Why buy a Peugeot 206? A Renault Clio is more fun to drive, a Citroën Saxo is cheaper, yet the Peugeot 206 outsells them both. Why? Quite simply because it’s better looking.

Introduced in 1998, the 206 had a tough act to follow — the outgoing 205 was the small hatchback of the 1980s and early 1990s, and in GTi form it was the pocket rocket every yuppie lusted over. But the 206 didn’t disappoint. Whether in three- or five-door guise the visual appeal is immediate. Add to that more cabin space than with the 205, power steering and much improved build quality, and you see why the 206 went straight to the top of its class.

Powered by a broad range of petrol and diesel engines from 1.1 to 2 litres, the 206 exhibits a multitude of personalities. In 1.1 litre form it feels a little underpowered and equipment levels are miserly, but with group three insurance it’s still appealing to new drivers. Choose from the 1.4 or 1.6 and the nimble chassis and nicely weighted steering shine through. Add electric windows, central locking and split-fold rear seat that are standard on cars with larger engines and they make a fine buy.

If you’re after higher performance the GTi is unlikely to disappoint. With 137bhp, or 180bhp from the 2 litre engine, it’s a worthy successor to the 205 GTi. Alloys, sports seats and driving lights hint at the car’s performance potential and in 180bhp guise it will hit 60mph in 7.3sec and power on to a top speed of 143mph.

The GTi aside, economy is a 206 strong point and most petrol cars can achieve 40mpg. Buy a diesel and service station visits become even more infrequent with a realistic 55mpg in mixed motoring. The original 70bhp 1.9 litre diesel was replaced by a more powerful 2.0 HDi with 90bhp in February 2000 and a super-economical 1.4 HDi (68bhp) joined the line-up in January 2002. The combination of light body and torquey engine makes these diesels surprisingly quick.

On the road the 206 feels light and easy to drive. Visibility is good, but the sloping bonnet can make it difficult to judge the car’s length. Brakes are well weighted and progressive but ABS only comes as an option on all but top-spec cars.

Despite its chic French looks the 206 is constructed in Coventry. Build quality is generally high although minor switches and vents can feel a little plasticky.

When bought new most models provide a choice of air-conditioning or sunroof for the same price. Second-hand, the air-conditioned cars are more desirable with a premium of about £200 over cars with sunroofs.

The 206 leads the way with extended servicing intervals, petrol cars requiring a service every two years or 20,000 miles. Even diesels stretch the gap to two years or 10,000 miles. With such large intervals Peugeot recommends that the car is still checked annually, and its network of over 360 dealers is happy to do this for little or no charge.

Looks, economy and durability make the 206 highly desirable so used bargains are rare. You’re likely to pay up to £500 more for a 206 than for an equivalent Fiesta or Clio.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Peugeot 206 HDi GLX
Engine Four cylinder, 1997cc
Power 90bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 54.3mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0 to 62mph: 12sec
Top Speed 112mph

THE ONE TO BUY

Peugeot 206 HDi GLX five-door, 2000 V-reg with 40,000 miles and full Peugeot service history. Pay £5,995 at a dealer or £5,295 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY ...

2002 52-reg Citro‘n Saxo 1.5D Desire
2001 51-reg Ford Fiesta 1.8D LX
2001 Y-reg Vauxhall Corsa 1.7Di GLS
2001 Y-reg Renault Clio 1.5dCi Expression
2000 X-reg Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVTi GLS petrol

CHECK IT OUT

Servicing Two years or 20,000 miles on petrol models
Safety Achieved creditable four stars in Euro NCAP
Dashboard Hard plastic prone to rattles, switches are flimsy
Front tyres Check for uneven wear as tracking can easily be knocked out
Driving position Pedals are set further left than usual; feels odd at first but is quickly adjusted to
Fuel economy Diesel genuinely capable of 55mpg
Security Transponder immobiliser fitted in key on all cars
Factory sunroof Large sliding roof frequently suffers from rattles
Central locking Standard on most models but check it works
Split-fold rear seat Useful feature on all but base models
Spare wheel Stored in a cradle under the boot, prone to theft and corrosion

VALUES: Peugeot 206 GLX 2.0 HDi 5dr (with air-conditioning)

Mileage 30,000
2000 V Trade £5,100. Retail £6,225
2001 X Trade £5,875. Retail £6,995
2002 51 Trade £6,500. Retail £7,625

Mileage 40,000
2000 V Trade £4,850. Retail £5,995
2001 X Trade £5,600. Retail £6,725
2002 51 Trade £6,150. Retail £7,275

Mileage 60,000
2000 V Trade £4,350. Retail £5,475
2001 X Trade £5,125. Retail £6,250
2002 51 Trade £5,750. Retail £6,850

Cars with sunroofs instead of air-conditioning worth £200 less. Three-door cars worth £350 less than
equivalent five-door.

Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer