PEUGEOT 206 1.4 A
Review by Faisal Shah. 1999
For so long the fate of Peugeot in Malaysia seemed to be in peril due to the
economic downturn. The local distributor MBf-Peugeot, part of the troubled MBf
group of companies, even had to sell the then relatively new 406 model by offering
cashback deals. Worse still, many owners were worried about the availability of
servicing and spare parts for their cars. Many were thinking that it was just a matter
of time before the French manufacturer abandoned these shores.
Those fears have, however, proven to be unfounded. MBf-Peugeot has been
revitalised and the launch of the 206 is seen as reaffirmation of its goal to make the
brand successful in the local market.
Seen by many as the logical successor to the legendary 205, the 206 is a car that
some might say was never meant to be. In fact, when Peugeot had to replace the
205 in the early 1990s it used two separate models to fill in its product line. The small
supermini-sized 106 took on cars like the Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa and Renault Clio,
while the larger 306 was designed to do battle with the likes of the Ford Escort, Opel
Astra and Volkswagen Golf.
You might think that having replaced one successful model with two separate and
distinct cars, Peugeot was on to a good thing, but there were people out there
(notably the French buyers) who said that the 205 was never replaced properly.
They claimed that the 106 was too small while the 306 was too big and neither
offered the driving thrills of the original. Hence, the creation of the 206 and a proper
replacement for the car that Peugeot wish the public would stop talking about.
In terms of size the 206 slots neatly in between the 106 and 306. In European market
terms, this means that the 206 belongs to the class of larger supermini whose
members include the VW Polo, Fiat Punto and Toyota Yaris. That leaves the 106 to
tackle the small end of the market, which is starting to get crowded due to the
introduction of a new wave of “City-Cars” like the Hyundai Atos, Seat Arosa and VW
Lupo.
In Malaysia we have no such worries of needing to classify cars as large or small
superminis as the deciding factor in our market is so often price. This is not to say
that the 206 does not have any direct class competitors. It most certainly does, but
read on and you will see that in terms of ability and just plain freshness, the 206 has
the measure of all else in the class.
Compile a list of reasons that people have for buying a certain car and more often
than not, aesthetic beauty will come out at or near the top. While it is true that beauty
often lies in the eyes of the beholder, I do not think that anybody will disagree when I
say that the 206 is a very attractive motor car. Preceded by the 2-Oh-Heart concept
car of a few years back, the styling is modern, yet still possesses the family elements
of all current Peugeots.
The main feature of the styling is the large drawn back, diamond shaped headlights
which sets the tone for the rest of the car. Those large lights, which incorporate the
turn signals as well, are an important element of Peugeot’s new family face, a fact
confirmed by similar units being used on the even newer 607 saloon. That family
face also uses only a single horizontal bar to frame the traditionally chromed
Peugeot lion ornament, instead of the previous 2- and even 3-bar design.
Viewed from the front, the 206 is both strikingly sporty and pleasingly cute. The low
chin spoiler and twin bonnet ducts (which are fresh air intakes for the air
conditioning) shout performance, but the mouth-shaped lower air intake and cheeky
colour of the car speak of less serious intent.
This contradiction in objectives was born by the need for the 206 to be both a chic
runabout for urbanites as well as a serious competitor in the World Rally
Championship. How serious? Well, in its first full year of competition, the car has
already won in Sweden and came second twice, beating such luminaries as the
Mitsubishi Evo VI, Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza WRC along the way.
Follow the sharply angled windscreen and the rounded shape to the back of the car
and you will some neat design touches. The lower doorsills are incorporated into a
single body piece that also includes the rear wheel arches, as well as forms the tops
of the door apertures. The rear has no fewer than four lights - two main lamps, a 3rd
brake light in the integrated rear spoiler and a low-level fog light beneath the
bumper. It’s a neat design and even the black, shock absorbing bumper pieces do
not look like they were added on as an afterthought.
Open the bonnet, though, and you will see that this car is clearly not in the same
performance league as its rally-winning brother. To ensure that the 206 was priced
at a sensible level, MBf-Peugeot decided to bring in the 1.4-litre model only, and an
automatic one, at that. So, instead of road-burning power, we get a single overhead
cam, 8-valve engine with multi-point fuel injection, producing 74bhp at 5,500rpm and
111Nm at 2,600rpm, mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. MBf-Peugeot assures
us that the hotter models are forthcoming, but for now, what you see is what you get.
Do not, however, dismiss this car just because the specification sheet makes
uninteresting reading. It is still a product of the Peugeot stable, and when it comes to
making small cars fun to drive, they wrote the original DNA code.
The easiest way to build performance with a small engine is to have low weight. The
206 weighs less than 1,000kg which is sufficiently light to make the car fairly swift.
With peak torque arriving so low in the rev-range, the 206 feels very sprightly at low
to medium speeds. Cutting through traffic is easy, as a light push of the throttle
(especially in sports mode) is all that is needed for instant momentum. Ignore the
over 17-second 0-100km/h time quoted by Peugeot as the car never feels this slow.
Venturing into the upper reaches of the rev-range means having to put up with
engine noise; it gets a little raucous when you past 4,000rpm. A good thing then that
110km/h equates to about 2,900rpm, which makes the little Peugeot an able highway
cruiser. It won’t deafen its occupants over long distance journeys. Flat out, you
should be able to see slightly less than 160km/h, which is more than enough for a
car like this. Incidentally, top speed is reached in 3rd, as beyond 4,000rpm in 4th is
where acceleration ends.
