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2002 Top Ten positionAll UK car sales: 4
Fleet car sales: 10
Supermini
Introduced: 1998; a mid-life overhaul due soon, but all-new 207 not scheduled till 2005
Bodystyles: Three- and five-door hatchback, SW estate, CC Coupé-Cabriolet.
Price band: £7,995-£16,195
NCAP crash test rating: 4
The 206 is...
British-built, and the best-selling car in the UK amongst private retail customers. Distinctively and attractively styled, it comes in hatchback, compact estate (SW) and cabriolet form, the latter with a Mercedes SLK-style metal folding roof, a unique proposition in this class until Nissan launches its Micra C+C. The 206 is bought by people of all ages, and has the same classless appeal as its long-running predecessor, the popular 205. It doesn't have quite the same driver appeal as the 205, but it is a lot more solid and safe, and the range now includes the latest-technology, ultra-economical HDI diesel engines, much more refined than previous Peugeot diesels but just as tough. Anecdotal evidence suggests that early cars have had some minor cabin quality problems and general glitches, but these should have been ironed out by now.
For
Attractive design, good ride, huge variety to choose from, useful SW estate, fashionable image, HDi diesel engines.
Against
Awkward driving position, dodgy plastics in cabin.
Sum up
An appealing all-rounder that scores on the style front.
Engines, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
Petrol:1.1i (60bhp): 45.6mpg, 148g/km
1.4i (75bhp): 45.6mpg, 149g/km
1.6i 16v (110bhp): 39.8mpg, 153g/km
GTi 2.0i 16v (138bhp): 36.7mpg, 185g/km
GTi 180 (180bhp): n/a
Diesels:11.4 HDi (68bhp): 65.7mpg, 113g/km
2.0 HDI 90 (90bhp): 56.5mpg, 136g/km
Spec rundown
Eco and Style models have power steering, driver and passenger airbags, central locking, electric windows, split-folding rear seats and a radio/cassette. LX versions have different trim and more options, but you have to step up to GLX to get standard ABS anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, an alarm, alloy wheels, electric mirrors and a CD player. Sporty Quiksilver models have all the kit plus silver metallic paint, minus standard alloys, and Rapier versions have a fully colour-coded exterior, six airbags, ABS, alloys and a CD player. The 'warm hatch' model is the 1.6 XSi three-door, which has side airbags, alloys and ABS, and the GTis are similarly equipped. The luxury 206 is the 1.6 Roland Garros, a five-door with a full-length electrically-operated glass sunroof and leather seats. 206 CC models are badged S and SE - both well-equipped, but no standard alloys on the S - and the SW estates are XL, XT and XSI (XL and XT roughly similar to LX and GLX spec).
Market info
Peugeot usually has a special edition or two on the go, with extra equipment at a low price, and there should be a few good deals on current hatchback stock now that the 206 is coming up for a midlife revamp. There don't tend to be as many 206s at the independent retailers and car supermarkets, as they're bought by private consumers rather than the large-scale fleets, so residual (resale) values are better than average. To save money on the CC, you'll probably have to import, as there have been waiting lists at UK dealers. The SW and CC should hold their value well, too, as there aren't too many similar cars around - the SW's only competitor is the rare Skoda Fabia estate at the moment, and cabriolets always sell easily. Look out also for good finance deals and offers such as free insurance at Peugeot dealers.
