in groups 6 to 13 (out of 50 in total), so it should prove very affordable to insure.