There are a few quibbles, however. The automatic gearbox has got Sport and Winter
modes, as well as a Hold button for 1st gear (perfect for when you encounter
slippery slopes or want to do a bit of towing). The problem is that, even in standard
mode, it shifts quite roughly from 1st to 2nd and again from 2nd to 3rd. It is not too
unpleasant an experience, but it does mean that low-to- medium speed driving is not
as smooth as it could be. It also stands out as a sore point in an otherwise polished
drivetrain.
Sports mode is better as you expect the shifts to be a little more energetic (which it
is) and that the gears will be held on to longer. The gearbox even blips the throttle
for you when you brake hard for a corner in sports mode, so for press-on driving,
this is the mode to use.
Luckily, the chassis is able to handle almost everything that you throw at it.
Suspension components are conventional with MacPherson struts at the front and
torsion bars with trailing arms at the rear. The magic is in the tuning as the
refinement levels that they achieve are truly exceptional. The ride, as in most
Peugeots, is well damped but never too soft. The 206 will absorb all manners of
bumps and ruts thrown at it, and it will do so without undue discomfort to its
occupants. But it will also attack corners with gutsy resolve.
String along a challenging sequence of corners, and the 206 will show a clean pair of
heels to all of its class rivals. The steering rack is quick and informative and although
body lean angles can get a little excessive at times, you are always aware of when
the car will approach its limits.
As in any car, the tyres are an equally important part of the equation. Choosing to fit
175/65R14 Michelin Energy tyres (on steel rims with plastic covers) was a good
move as their soft riding characteristics and grippy nature are perfectly suited to the
206. They do transmit a little tyre roar at speed but that is a small price to pay for the
strengths that they have.
Peugeot interiors are not normally the best in the world, as they are not as stylish as
the Italians are and not as well built as the Germans. The 206 seeks to redress that
balance by offering an interior that is nice to look at, nice to touch and well built as
well.
Open the doors, and you will see the Peugeot legend, emblazoned on chrome
plates, stuck to the doorsills. The interior is inviting and surprisingly spacious for a
car that has a wheelbase of less than 2,500mm. Passengers up to about 5’7” can
still get comfortable in the back behind a driver of similar height, though they may get
a neck ache as there are no headrests available for them.
The rear seat split and fold 60/40 to enable you to carry bulky loads. For the sake of
families out there, we managed to squeeze a Mothercare stroller into the back
without having to compromise passenger space. An important feature, I think. In fact,
the 206 is very family friendly. The materials used for the seats and door covers look
like they are made up of blue cotton which is very comfortable. The armrests are
moulded as a part of the door trimming, as opposed to being screwed-on items, so
that there is less chance of them falling off. As for safety, ABS and twin front airbags
are standard equipment and importantly, there is an airbag deactivation key should
you wish to put your child seat in front.
I would rather put the child seat at the back and take the front for myself. The seats
are very large and comfortable, although at first they seem almost Germanic, so
unyielding are their cushions. The passenger seat also has a secret compartment
beneath the cushion, which is perfect to hide valuables away from prying eyes. With
six-way adjustment and an adjustable steering rack too, it is easy to get comfortable
in the 206.
MBf Peugeot will charge you a little over RM81,000 for the privilege of owning the
206. While the price is certainly not cheap when compared with its rivals (i.e. Proton
Satria, Kia Sephia, Hyundai Atos) the 206 is head and shoulders above them in
terms of ability, comfort and build quality. Add to that its cheeky good looks and you
have a nearly unbeatable package.
With only 100 units available this year (it’s imported, and MBf does not have enough
permits) any prospective 206 buyer will need to be very patient. Word is that the
waiting list is already nearly three months long. Is it worth the wait? I definitely think
so. Like the Ford Focus in last month’s issue, the Peugeot 206 is the best car in its
class, and the others have a lot to do if they want to end the reign of the Lion King.
faisal
ENGINE Front, transverse, inline-4. 1360cc. 75x77mm. 10.2:1. SOHC 8 valves.
Multipoint Fuel Injection. Electronic ignition and engine management. 75hp/5500rpm,
112.8Nm/2700rpm.
TRANSMISSION Driving wheels - front. Gearbox: 4-speed adaptive automatic.
DIMENSIONS LxWxH: 3835x1652x 1425mm. Wheelbase: 2442mm. Tracks: F/R
1425/1416mm. Fuel tank: 50 litres. Turning circle: 10.2m. Kerb weight: 980kg.
BODY Galvanised steel monocoque. 2-box, 5-door hatchback. 5-seater.
CHASSIS Suspension front: Pseudo MacPherson inverted wishbone type, with
pressurised shock absorbers and decoupled anti-roll bar. Rear: Trailing arm type
with transverse torsion bars and hydraulic shock absorbers. Brakes - front/rear:
Ventilated discs/drums. ABS. Wheels: 15” alloy. 195/60R tyres.
STEERING Rack and pinion, power assisted. Adjustable for tilt. Airbag equipped.
PERFORMANCE Power/weight: 76.5hp/tonne. Top speed: 160km/h. 0-100km/h: 17.3
s. Average fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km.
PRICE: OTR w/o insurance - RM81,000. Includes 2 airbags, air conditioning, central
locking, split folding rear seat, height adjustable driver’s seat, multi-purpose front
passenger seat, sun filtrating windscreen, electric front windows, radio cassette
player and metallic paint.
Review by Faisal Shah. 1999
For so long the fate of Peugeot in Malaysia seemed to be in peril due to the
economic downturn. The local distributor MBf-Peugeot, part of the troubled MBf
group of companies, even had to sell the then relatively new 406 model by offering
cashback deals. Worse still, many owners were worried about the availability of
servicing and spare parts for their cars. Many were thinking that it was just a matter
of time before the French manufacturer abandoned these shores.
