If there's anything French automaker Peugeot has always been good at doing, it's making fantastic small cars. Possibly one of their best of all time is the 205, launched back in the 1980s. It was small, cheap, practical, a breeze to own and fun to drive. The 205 was around for a while, but Peugeot realized towards the end of its life that the supermini (subcompact) segment was declining in Europe. For their next project, they spun off the would-be supermini into two different models.
One of those was the 106, the smaller one, whereas the larger one was the 206. Arriving right before what many would consider Peugeot's sharp decline in quality, something that they have eradicated entirely, the 206 is definitely a Peugeot worth considering. With over 8 million units sold, it's easy to see why. Despite that, the 206 is still somewhat underrated, but it shouldn't be.
10 It's Very, Very Cheap
One of the best things about buying a used 206 is that they're so cheap, it's almost funny. They were never expensive, though. Back in the early 2000s, a decently equipped five-door 206 would set you back less than $12,000 (in today's money).
As for the used market, 206 are ten a penny. One look at the UK classifieds shows that even low-mile 206 examples with decent equipment levels can be found for less than £1,000, which is less than $1,400. Not bad at all.
9 Surprisingly Reliable
Everyone loves to bash French cars and everyone loves to say, in particular, that they're unreliable. Some even go as far to call them "trash." While it is true in a lot of cases, the 206 is one of many cars challenges that preconception.
Obviously, you're not getting the indestructible and legendary dependability that you would get in, say, a Toyota. But, for a French car, and one from the late 90s and early 2000s especially, the 206 is more robust than you might think. There are some potential electrical gremlins, but with over 8 million units sold, it shouldn't be difficult to find a replacement.
8 Surprisingly Fun To Drive
While it's no Ford Fiesta or Mazda 2, the Peugeot 206 can definitely hold its own on a twisty road. Peugeot was always known for injecting some dynamic prowess into its small cars, and the 206 is no exception.
The small dimensions made it easy to throw around, and the controls were very well judged. Even in its base form, it can be entertaining, but you'll have to step up to the hot hatch version if you want to have some real fun.
7 It Was Available As A Station Wagon
While the regular 206 was surprisingly spacious for a small car (more on that later), some buyers demanded a little bit more room without having to step up to a full-size wagon. If you're among that crowd, that's where the 206 SW comes into play.
SW, in this case, stands for "Space Wagon." Yes, really. As well as the increased length and interior room, the 206 SW moved its rear door handles into the pillars... for no particularly good reason, but at least it looks cool. Elsewhere, the 206 SW offered 11 cubic feet of cargo space, compared to 8.6 on the standard model.
6 There Was A Convertible Version
The 206 was sold around the time when convertible versions of cheap cars were extremely popular in Europe. Renault had the Megane CC, Opel had the Tigra and Astra TwinTop, and Peugeot themselves had the 206CC, as well as the larger 307CC.
The 206CC was basically the same size as the Tigra, but there were two tiny rear seats. You would never ever think of using them, but they were there. It also had a rather cool folding metal roof, and the 206's styling definitely worked well with a convertible top.
5 The Interior Is Pretty Good
Automotive interiors are getting more high-tech and more insane, and sometimes we forget how good it is to just have all the basics and have it all work. The 206 is a perfect example of this. The interior is not particularly pretty, but it's very solid, and most models have all you need from such a car.
Most 206 models had AC, either dual-zone or just a regular system, power windows, power mirrors, power locks, height adjustable seats and other basics. Cruise control can be retrofitted, but it's complicated. As for Bluetooth, a $10 12V transmitter will get that done for you.
4 The Engines Are Very Strong
While the electrical gremlins present on the 206 may be a cause for concern, the engines really shouldn't be. While every engine offered on the 206 will take a good beating if well-maintained, if you want carefree driving for thousands of miles, you have to get the 2.0 HDi.
The 2.0 HDi diesel is widely regarded as the PSA Group's best engine. 90 hp isn't a lot, sure, but it's perfectly adequate for this little 2,000 lb car. If you don't want a diesel (we'd understand), the gasoline units should be adequate, although, make sure they've been taken care of.
3 It's Roomy For A Small Car
The 206 is a pretty small car, only slightly longer than a Mini Cooper. Despite that, there's a surprising amount of room in the rear seats. Even though it's a small car, the 206 was often used as a family car throughout its life, especially the five-door and SW versions.
Meanwhile, the cargo area, as previously mentioned, boasts 8.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which is not too bad for a small car. If you do need the extra space, you can always get the charming SW verison.
2 It Looks Pretty Cool
The 206 was when Peugeot slowly started to move away from their 80s and 90s boxy designs, and it definitely shows. Despite the curvy design language, the 206 is a surprisingly cool looking small car. This is especially true on higher spec versions with larger wheels.
It's not gonna set the world on fire, but it's a cool looking small car. The headlights look cool, and on higher spec versions, the fuel door has a nice little metal effect on it. Some models also got polished exhaust tips, like the car pictured.
1 The Hot Hatch Version Is Great
If you're from the UK, you'll recognize this as the 206 GTI 180. In LHD markets, Peugeot used the RC badge instead, although both versions are basically the same. Under the hood was a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with, you guessed it, 180 hp.
This allowed for a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 137 mph. Compared to its chief rival, the Renault Sport Clio, the GTI 180 is highly overlooked. While it's more grown up than the Clio, the GTI 180 is still a very good and very cheap hot hatchback.