Essai Peugeot 208 XY 1.6 THP 155ch

Peugeot 208 XY 1.6 THP 155hp Review One year after the launch of its flagship city car, Peugeot released two high-end versions: the sporty GTI and the luxurious XY. It's the latter we're testing here. Externally, it's distinguished by chrome trim on the grille, mirrors, around the windows and fog lights, in addition to the XY badge on the rear pillar. LED daytime running lights are, of course, standard. The XY is only available as a 3-door and offers a choice of two diesel and two gasoline engines. Our test vehicle is the 1.6 THP gasoline engine with 155 horsepower. Inside, we find a 208 dressed in its finest attire, with leather upholstery, leatherette trim on the dashboard, and plenty of chrome accents, for example, on the door handles, a bit on the steering wheel, and so on. Ambient lighting is included, and overall the presentation is pleasing. The comprehensive equipment list is a plus, but a few features are missing, such as keyless entry and start. The rear seats and trunk are identical to those of other 3-door 208 models, with increased passenger and trunk space compared to the 207. This 208 XY shares its platform with the 208 GTI, which is distinguished by its wider track. Beyond the visual effect, this results in a more planted stance compared to "regular" 208s, allowing for faster cornering speeds. The ride is a bit firm, but less so than in the GTI. Our version, equipped with the 1.6 THP engine, proved very responsive, both when accelerating and even at higher revs. The gearbox is easy to use. Aside from that, the car retains the feeling of agility, thanks in part to the small steering wheel, typical of all 208s. This XY aims to be the most luxurious version of the 208 and succeeds rather well, both inside and out. Combined with its very pleasant engine, this XY has little to criticize except for a ride that is sometimes a bit firm. As for the price, the nearly €21,000 may seem high for this city car, however chic it may be. It also happens to be somewhat sporty, as it's only half a second slower than the 208 GTI. And the GTI costs almost €3,000 more. Viewed in this light, the 208 XY remains quite reasonably priced. And what's more, it avoids the emissions tax.