Those fears have, however, proven to be unfounded. MBf-Peugeot has been
revitalised and the launch of the 206 is seen as reaffirmation of its goal to make the
brand successful in the local market.
Seen by many as the logical successor to the legendary 205, the 206 is a car that
some might say was never meant to be. In fact, when Peugeot had to replace the
205 in the early 1990s it used two separate models to fill in its product line. The small
supermini-sized 106 took on cars like the Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa and Renault Clio,
while the larger 306 was designed to do battle with the likes of the Ford Escort, Opel
Astra and Volkswagen Golf.
You might think that having replaced one successful model with two separate and
distinct cars, Peugeot was on to a good thing, but there were people out there
(notably the French buyers) who said that the 205 was never replaced properly.
They claimed that the 106 was too small while the 306 was too big and neither
offered the driving thrills of the original. Hence, the creation of the 206 and a proper
replacement for the car that Peugeot wish the public would stop talking about.
In terms of size the 206 slots neatly in between the 106 and 306. In European market
terms, this means that the 206 belongs to the class of larger supermini whose
members include the VW Polo, Fiat Punto and Toyota Yaris. That leaves the 106 to
tackle the small end of the market, which is starting to get crowded due to the
introduction of a new wave of “City-Cars” like the Hyundai Atos, Seat Arosa and VW
Lupo.
In Malaysia we have no such worries of needing to classify cars as large or small
superminis as the deciding factor in our market is so often price. This is not to say
that the 206 does not have any direct class competitors. It most certainly does, but
read on and you will see that in terms of ability and just plain freshness, the 206 has
the measure of all else in the class.
Compile a list of reasons that people have for buying a certain car and more often
than not, aesthetic beauty will come out at or near the top. While it is true that beauty
often lies in the eyes of the beholder, I do not think that anybody will disagree when I
say that the 206 is a very attractive motor car. Preceded by the 2-Oh-Heart concept
car of a few years back, the styling is modern, yet still possesses the family elements
of all current Peugeots.
The main feature of the styling is the large drawn back, diamond shaped headlights
which sets the tone for the rest of the car. Those large lights, which incorporate the
turn signals as well, are an important element of Peugeot’s new family face, a fact
confirmed by similar units being used on the even newer 607 saloon. That family
face also uses only a single horizontal bar to frame the traditionally chromed
Peugeot lion ornament, instead of the previous 2- and even 3-bar design.
Viewed from the front, the 206 is both strikingly sporty and pleasingly cute. The low
chin spoiler and twin bonnet ducts (which are fresh air intakes for the air
conditioning) shout performance, but the mouth-shaped lower air intake and cheeky
colour of the car speak of less serious intent.
This contradiction in objectives was born by the need for the 206 to be both a chic
runabout for urbanites as well as a serious competitor in the World Rally
Championship. How serious? Well, in its first full year of competition, the car has
already won in Sweden and came second twice, beating such luminaries as the
Mitsubishi Evo VI, Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza WRC along the way.
Follow the sharply angled windscreen and the rounded shape to the back of the car
and you will some neat design touches. The lower doorsills are incorporated into a
single body piece that also includes the rear wheel arches, as well as forms the tops
of the door apertures. The rear has no fewer than four lights - two main lamps, a 3rd
brake light in the integrated rear spoiler and a low-level fog light beneath the
bumper. It’s a neat design and even the black, shock absorbing bumper pieces do
not look like they were added on as an afterthought.
Open the bonnet, though, and you will see that this car is clearly not in the same
performance league as its rally-winning brother. To ensure that the 206 was priced
at a sensible level, MBf-Peugeot decided to bring in the 1.4-litre model only, and an
automatic one, at that. So, instead of road-burning power, we get a single overhead
cam, 8-valve engine with multi-point fuel injection, producing 74bhp at 5,500rpm and
111Nm at 2,600rpm, mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. MBf-Peugeot assures
us that the hotter models are forthcoming, but for now, what you see is what you get.
Do not, however, dismiss this car just because the specification sheet makes
uninteresting reading. It is still a product of the Peugeot stable, and when it comes to
making small cars fun to drive, they wrote the original DNA code.
The easiest way to build performance with a small engine is to have low weight. The
206 weighs less than 1,000kg which is sufficiently light to make the car fairly swift.
With peak torque arriving so low in the rev-range, the 206 feels very sprightly at low
to medium speeds. Cutting through traffic is easy, as a light push of the throttle
(especially in sports mode) is all that is needed for instant momentum. Ignore the
over 17-second 0-100km/h time quoted by Peugeot as the car never feels this slow.
Venturing into the upper reaches of the rev-range means having to put up with
engine noise; it gets a little raucous when you past 4,000rpm. A good thing then that
110km/h equates to about 2,900rpm, which makes the little Peugeot an able highway
cruiser. It won’t deafen its occupants over long distance journeys. Flat out, you
should be able to see slightly less than 160km/h, which is more than enough for a
car like this. Incidentally, top speed is reached in 3rd, as beyond 4,000rpm in 4th is
where acceleration ends.
There are a few quibbles, however. The automatic gearbox has got Sport and Winter
modes, as well as a Hold button for 1st gear (perfect for when you encounter
slippery slopes or want to do a bit of towing). The problem is that, even in standard
mode, it shifts quite roughly from 1st to 2nd and again from 2nd to 3rd. It is not too
unpleasant an experience, but it does mean that low-to- medium speed driving is not
as smooth as it could be. It also stands out as a sore point in an otherwise polished
drivetrain.
