Peugeot 206 SPORT RANGE
If You Want A Sporty Looking Hatch But Cant Stomach The Running Costs Of A Proper GTi, Peugeots 206 Sport Could Be Just The Ticket. By Andy Enright
Much as some of us would like a
Peugeot 206GTi, the upfront price, the insurance rating and the ongoing fuel bills may well act as a significant deterrent. Hence the appeal of Peugeots recently upgraded 206 Sport range, which now comes with a selection of more desirable engine options.
Although one shouldnt read too much into Peugeots claim that the 206 Sport is borne from their three consecutive World Rally Championships, theres no doubt that it is a fun and tidy handler. Most will be more concerned about the cars cosmetics. Based on the S model, the Sport features includes power steering, driver and passenger
SMART airbags, remote central locking, electric front windows, a stereo radio/mono CD player, sports front seats, air-conditioning, a full body-coloured exterior, 14" or 15" alloy wheels (depending on model), a trip computer with external temperature gauge, front fog lights and aluminium interior detailing. Two body styles with three or five doors are available and theres now a choice of three petrol engines and two diesel engine options. Petrol buyers get to select from either a 1.1-litre entry-level powerplant priced from £8,995, the 1.
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4-litre 16v unit which starts at £9,795 or the 1.6-litre 16v model priced from £10,045. The 1.1-litre engine stretches the Sport nametag a little far as its not exactly a ball of fire.
With 60bhp on tap from the rather simple 8v, itll get to 60mph in 15.1 seconds and top out at a licence-friendly 98mph. Some recompense comes in the 45.6mpg combined fuel economy figure but even this isnt as good as the more powerful 1.
4-litre engine. With 90bhp on tap, this 1.4-litre sixteen-valve engine feels pleasantly peppy, the variable valve timing giving decent low end torque and a surprising amount of punch at higher revs. This engine is as powerful as the more expensive 1.
6-litre petrol powerplant and is a fair degree lighter. The sixteen-valve cylinder head frees up another 15bhp over the old 8v 1.4-litre. Sixty arrives in 10.
7 seconds on the way to a top end of 111mph. Fuel economy is predictably good, the three-door Sport returning figures of 46.3mpg on the combined cycle with an urban showing of 34.4mpg and extra urban of 57.
6mpg. Emissions figures open at 145g/km for the three door model.
"As long as you dont take the 206 Sport too seriously, you should both get along fine"
If saving on fuel and lowering your emissions is a priority, theres really only one way to go and thats in the direction of the HDi diesels. The 2.0 HDi 90 (from £10,695) has the same 90bhp high-pressure direct injection engine also used to good effect in the 307. Thus equipped, a 206 Sport has strong performance but if you want more, theres now an HDi 110bhp version from £11,495 which uses a 110bhp 1.
6-litre diesel engine. Even in the 90bhp model, sixty is reached from rest in 12 seconds on the way to a top speed of 112mph and theres enough mid-range urge to have the petrol 2.0 GTi watching its back. Economy of this technically advanced two-litre engine is even better than the old 1.
9-litre diesel so you can expect to average 56.5mpg. But what exactly is HDi? Well, without going too deeply into the technicalities, its Peugeots interpretation of the hi-tech Common Rail approach to diesel technology. This approach sees fuel squirted directly into the cylinders from a single pipe (the 'common rail') rather than through individual lines. This cleaner, quieter process means a more efficient use of fuel, which in turn leads to better performance and lower fuel consumption.
Peugeot would like you to think of it as the diesel engine that performs like a petrol: certainly at speed, you wouldn't be able to tell what was under the bonnet. On the road, it is much as you might expect, given the impressive abilities of other cars from the company's stable. The gearchange throw is rather long but the action is reassuringly precise and the brakes instil a good deal of confidence too. Some drivers may not get along with the rather chubby windscreen pillars and the plastics quality of the interior isnt the best in class. Aside from that theres little to grouse about.
The handling? Well, unlike its predecessor, the 206 advances the science no further in this respect - the class standard is already too good for that. Nor, unlike the 205, is it the kind of car that enthusiasts will find excuses to drive. The power steering is a little light and the body roll a little too pronounced to really warrant that Sport badge. Although the 206 is no longer in the first flush of youth, there are still some neat details: a switch to disable the front passenger airbag (where fitted) for baby seats. Then there's the front passenger
seat cushion, which flips forward to reveal a storage space within the seat's structure. Alternatively, the seat's backrest can be folded flat for really long loads. Step inside and it's just like every other Peugeot you've ever sat in. Though the dark plastics used are rather sombre, the upholstery materials are colourful and attractive. You wouldn't mistake this for an up-market saloon but it's an environment you'd be quite happy with, even on a long journey. The 206 has been treated to a mild facelift which runs to the tune of a honeycomb grille, the obligatory clear headlight lenses and a bigger chromed Peugeot lion badge on the back. Uniform coloured rear light lenses are also introduced. As long as youre not expecting lowered suspension, beefed up brakes and a whole host of interior upgrades like sports seats and leather trim, the Peugeot 206 Sport shouldnt disappoint.
Its not what youd even dub a warm hatch but the basic 206 shape sill looks pert after all these years and the Sports alloy wheels and aggressive front end give it a bit of visual pizzazz. Although the quote from your insurance company may well prove the high point of 206 Sport ownership, many will love its blend of sassy styling, affordability and tried and tested engineering.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 206 Sport range
PRICES: £8,995 - £12,095 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 3-5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 136-149g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.4] 0-60mph 10.7s / Max Speed 111mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4] (combined) 46.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, ABS, seatbelt pretensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3835/1652/1432
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