As we’ve stated on several other occasions, hot hatches are a very special type of car. No wonder the MK.I VW Golf GTI and Peugeot 205 GTi made such a mark in their day, because they offered it all for the person who didn't want to give up practicality and space, in the detriment of outright performance, at relatively affordable prices.
This is why the latest Ford Fiesta ST, and its rival from France, the Peugeot 208 GTi are very eagerly awaited by boy-racers, as well as middle-aged men suffering a mid-life crisis on a budget. The financial part is what really attracts buyers, though, and here the Ford comes out on top, because it is the cheaper option in the UK.
The more expensive 208 GTi is said to be more comfortable than the ST, and according to HonestJohn, it rides and drives considerably better than the regular 208 on which it's based. It also has a 20 hp advantage over the Ford, as well as a nicer looking interior.
Both cars are quite light, and despite the horsepower difference, they both reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in around 6.5 seconds. One advantage that the Ford does have over the Peugeot is the consistency with which they have had good hot hatches in their range for many years recently, while the GTi is the first proper hot hatch Peugeot has made in ages.
In the end, the more expensive Peugeot is probably the more modern and more complete car, and it trumps the Ford when it comes to interior ambiance. Setting them apart on exterior styling is tricky, because each has its own fans. In my opinion, the Fiesta is the cleaner and sweeter-looking of the two – that's not to say the 208 doesn't look good, because it does. However, its design is nowhere near as clean, and it is a bit too fussy and busy from some angles.
Which would you buy, with your own money? The slightly cheaper Ford or the more powerful and expensive Peugeot?
By Andrei Nedelea
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