Sports mode is better as you expect the shifts to be a little more energetic (which it
is) and that the gears will be held on to longer. The gearbox even blips the throttle
for you when you brake hard for a corner in sports mode, so for press-on driving,
this is the mode to use.
Luckily, the chassis is able to handle almost everything that you throw at it.
Suspension components are conventional with MacPherson struts at the front and
torsion bars with trailing arms at the rear. The magic is in the tuning as the
refinement levels that they achieve are truly exceptional. The ride, as in most
Peugeots, is well damped but never too soft. The 206 will absorb all manners of
bumps and ruts thrown at it, and it will do so without undue discomfort to its
occupants. But it will also attack corners with gutsy resolve.
String along a challenging sequence of corners, and the 206 will show a clean pair of
heels to all of its class rivals. The steering rack is quick and informative and although
body lean angles can get a little excessive at times, you are always aware of when
the car will approach its limits.
As in any car, the tyres are an equally important part of the equation. Choosing to fit
175/65R14 Michelin Energy tyres (on steel rims with plastic covers) was a good
move as their soft riding characteristics and grippy nature are perfectly suited to the
206. They do transmit a little tyre roar at speed but that is a small price to pay for the
strengths that they have.
Peugeot interiors are not normally the best in the world, as they are not as stylish as
the Italians are and not as well built as the Germans. The 206 seeks to redress that
balance by offering an interior that is nice to look at, nice to touch and well built as
well.
Open the doors, and you will see the Peugeot legend, emblazoned on chrome
plates, stuck to the doorsills. The interior is inviting and surprisingly spacious for a
car that has a wheelbase of less than 2,500mm. Passengers up to about 5’7” can
still get comfortable in the back behind a driver of similar height, though they may get
a neck ache as there are no headrests available for them.
The rear seat split and fold 60/40 to enable you to carry bulky loads. For the sake of
families out there, we managed to squeeze a Mothercare stroller into the back
without having to compromise passenger space. An important feature, I think. In fact,
the 206 is very family friendly. The materials used for the seats and door covers look
like they are made up of blue cotton which is very comfortable. The armrests are
moulded as a part of the door trimming, as opposed to being screwed-on items, so
that there is less chance of them falling off. As for safety, ABS and twin front airbags
are standard equipment and importantly, there is an airbag deactivation key should
you wish to put your child seat in front.
I would rather put the child seat at the back and take the front for myself. The seats
are very large and comfortable, although at first they seem almost Germanic, so
unyielding are their cushions. The passenger seat also has a secret compartment
beneath the cushion, which is perfect to hide valuables away from prying eyes. With
six-way adjustment and an adjustable steering rack too, it is easy to get comfortable
in the 206.
MBf Peugeot will charge you a little over RM81,000 for the privilege of owning the
206. While the price is certainly not cheap when compared with its rivals (i.e. Proton
Satria, Kia Sephia, Hyundai Atos) the 206 is head and shoulders above them in
terms of ability, comfort and build quality. Add to that its cheeky good looks and you
have a nearly unbeatable package.
With only 100 units available this year (it’s imported, and MBf does not have enough
permits) any prospective 206 buyer will need to be very patient. Word is that the
waiting list is already nearly three months long. Is it worth the wait? I definitely think
so. Like the Ford Focus in last month’s issue, the Peugeot 206 is the best car in its
class, and the others have a lot to do if they want to end the reign of the Lion King.
faisal
ENGINE Front, transverse, inline-4. 1360cc. 75x77mm. 10.2:1. SOHC 8 valves.
Multipoint Fuel Injection. Electronic ignition and engine management. 75hp/5500rpm,
112.8Nm/2700rpm.
TRANSMISSION Driving wheels - front. Gearbox: 4-speed adaptive automatic.
DIMENSIONS LxWxH: 3835x1652x 1425mm. Wheelbase: 2442mm. Tracks: F/R
1425/1416mm. Fuel tank: 50 litres. Turning circle: 10.2m. Kerb weight: 980kg.
BODY Galvanised steel monocoque. 2-box, 5-door hatchback. 5-seater.
CHASSIS Suspension front: Pseudo MacPherson inverted wishbone type, with
pressurised shock absorbers and decoupled anti-roll bar. Rear: Trailing arm type
with transverse torsion bars and hydraulic shock absorbers. Brakes - front/rear:
Ventilated discs/drums. ABS. Wheels: 15” alloy. 195/60R tyres.
STEERING Rack and pinion, power assisted. Adjustable for tilt. Airbag equipped.
PERFORMANCE Power/weight: 76.5hp/tonne. Top speed: 160km/h. 0-100km/h: 17.3
s. Average fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km.
PRICE: OTR w/o insurance - RM81,000. Includes 2 airbags, air conditioning, central
locking, split folding rear seat, height adjustable driver’s seat, multi-purpose front
passenger seat, sun filtrating windscreen, electric front windows, radio cassette
player and metallic paint.
MEL LEE's 2-sens worth
It is a frustrating time for many car buyers. The Peugeot 206 makes life complicating.
It is so desirable, and so unattainable. It takes so long to get one. It is especially
frustrating because the 206 is making the automatic choice in this price range - the
Honda City - not so automatic a choice anymore.
• Whether the car is intended as the main set of wheels for the family, or the
second or even third, the considerations will be the same: its price, practicality, looks,
brand/image, and resale value. The Peugeot, set against the Honda, loses very little
in most of these considerations. You think that is outrageous? That a Peugeot from
MBf can face off the Honda from Kah Motor? Think again.
