Peugeot 208 vs Volkswagen Polo

Peugeot 208

Peugeot’s sharp-design supermini.

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen’s supermini.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Peugeot 208

Pick the 208 for a compact, stylish supermini with an efficient and wide powertrain range.

Best engine: The 1.2 PureTech/Hybrid (petrol) or 1.5 BlueHDi (diesel) — post-2023.

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Volkswagen Polo

Pick the Polo for a mature, thrifty supermini with low running costs and solid build quality.

Best engine: The 1.0 TSI (95/110 hp).

Read the full guide

Performance

1.2 PureTech 100 · Petrol vs 1.0 TSI 110 · Petrol

	Peugeot 208	Volkswagen Polo
Power	100 hp	110 hp Winner
Torque	205 Nm Winner	200 Nm
0–100 km/h	9,5 s Winner	10,0 s
Top speed	188 km/h	196 km/h Winner
Power-to-weight	90,9 hp/t	97,3 hp/t Winner
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	108 g/km Winner	113 g/km
Consumption (WLTP)	4,8 L/100km Winner	5,0 L/100km

Dimensions & space

	Peugeot 208	Volkswagen Polo
Boot	309 L	351 L Winner
Boot (seats folded)	1.035 L	1.125 L Winner
Wheelbase	2,54 m	2,55 m Winner
Length	4,06 m	4,07 m
Width	1,75 m	1,75 m
Height	1,43 m	1,45 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Peugeot 208	Volkswagen Polo
Platform	PF1 (A9) · CMP (P21)	PQ25 (6R) · MQB A0 (AW)
Drive	Front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Engine family	1.2 PureTech · 1.6 THP · 1.5 BlueHDi · 1.2 Hybrid · e-208	EA111/EA211/EA211 Evo petrol · EA888 (GTI) · EA189/EA288 diesel
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Electric	Petrol · Diesel
Transmission	5/6-speed manual · EAT6/EAT8 automatic · e-DSC6	5/6-speed manual · 7-speed DSG
Euro standard	Euro 5/6 (A9) · Euro 6/6d (P21) · N/A (e-208)	Euro 5 (early) · Euro 6/6d (later)
LEZ access	Euro 6/6d petrol/diesel and the e-208 allowed in the LEZ	Euro 6 petrol/diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Peugeot 208

1.2 PureTech: wet timing belt (until ~2022–23)
1.5 BlueHDi: AdBlue and chain on early units
1.6 THP (GTi): timing chain

Volkswagen Polo

DQ200 DSG shift quality (dry clutch)
EA111 chain on early 6R TSI (pre-2014)
Timing belt + water pump (EA211)

Pros

Peugeot 208

Sharp design and i-Cockpit
Efficient, wide engine range (up to e-208)
Compact and agile

Volkswagen Polo

Compact, agile and easy to park
Low running costs and insurance
Solid build quality and residuals

Cons

Peugeot 208

Tight rear seat
Boot smaller than class leaders

Volkswagen Polo

Tight rear bench on long trips (three adults)
Base trims are sparsely equipped

Driving experience

Peugeot 208

The P21's trick is how light and eager it feels. Built on the CMP platform shared with the 2008 and Corsa, it keeps mass down, so the front axle changes direction keenly and the car shrinks around you in town. The small i-Cockpit wheel and raised digital dials take a short acclimatisation, then the steering feels fast and accurate while body roll stays tidy. Most versions run a comfort-tuned rear that copes well with broken city tarmac, and the ride stays settled for such a small car. The 1.2 PureTech 100 is lively, the e-208 is near-silent and instantly responsive, and the EAT8 automatic shuffles smoothly. It is an easy, stylish supermini, not a hot hatch.

Volkswagen Polo

Bigger, more comfortable and closer to a Golf in feel. The AW rides with noticeably better isolation and body control than the 6R, steers accurately with decent weighting, and stays quiet at speed for a supermini. The 1.0 TSI is the sensible pick — smooth and economical — the GTI adds real pace, and the 1.6 TDI is the long-distance choice. The DSG is smooth; the manual is light and precise. It is a more grown-up, more premium-feeling small car than the 6R, with a maturity close to the Golf in a smaller package.