New Car Road Test

• Peugeot 206 Hatchback

• Overall Rating
  Price: £13,770 For: A supple ride and agile chassis make every 206 GTi great fun.
  The petrol engine is entertaining, especially in 180bhp form,
  while the new turbodiesel GTi is punchy yet frugal.
  Against: Interior design and quality of materials
  are dowdy and a let-down compared with those of more modern rivals.
  The driving position is dreadful.
  
  

• Performance
  Ride Handling Refinement
  Engine flexibility is the keynote
  Nimble and fun Engine and road noise compete for attention Performance.
• The 2.0-litre engine
  in the GTi now comes in 137bhp or 180bhp form and
  easily copes with the 206's compact size.
  It's best when the revs have been stoked up, but there's plenty of low-down pull for overtaking.
  The new 1.6 turbodiesel model - Peugeot's first diesel GTi -
  is not as fast as its petrol brothers but its 180lb ft of torque gives it
  the strongest pull of any 206.
• Handling
  All 206s are nimble and fun, while the hotter GTis also provide alert steering, good brakes and a
  chassis that's sensitive to sudden changes in accelerator position.
  The ride is rather firm around town.
  The 180bhp GTi has an uprated suspension and 17-inch alloys
  that bless the car with even more agility,
  grip and feedback to keep enthusiastic drivers happy.
• Refinement
  Some noise is to be expected in the petrol versions
  because the engines need a good dose of revs to give their best.
  The 206 also allows a lot of harsh road noise into the cabin,
  and the climate control system makes a racket.
  The long-throw gearchange is a touch notchy, and the clutches are sometimes sticky
  and become increasingly so with miles.
• Body type Hatchback
  Number of doors 3
  Number of seats 5
  Engine (cc/type) 1560/4
  Fuel type Diesel
  Max power (bhp/rpm) 110/4000
  Max torque (lb ft/rpm) 180/1750
  Max speed (mph) 118
  0-60mph (sec)
  30-70mph (sec) 10.4
  In Gears 30 to 50 (sec) 4.3/6.8/11.6
  In Gears 50 to 70 (sec) 6.2/7.4/9.1
  Braking distance (m) 9.5/49.1
  Engine position no data
  Driven wheels Front
  Length (mm) 3835
  Width (mm) 1652
  Height (mm) 1433
  Front headroom (mm) 896
  Front legroom (mm) 851
  Rear headroom (mm) no data
  Rear kneeroom (mm) no data
  Boot space (min ltr) 245
  Boot space (max ltr) 1130
  Turning circle (m) 9.9
  Turning circle lock to lock(m) standard
  Towing weight (kg) 900
  Kerb weight (kg) 1130
• Buying Quality Safety and Security
  Competitive prices and decent resale values Cheap plastics but mechanically reliable Four stars in crash tests; security is reasonable
  Buying
• The petrol GTis are more expensive to run than other 206s
  because of poorer fuel economy and higher emissions.
  However, the clean new turbodiesel's low emissions put it in the bottom company car
  tax band and it returns an impressive 56.5mpg. although the Peugeot only needs to be serviced every 20,000 miles,
  and the car's popularity keeps residual values above average.
• Quality
  The quality of the Peugeot's materials is disappointing,
  and the drab layout gives the whole cabin a downbeat air that's totally out of place in a GTi.
  The 206 is proving to be a reliable car, however,
  and is covered by a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
  Routine maintenance is cheap but bigger repairs may be costly.
• Safety and Security
  The 206 achieved a four-star rating in Euro NCAP's crash tests.
  Standard safety kit on the GTi models includes twin front and side airbags and anti-lock brakes.
  All GTis come with an alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks to keep thieves out.
• Urban 47.1
  Extra Urban 68.9
  Combined 58.9
  CO2 Rating 126
  Insurance Group Varies
  Retained Value no data
  Contract Hire Rate 272
  Cost per mile 35.49p
  Service Cost £115
  Servicing 24/20,000
  Warranty 36/60,000 + 6-12 year Paint + 12 year Perforation + 1 year Breakdown
• Behind the Wheel Space and Practicality Equipment
  Chances are, you won't be sitting comfortably A practical boot,
  but too few cubby holes Spec list pales next to some rivals'
• Behind the Wheel
  No matter how much you juggle the driver's seat and the low-slung steering wheel,
  you end up with a straight-armed driving position
  and an uncomfortable bent-knees posture.
  The GTi 180's bucket seats are much more supportive than the chairs in the other versions, however.
  Poor-quality trim and fiddly switchgear make the cabin an unappealing driver's workplace.
• Space and Practicality
  Although the Peugeot has been overtaken by at least half a dozen competitors for space,
  it still offers a reasonable amount of interior space.
  In addition, its practical, rectangular boot doesn't lose much space to the rear wheel arches,
  while it opens up to a useful size when the seats split and fold.
  The GTis are available in three-door form only.
• Equipment
  As the flagship models of the range, the GTis are better equipped than most 206s:
  all get climate control, alloy wheels and leather trim,
  while the 137bhp petrol and TD versions have a single CD player and the 180 gets a CD multichanger.
  Metallic paint costs extra.
• Central Locking standard
  Remote Locking standard
  Adjustable Steering Reach standard
  Adjustable Steering Rake standard
  Electric Steering Adjustable no data
  Seat Height Adjustable standard
  Power Seats Adjustable not available
  Air Conditioning standard
  Climate Control standard
  Seat Belt Tensioners standard
  Driver Airbag standard
  Passenger Airbag standard
  Side Airbag standard
  Side Impactbars standard
  Centre 3 Pointbelt standard
  Traction Control standard
  Antilock Brakes standard
  Auto Gearbox not available
  Alloywheels standard
  Deadlocks standard
  Immobiliser standard
  Alarm standard
  Visible Vin standard
  Secure Spare Wheel standard
  Marked Parts not available
  Etched Windows not available
  Satellite Navigation
  Handsfree Phone not available
  Leather Seats standard
  Locking Wheelnuts not available
  Metallic Paint
  Split Fold Rear Seats standard
  Electric Front Windows standard
  Electric Mirrors standard
  Heated Mirrors standard
  Manual Sunroof not available
  Electric Sunroof
  Cruise Control not available
  Multi CD
  Radio not available
  RDS Radio standard
  Unique Fit Radio standard

So what do you think a good one or not ?

The GTI TD's have 115bhp. I'd go for that one. bags of torque and decent acceleration! I think the 206's are starting to look a bit old now though. But if it aint broke, dont fix it.....just make it faster

Not exactly inspirational to drive, but a decent car none the less.

plenty of potential.

I still say go for the Leon cupra mate. Different and quick