• Let’s take price along with practicality. The 206 costs about RM82k, which is
clearly a subsidised price. The City Z-Type has a base price of RM86k but there’s a
RM12k ‘options’ package that you cannot delete. The 206 is a relatively new model
and one of Peugeot’s most prominent. It is fully imported, with neat and nicely
integrated features. It even has twin airbags and ABS. The Z-Type is a facelifted City,
which was engineered to be an ASEAN car, assembled here with local components
and loaded with frivolous equipment.
• In terms of looks, you would have to have vested interest to say that the City is in
the same league as the 206. This French baby looks equally good outside and in.
The only thing going against the 206 is that its design makes it look small. That’s an
illusion, it’s an accommodating car.
• Next: brand/image. This has been Kah Motor’s success story with the Honda
brand. No other company could contest that image with their brand, in the 1.3 to 2.2-
litre categories, until recently (the Toyota Camry and Corolla have been outselling the
Honda Accord and Civic). Currently, MBf-Peugeot would have a tough time getting a
fraction of the volumes of these models, but it is not an impossible task to do better.
As long as MBf-Peugeot is committed to doing the right thing, backed by attractive
models, and Kah Motor continues to operate the way it does, things are bound to
change. It helps that UMW-Toyota continues to make huge dents in the Kah Motor-
Honda’s veneer of invincibility.
• And lastly, resale value. A lot of people tend to forget that there are a lot of
Peugeot cars running around. The residual values of the 206, 306, 406, and even the
305 and 405, will improve corresponding to the efforts of MBf-Peugeot in revitalising
the brand.
• Currently, European models of this price categories cannot match their
Japanese rivals for resale value, but the Peugeot cars fare better than those of all the
other European makes. It is a good start.
• As for the 206, there will be so few of them available, relatively speaking, that the
situation should develop into one of ‘sustained interest’. There could well be price
increases to come. And then it will lead into the local-assembly programme, resulting
in a lot more units on the road, if things fall into place. The model has its future well
mapped out here.
•
• The Way It Drives The manner the 206 responses to throttle input is typical of
any modern small autodrive car - it is enthusiastic and peppy. That is bound to
surprise, pleasantly, all those who doubt that the 1.4-litre engine can move the car
decently, especially with an autobox. This eagerness to please, however, brings
about a hyperness that can be irritating for those used to cars with a more ‘big-
hearted’ character. But as this car is targetted at entry-level users, that should not
pose too much of a problem. Anyway, with the inherent big-car feel, as compared to
the Asian rivals, this car comes away better off. The peppy nature will excite young
drivers.
• This compact car has decent footwork; it is very comfortable and confident,
compared to the Asian cars, even those one class larger. It has its limits, as the
emphasis is on comfort more than outright handling, but these limits are higher than
most. More important, it feels nice to drive - as in being communicative and
responsive.
• The interior has sporty touches mixed in with the overall chic and practical
features. It is one cabin that can grow on you, for its design cues and versatility.
• French cars have always had refreshing touches in the cabin. Since Renault
took it to a fine art with the Scenic, makers like Peugeot are pressured to do the same
or better, to make these small-sized cars more appealing. That has been the great
desgin technology leap - carving so much out of the available space.
• The 206 has an interior that can hide things from you until years later, when you
spring clean it. There are hidden spaces all over, along with the generous amount of
cubbyholes, pockets and trays. The glovebox has one of the biggest capacities I have
ever come across. This is amazing as there is an airbag installed above it.
• There are other eye-opening features. For example: the front doors are so large
that you have to check to confirm that this is not a 3-door car; and the driver seat has
tremendous height variances, while the steering wheel is adjustable for tilt! This car
must be one of the easiest to park, second only to the Kancil.
• Clearly, picking this car over the usual choices demand that you want a
difference, not only for yourself but to convey a message to those looking at your
choice. The car comes with a lot of convincing arguments on why it is different.
• The spectre of poorer-then-usual resale value looms less ominously when you
accept that this car will give you a lot more pleasure on an everyday basis. Compared
to the other cars which argue the same differences, the Peugeot 206 has the
advantage of a solid representative which is clearly back on track. The only problem is
the waiting list. mel
Chris Wee's Counterpoint
• French Kisses This has got to be one of the cutest cars that I have ever tested!
• How’s that for an opening line? It really is a very, very attractive little fella. I must
admit, I expected the car to be a tad bigger, seeing as how it takes part in the WRC
and all. In fact, I thought it would be about the size of the Ford Focus. Wrong again.
The Peugeot 206 shares almost similar dimensions in size as the Satria GTi.
Unfortunately, MBf are not bringing in the GTi version of the 206, so we will have to be
content with the 5-door version as seen here. Would have been sweet though, to have
a few 206GTi’s running around. Can anybody find a single thing wrong with the
previous 205GTi 1.9? Awesome.
•
• Getting in chic I’m going to say this right off the bat. There were more women
looking at this car than men. Well, maybe they were looking at me… naah.
• The 206 is a very attractive looking car, especially from the front. Nice lines
accentuate the overall sporty look the car exudes. The 206 also has one of the
biggest front windshields on any car I’ve ever seen. What this means is that the 206
also had the biggest windshield wipers of any car I’ve seen. I kid you not, they are the
size of the ones found on a Merc S-Class. I strongly advise anyone buying this car to
get ‘windshield insurance’ as it must cost a bundle to get this one replaced.
