Identical small hatchback challenge! Peugeot 208 vs Vauxhall Corsa – what's the difference?

The Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 are technically the same car under the skin – but why do UK buyers tend to pick the Corsa over the 208? Join Rebecca Jackson for an in-depth comparison of the Peugeot and the Vauxhall, including a look at interior tech, fit and finish, back-seat and boot space and the all-important drive. Which would you pick?

[richardwilton]

The Corsa is made in Spain, in Saragossa. The UK is the only country where it’s badged as a Vauxhall. Everywhere else ( including the Irish Republic), it’s an Opel. Vauxhall’s supermini hasn’t been made in England since the Chevette finished production. To be fair, the 208 isn’t made in France, either. It’s built in Slovakia. Rather Spain or Slovakia than China, is what I say. The first MG3 was a rebadged Rover Steetwise, which was a crossover Rover 200. When MG went bust, it was all shipped off to China. Long live European car manufacturing. By the way, if you’ve never been to Saragossa, go there. It’s beautiful, especially for the Marian festival. Never seen so many people walking round a city holding a guitar! 😅

[andrewwelsh]

Can people please understand, Vauxhall do Not exist. Its badged purely to try and sell it in the UK.

[paulratnage]

208 is the better car on the inside with design of the interior. Main problem with both cars & Citroen c3 plus a couple other models from the same group, is a design fault cambelt issue to look out for on the pure tech 1.2, 3 pot engine. If buying one check the cambelt for wear/cracking & swelling even on low mileage & a few years old.

[TIMSANDYSURF]

I have driven both of these cars as we were looking to change my wife’s car. The corsa is a cracking little car and we were about to buy when we tried the Peugeot. What a great car this Pug is. We chose the Peugeot in 130 GT guise and it’s a little firecracker. Great quality and stylish interior (that outweighs the small disadvantage stupid screen). It’s got more youthful looks than the Corsa . With the GT 130 model you get a great handling set up and in sport mode is surprisingly swift. My car is an F Type R but it’s quite often that we chose to take the Pug on a trip as it’s fun without the hassle of parking and driving such a big and powerful car.

[MoragDrummond]

Maybe people don’t want to buy the top of the range in the 208 and not get key features without a lot of add on. Whereas the Corsa has them included. Hmmm.

[robtyman]

If I had to choose between the two - I'd go for the Peugeot. It just looks better, more stylish on the outside; and a classier interior - I like the Peugeot's dashboard more. But I imagine despite the two being virtually the same car - the Peugeot being the one that's the better one to drive.

[thomash]

The Opel Corsa is indeed made in Spain by Stellantis, a Franco-Italo-American company. The Vauxhall brand was last British-owned 99 years ago in 1925. Saying its from Luton really would be quite the pork pie.
I personally prefer the German-style seriousness of the Opel interior. I’m not on board with the Peugeot i-Cockpit at all.

[jimmcintosh]

The Peugeot with its climate controls on the touch screen sounds rather fiddly and dangerous as had been mentioned that touchscreens can be distracting for drivers. If you can't use a mobile when driving why should it be OK to be fiddling and looking at a touchscreen?!

[ChristopherNeilF]

Vauxhall hasn’t been a British car company since 1925, brought by General Motors.
Vauxhall has since been rebadged German Opel cars.
Now owned by PSA group who owns Peugeot and Citroen .
Vauxhall and Peugeot might as well be the same car ..

[johntaylor]

3.20 any one who needs “expensive feeling materials” is a real sad nerd, what a way to assess a car, it’s hilarious. 😂😂😂

[Don_Gorgan]

The steering wheel is an issue, It blocks the view of the instruments no matter how I adjust it..and others have the same problem too.

If you’re only talking about two models, surely the thumbnail should ask which is better?

[vp]

Why does Rebecca have beef with Luton airport?

[chasevans]

Last week I fitted a new wet belt kit to a 4 year old 42, 000 mile 208 which came in with the oil pressure warning light on. Sump strainer had about a tablespoon full of belt particle solids blocking it. Luckily this time, the crank bearings were still ok and hadn't welded themselves to the journals. Avoid either of these cars with a very long barge pole. They both use the same petrol engines. Throwaway junk.

[davewells]

If your tall don't go near a 208, it's impossible to get behind the wheel

[stevenmoran]

Vauxhall not British and all their models are to be honest the budget version of the Peugeot, and worse seem to have included the harder German spec seating which is far worse than the usual French comfy seating.

[stuartsinclair]

I don’t understand Vauxhall is owned by the French it’s not GM no more

[jimmacgregor]

Agree with Rebecca - but for a different reason - that Peugeot interior is awful, with a driving position that just doesn't work for shorter people - and they could both do with more steering weight - that's what made the Fiesta so good.

[williamegler]

You mean French and German owned by the French.
Vauxhall is just a marketing division of Opel and hasn't designed a vehicle independently of Opel since the original Viva.

[DontPanicDear]

I know it’s been a while now, but I’m just gonna say it….

I’m not okay, with the whole Stellantis thing 😮
I just can’t get onboard with Dodge, Vauxhall, Fiat , Maserati, Citroen and other being the same company 😂