Peugeot 208

At a glance

Who is this car for?

A couple basing in Kotor or Budva for a week, mixing beach days with day-trips up to Cetinje and along the Adriatic Highway.

• City driving
• Short stays
• Coastal drives

On Montenegro roads

Behind the wheel

The 208 Mk2 is the sharpest-looking B-segment hatchback on this roster and arguably the most confident to drive. The 1.2 PureTech 100 hp three-cylinder petrol with the 6-speed manual is the spec that makes the most sense on a Kotor rental; the 75 hp entry version runs out of momentum on the Cetinje climb. The i-Cockpit interior, with its small-diameter steering wheel and raised instrument cluster, is a Marmite arrangement, but renters who get on with it find it genuinely easier to use in slow bay traffic. The 1.2 engine has had reliability attention in recent production years; earlier units had issues that the updated head gasket design addressed.

On Montenegro roads

The 208 drives with more verve than any other B-segment car listed here and that character suits Kotor's two most rewarding day-trip routes. The Lovćen serpentine above the bay is where the small wheel and accurate steering pay back: you can place the 208 precisely on the hairpins without fighting understeer. On the Kotor–Cetinje–Rijeka Crnojevića loop the engine needs all six gears used freely, but the reward is a car that feels engaged rather than laboured. The Risan coastal run and the Skadar Lake motorway leg work fine too; the 208 is simply more animated than its siblings on the roads that reward animation.

Space and load

The 311-litre boot is the 208's weakest point on a longer Kotor stay. Two carry-on bags fit seats-up; a single checked case takes up the full floor. Beach gear for two, towels and a small cool-bag, travels comfortably; adding a sun parasol forces one rear seat to fold. For a two-week rental with proper luggage, most renters find themselves rationing boot space by day three. Fold the 60/40 bench and 1,106 litres appears, enough for two bikes with front wheels removed or a compact camping setup for a Biogradska overnight.

Best journeys for this car

The 208's Kotor rental customer is the short-to-medium stay visitor who cares about how a car drives and whose week is skewed toward the scenic mountain routes rather than family logistics. It suits couples on five to eight night stays doing the Lovćen and Cetinje loop properly, solo travellers who want something enjoyable rather than just adequate, and returning visitors who found the Clio slightly anonymous and want a car with a stronger character on the twisty sections. It is too small-booted for four adults with checked luggage.

Practical notes

Real-world petrol economy is 6.0 L/100 km in mixed driving, a touch worse than the Clio because the 208 carries similar weight on a less efficient early-stroke engine. The 44-litre tank delivers around 730 km between stops. Parking at 4.06 m is easy throughout the bay; the tight turning circle of 10.4 m is a specific advantage in the compact Kotor bays that wider cars negotiate in two movements. Front-wheel drive on all-season rubber is fine year-round at coastal elevations; chains are legally required on several mountain passes between November and March.

The verdict

Pick the 208 when the driving experience on mountain routes matters as much as the destination and you are travelling light with no more than two checked cases. Skip it if your week is logistically heavy with four adults, full luggage and a long inland loop, where the Megane or 308 is the correct tool.

Inside the car

• PureTech petrol
• Manual gearbox
• i-Cockpit dashboard
• Air conditioning