• On the inside, the little car seems (and feels) a lot bigger than it looks from the
outside. There is ample legroom, and unlike most cars I drive, I did not have to push
the seat all the way to the end of its ‘rungs’.
• The driving position is comfortable, thanks to the seat that allows a multitude of
different position settings. All controls are within easy reach, and easy to find,
especially the ‘hazard’ light switch. Like the windshield before it, the hazard light
switch has to be the biggest I have ever seen in any car! It is impossible to miss it, as
it even has its own ‘housing’ that looks like a cubby-hole. I can only imagine that the
French get into many accidents to warrant a hazard switch this big.
• The power-assisted, tilt-adjustable steering wheel is ‘meaty’ and feels nice to
hold, and all the dials, which include a tacho and speedometer (rated to 210km/h!)
are well positioned. The air-con vents are nice and big (essential for this hot spell we’
ve been having, but typical of a continental car, the temperature adjuster dial for the
A/C has more ‘heat’ settings than ‘cold’.
• Under the front seat, there is a very unique feature. A smuggler’s cubby-hole.
Seriously though, there’s a storage compartment under the front seat. Please note
though, attempting to retrieve items from this storage area while someone is seated
is quite impossible, but worth a try for a good laugh.
• It allows for getting away with the following: Put a sandwich in there, and the next
time a female passenger asks you “What are you having for lunch?” you can say, “You’
re sitting on it!” and not get slapped silly. Good one, huh? I always was a cunning
linguist. (You are so sick it scares me sometimes – Ed)
• So, the interior of the 206 is quite spacious, it will fit four adults in relative
comfort. However, the fabric design leaves a lot to be desired. I can imagine the
French designer justifying the choice of design “Zees ees so verwy chic, we French
know about za style of zesign, oui!”
• See, that’s the problem with style, it is so subjective. I’m sure there will be some
who will find the seat fabric design very chic. I am not one of them. Quite seriously, the
design looks like something out of a video game. But maybe that’s just me.
•
• Getting technical What happens when a car-maker feels that it cannot compete
in an existing market category? It creates a new one. The 206 falls into a very unique
category of car. The 1,400cc category. Fourteen-hundred cc’s, 1,360 cc to be exact.
Indeed, a rather interesting size for an engine.
• The 1,400 cc unit is mated to a 4-speed ‘adaptive’ automatic gearbox, and
unfortunately for the boy-racers among you, there is no manual version offered. The
engine is a Magnetti-Marelli fuel-injected, 4-cylinder 8-valve unit, that puts out about
75bhp at 5,500rpm. Pretty decent stuff for a small engine.
• The gearbox feels ‘alive’ at times, especially during deceleration. Lift your foot off
the pedal quickly whilst in top gear, and the box drops a notch, to aid with engine
braking.
• Depending on how abusive you are with the gas pedal, or not, the gearbox
delays or speeds up the up-shifts. Pretty smart stuff.
• Speaking of brakes, the 206 has ventilated discs up front and drums in the rear,
which is good enough for a car of this size.
•
• Making its ‘Presence’ felt For a 1.4, the 206 is quite an adequate performer.
Acceleration from a standing start is smooth and effortless. Peugeot claims the 206
will see the under side of 155km/h. Keep it in 3rd gear and a claimed 160km/h can be
achieved. Peugeot claims a 0–100km/h time of 17.3 seconds, though I’m sure I could
do it in 3 seconds if I chucked it off a cliff. (Want to hear something interesting about 0
– 100 times? The McLaren F1 accelerates so fast, the g-force actually causes the
passengers to explode. Just kidding. Actually the McLaren accelerates so fast, it’s the
same as hurling the car off a cliff.)
• The 206 seems to be set up for ‘comfort’ as the suspension features a set of
trailing arms with torsion bars and hydraulic shock-absorbers in the rear, and
“pseudo-MacPherson inverted wishbones with pressurized shock-absorbers” in the
front, or so it says in the brochure. What are pseudo-MacPherson’s? By definition, it
means fake-MacPhersons. Weird.
• Handling wise, the 206 soaks up bumps well enough. However, the whole set-
up is just a bit too soft for any kind of spirited driving. There is an anti-roll bar in front,
but the 206 still rolls a bit in corners. The 175/65x14 Michelin Energy tyres are also
not up to the task of being trashed. The standard steel rims have wheel covers.
•
• Conclusion I feel it only fair to say that any guy looking to buy the 206 XR in the
hopes that it will give him the same sporty performance as the 206 GTi (or the
legendary 205 GTi), is going to be very disappointed. It’d be like buying a Satria 1.3
expecting it to perform like a Satria GTi. It is not a fair expectation, or comparison.
• The Peugeot 206 XR does not claim to be a performance-class car, and it
shouldn’t. The 206 is a very good car in its own right. It is nice to drive, easy to
manoeuvre, good on gas, and a superb city commuter. It has a strong engine and a
good gearbox. It is comfortable and pretty much a very good all-round performer.
• On the flip-side, it is also one helluva cute car, and I can pretty much guarantee it
will raise the babe-factor of any woman driving it. It longs to be driven to Bangsar on a
Saturday night, and parked in front of Coffee Bean.
• Priced at around RM83,443.20, the 206 is by no means cheap, but it is unique
and very special. I guess I’m not the only one that thinks so, because the 206 has a 3-
month (and getting longer) waiting list to fulfil. Chris Wee
It is a frustrating time for many car buyers. The Peugeot 206 makes life complicating.
It is so desirable, and so unattainable. It takes so long to get one. It is especially
frustrating because the 206 is making the automatic choice in this price range - the
Honda City - not so automatic a choice anymore.
• Whether the car is intended as the main set of wheels for the family, or the
second or even third, the considerations will be the same: its price, practicality, looks,
brand/image, and resale value. The Peugeot, set against the Honda, loses very little
in most of these considerations. You think that is outrageous? That a Peugeot from
MBf can face off the Honda from Kah Motor? Think again.
• Let’s take price along with practicality. The 206 costs about RM82k, which is
clearly a subsidised price. The City Z-Type has a base price of RM86k but there’s a
RM12k ‘options’ package that you cannot delete. The 206 is a relatively new model
and one of Peugeot’s most prominent. It is fully imported, with neat and nicely
integrated features. It even has twin airbags and ABS. The Z-Type is a facelifted City,
which was engineered to be an ASEAN car, assembled here with local components
and loaded with frivolous equipment.
• In terms of looks, you would have to have vested interest to say that the City is in
the same league as the 206. This French baby looks equally good outside and in.
The only thing going against the 206 is that its design makes it look small. That’s an
illusion, it’s an accommodating car.
• Next: brand/image. This has been Kah Motor’s success story with the Honda
brand. No other company could contest that image with their brand, in the 1.3 to 2.2-
litre categories, until recently (the Toyota Camry and Corolla have been outselling the
Honda Accord and Civic). Currently, MBf-Peugeot would have a tough time getting a
fraction of the volumes of these models, but it is not an impossible task to do better.
As long as MBf-Peugeot is committed to doing the right thing, backed by attractive
models, and Kah Motor continues to operate the way it does, things are bound to
change. It helps that UMW-Toyota continues to make huge dents in the Kah Motor-
Honda’s veneer of invincibility.
• And lastly, resale value. A lot of people tend to forget that there are a lot of
Peugeot cars running around. The residual values of the 206, 306, 406, and even the
305 and 405, will improve corresponding to the efforts of MBf-Peugeot in revitalising
the brand.
• Currently, European models of this price categories cannot match their
Japanese rivals for resale value, but the Peugeot cars fare better than those of all the
other European makes. It is a good start.
• As for the 206, there will be so few of them available, relatively speaking, that the
situation should develop into one of ‘sustained interest’. There could well be price
increases to come. And then it will lead into the local-assembly programme, resulting
in a lot more units on the road, if things fall into place. The model has its future well
mapped out here.
•
• The Way It Drives The manner the 206 responses to throttle input is typical of
any modern small autodrive car - it is enthusiastic and peppy. That is bound to
surprise, pleasantly, all those who doubt that the 1.4-litre engine can move the car
decently, especially with an autobox. This eagerness to please, however, brings
about a hyperness that can be irritating for those used to cars with a more ‘big-
hearted’ character. But as this car is targetted at entry-level users, that should not
pose too much of a problem. Anyway, with the inherent big-car feel, as compared to
the Asian rivals, this car comes away better off. The peppy nature will excite young
drivers.
• This compact car has decent footwork; it is very comfortable and confident,
compared to the Asian cars, even those one class larger. It has its limits, as the
emphasis is on comfort more than outright handling, but these limits are higher than
most. More important, it feels nice to drive - as in being communicative and
responsive.
• The interior has sporty touches mixed in with the overall chic and practical
features. It is one cabin that can grow on you, for its design cues and versatility.
• French cars have always had refreshing touches in the cabin. Since Renault
took it to a fine art with the Scenic, makers like Peugeot are pressured to do the same
or better, to make these small-sized cars more appealing. That has been the great
desgin technology leap - carving so much out of the available space.
• The 206 has an interior that can hide things from you until years later, when you
spring clean it. There are hidden spaces all over, along with the generous amount of
cubbyholes, pockets and trays. The glovebox has one of the biggest capacities I have
ever come across. This is amazing as there is an airbag installed above it.
• There are other eye-opening features. For example: the front doors are so large
that you have to check to confirm that this is not a 3-door car; and the driver seat has
tremendous height variances, while the steering wheel is adjustable for tilt! This car
must be one of the easiest to park, second only to the Kancil.
• Clearly, picking this car over the usual choices demand that you want a
difference, not only for yourself but to convey a message to those looking at your
choice. The car comes with a lot of convincing arguments on why it is different.
• The spectre of poorer-then-usual resale value looms less ominously when you
accept that this car will give you a lot more pleasure on an everyday basis. Compared
to the other cars which argue the same differences, the Peugeot 206 has the
advantage of a solid representative which is clearly back on track. The only problem is
the waiting list. mel
Chris Wee's Counterpoint
• French Kisses This has got to be one of the cutest cars that I have ever tested!
• How’s that for an opening line? It really is a very, very attractive little fella. I must
admit, I expected the car to be a tad bigger, seeing as how it takes part in the WRC
and all. In fact, I thought it would be about the size of the Ford Focus. Wrong again.
The Peugeot 206 shares almost similar dimensions in size as the Satria GTi.
Unfortunately, MBf are not bringing in the GTi version of the 206, so we will have to be
content with the 5-door version as seen here. Would have been sweet though, to have
a few 206GTi’s running around. Can anybody find a single thing wrong with the
previous 205GTi 1.9? Awesome.
•
• Getting in chic I’m going to say this right off the bat. There were more women
looking at this car than men. Well, maybe they were looking at me… naah.
• The 206 is a very attractive looking car, especially from the front. Nice lines
accentuate the overall sporty look the car exudes. The 206 also has one of the
biggest front windshields on any car I’ve ever seen. What this means is that the 206
also had the biggest windshield wipers of any car I’ve seen. I kid you not, they are the
size of the ones found on a Merc S-Class. I strongly advise anyone buying this car to
get ‘windshield insurance’ as it must cost a bundle to get this one replaced.
• On the inside, the little car seems (and feels) a lot bigger than it looks from the
outside. There is ample legroom, and unlike most cars I drive, I did not have to push
the seat all the way to the end of its ‘rungs’.
• The driving position is comfortable, thanks to the seat that allows a multitude of
different position settings. All controls are within easy reach, and easy to find,
especially the ‘hazard’ light switch. Like the windshield before it, the hazard light
switch has to be the biggest I have ever seen in any car! It is impossible to miss it, as
it even has its own ‘housing’ that looks like a cubby-hole. I can only imagine that the
French get into many accidents to warrant a hazard switch this big.
• The power-assisted, tilt-adjustable steering wheel is ‘meaty’ and feels nice to
hold, and all the dials, which include a tacho and speedometer (rated to 210km/h!)
are well positioned. The air-con vents are nice and big (essential for this hot spell we’
ve been having, but typical of a continental car, the temperature adjuster dial for the
A/C has more ‘heat’ settings than ‘cold’.
• Under the front seat, there is a very unique feature. A smuggler’s cubby-hole.
Seriously though, there’s a storage compartment under the front seat. Please note
though, attempting to retrieve items from this storage area while someone is seated
is quite impossible, but worth a try for a good laugh.
• It allows for getting away with the following: Put a sandwich in there, and the next
time a female passenger asks you “What are you having for lunch?” you can say, “You’
re sitting on it!” and not get slapped silly. Good one, huh? I always was a cunning
linguist. (You are so sick it scares me sometimes – Ed)
• So, the interior of the 206 is quite spacious, it will fit four adults in relative
comfort. However, the fabric design leaves a lot to be desired. I can imagine the
French designer justifying the choice of design “Zees ees so verwy chic, we French
know about za style of zesign, oui!”
• See, that’s the problem with style, it is so subjective. I’m sure there will be some
who will find the seat fabric design very chic. I am not one of them. Quite seriously, the
design looks like something out of a video game. But maybe that’s just me.
•
• Getting technical What happens when a car-maker feels that it cannot compete
in an existing market category? It creates a new one. The 206 falls into a very unique
category of car. The 1,400cc category. Fourteen-hundred cc’s, 1,360 cc to be exact.
Indeed, a rather interesting size for an engine.
• The 1,400 cc unit is mated to a 4-speed ‘adaptive’ automatic gearbox, and
unfortunately for the boy-racers among you, there is no manual version offered. The
engine is a Magnetti-Marelli fuel-injected, 4-cylinder 8-valve unit, that puts out about
75bhp at 5,500rpm. Pretty decent stuff for a small engine.
• The gearbox feels ‘alive’ at times, especially during deceleration. Lift your foot off
the pedal quickly whilst in top gear, and the box drops a notch, to aid with engine
braking.
• Depending on how abusive you are with the gas pedal, or not, the gearbox
delays or speeds up the up-shifts. Pretty smart stuff.
• Speaking of brakes, the 206 has ventilated discs up front and drums in the rear,
which is good enough for a car of this size.
•
• Making its ‘Presence’ felt For a 1.4, the 206 is quite an adequate performer.
Acceleration from a standing start is smooth and effortless. Peugeot claims the 206
will see the under side of 155km/h. Keep it in 3rd gear and a claimed 160km/h can be
achieved. Peugeot claims a 0–100km/h time of 17.3 seconds, though I’m sure I could
do it in 3 seconds if I chucked it off a cliff. (Want to hear something interesting about 0
– 100 times? The McLaren F1 accelerates so fast, the g-force actually causes the
passengers to explode. Just kidding. Actually the McLaren accelerates so fast, it’s the
same as hurling the car off a cliff.)
• The 206 seems to be set up for ‘comfort’ as the suspension features a set of
trailing arms with torsion bars and hydraulic shock-absorbers in the rear, and
“pseudo-MacPherson inverted wishbones with pressurized shock-absorbers” in the
front, or so it says in the brochure. What are pseudo-MacPherson’s? By definition, it
means fake-MacPhersons. Weird.
• Handling wise, the 206 soaks up bumps well enough. However, the whole set-
up is just a bit too soft for any kind of spirited driving. There is an anti-roll bar in front,
but the 206 still rolls a bit in corners. The 175/65x14 Michelin Energy tyres are also
not up to the task of being trashed. The standard steel rims have wheel covers.
•
• Conclusion I feel it only fair to say that any guy looking to buy the 206 XR in the
hopes that it will give him the same sporty performance as the 206 GTi (or the
legendary 205 GTi), is going to be very disappointed. It’d be like buying a Satria 1.3
expecting it to perform like a Satria GTi. It is not a fair expectation, or comparison.
• The Peugeot 206 XR does not claim to be a performance-class car, and it
shouldn’t. The 206 is a very good car in its own right. It is nice to drive, easy to
manoeuvre, good on gas, and a superb city commuter. It has a strong engine and a
good gearbox. It is comfortable and pretty much a very good all-round performer.
• On the flip-side, it is also one helluva cute car, and I can pretty much guarantee it
will raise the babe-factor of any woman driving it. It longs to be driven to Bangsar on a
Saturday night, and parked in front of Coffee Bean.
• Priced at around RM83,443.20, the 206 is by no means cheap, but it is unique
and very special. I guess I’m not the only one that thinks so, because the 206 has a 3-
month (and getting longer) waiting list to fulfil. Chris Wee