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Peugeot 208 vs Toyota Yaris: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Toyota Yaris does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 7.7 percentage points ahead of the Peugeot 208 on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 72,629 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Peugeot 208
Pass rate76.0%
Age-matched national79.9%
Difference-3.9
Tests23,233
Toyota Yaris
Pass rate79.5%
Age-matched national75.7%
Difference+3.8
Tests49,396

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Peugeot 208s registered 2012–2022 and Toyota Yaris registered 2000–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Peugeot 208

Mk2 (2019–present) · B-segment supermini. One of the most popular small cars in the UK, available with 1.2 PureTech petrol, 1.5 BlueHDi diesel, and fully electric e-208 (50kWh) variants.

The Peugeot 208 Mk2 is a stylish, well-specified supermini, but the 1.2 PureTech petrol runs a wet timing belt that owners report shedding debris and burning oil, so ask for a belt-change invoice on 2019–2020 cars. Some 1.5 BlueHDi diesels are covered by DVSA camshaft-chain recall R/2025/246. The electric e-208 has neither engine.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2026/231recall
    Peugeot 208 Horn sound volume
    41,085 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 September 2019 and 25 July 2022
    Large recall — 41,085 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2023/140recall
    On affected vehicles the AC compressor stator wiring could develop a fault leading to current loss inside the AC compressor that could result in a vehicle powertrain shutdown when driving.
    29,537 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 3 July 2019 and 26 November 2022
    Large recall — 29,537 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • 1.2 PureTech wet timing belt and oil consumptioncritical
    Oil level dropping between services; engine warning light; rattle or whine on cold start; stalling; in severe cases sudden loss of oil pressure and engine failure
    Mk2 2019–2023 (1.2 PureTech 100 and 130 petrol) · Belt due at 6 years or 62,000 miles, whichever comes first · £450–£850 at a UK independent for the belt including cleaning the oil pick-up; £4,000+ once debris has starved the engine
    Check: This is the single most important check on any petrol 208. The timing belt runs inside the engine oil; as it ages it sheds rubber into the sump and that debris blocks the oil pick-up strainer, so the engine dies of oil starvation rather than the belt breaking. Ask for a belt-change invoice — Stellantis revised the interval down to 6 years or 62,000 miles with annual oil changes on the correct 5W-30 spec, which puts every 2019–2020 car at or past it. Pull the dipstick and treat a low level as a red flag rather than a top-up. Stellantis runs a UK compensation portal for qualifying wet-belt repairs paid between January 2022 and December 2024, plus a warranty extension of up to 10 years / 112,000 miles — check both before accepting any quote. The e-208 is electric and has no belt at all.
  • iCockpit i-Toggles touchscreen and digital dashboard freezeminor
    Centre touchscreen freezes mid-drive; digital instrument cluster goes blank; infotainment reboots spontaneously
    2019–2022 across all variants · Can occur from low mileage — software-related · £0–£350 (software update free at dealer; hardware replacement if control unit fails)
    Check: Test the touchscreen and digital dashboard during the test drive — do they respond immediately? Ask if the car has had the latest Peugeot Connect infotainment software update applied. Most iCockpit freeze issues are resolved by software updates which are free at any authorised Peugeot dealer.
Typical asking price:
£6,995–£14,995, median £9,495 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
44–51 mpg (1.2 PureTech real-world UK mixed); 59–71 mpg (1.5 BlueHDi); 3.5–4.1 mi/kWh (e-208 real-world)
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used. Electric versions: one first registered from 1 April 2025 pays the £440/year supplement in years 2–6 only if it listed at over £50,000 new; one registered before then never does, whatever it cost.
Best years:
2022, 2023
Years to avoid:
2019, 2020
Used Peugeot 208s for saleFull 208 fault guideUsed Peugeots

Also compare:

Toyota Yaris

XP210, 2020+ · supermini hybrid hatch

The XP210 Toyota Yaris Hybrid (2020+) is among the most reliable cars sold in the UK. The hybrid system is solid; minor concerns are early-batch AC compressor failures, the 12V auxiliary battery on cars left unused, and brake squeak (cosmetic, common across all hybrids). The pre-2020 XP130 had rear-beam corrosion in coastal areas — XP210 unaffected. Best-buy: any year. Worst: none.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2022/055recall
    The initialization of the radar sensor may not have been completed correctly
    42,554 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 6 July 2020 and 21 June 2021
    Large recall — 42,554 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2023/279recall
    On affected vehicles there is a possibility that the DCM may not complete the shutdown process within a specific period of time when the ignition is turned off causing the DCM to not restart at the next ignition cycle and making the e-Call function unavailable.
    27,327 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 30 June 2021 and 28 July 2023
    Large recall — 27,327 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • AC compressor (early-batch)moderate
    AC blows warm; clicking from compressor
    Early 2020 production · £650–£950 compressor + regas
    Check: Test AC during inspection — should be cold within 1 minute on a warm day.
  • 12V auxiliary battery (unused cars)minor
    Hybrid system won't wake; "READY" not appearing
    All XP210 · Battery age 4–5 years · £220–£350
    Check: Toyota battery health check at dealer (£20–£30).
Typical asking price:
£11,999–£28,990, median £15,499 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
58–69 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.5 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheet).
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Used Toyota Yaris for saleFull Yaris fault guideUsed Toyotas

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Peugeot 208

Good for: Urban and suburban commuters who want a stylish small car. Buyers who can verify the PureTech wet timing belt has been changed against the 6-year/62,000-mile interval. e-208 buyers whose daily driving sits well inside its real-world range.

Less good for: Buyers who cannot get a wet-belt change invoice for a 2019–2020 petrol car — the belt is past due and the failure mode is engine-destroying. High-mileage EAT8 automatic buyers without documented gearbox service. Buyers wanting a simple, low-maintenance petrol supermini should consider the Toyota Yaris Hybrid instead.

Toyota Yaris

Good for: Urban drivers, first-time buyers, anyone prioritising lowest running costs.

Less good for: Long-distance highway commuters wanting cabin space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Peugeot 208 or the Toyota Yaris?
On the MOT measure, the Toyota Yaris: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 7.7 percentage points ahead of the Peugeot 208 on first-time MOT passes, across 72,629 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Peugeot 208 and the Toyota Yaris compare?
76.0% of Peugeot 208s pass their MOT first time (23,233 tests in DVSA's records) and 79.5% of Toyota Yaris pass their MOT first time (49,396 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Peugeot 208's age average 79.9% and cars of the Toyota Yaris's age 75.7% — so the Peugeot 208 runs 3.9 points worse than its age group and the Toyota Yaris runs 3.8 points better than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Peugeot 208 and Toyota Yaris should I avoid?
Peugeot 208: 2019–2020 cars are now past the revised 6-year/62,000-mile wet-belt interval. The 1.2 PureTech runs its timing belt in engine oil; as the belt breaks down it sheds rubber into the sump, that debris blocks the oil pick-up strainer, and the engine is starved. Oil consumption and engine failure are both well documented on cars with no belt-change invoice. Toyota Yaris: No standout bad year in XP210. Pre-2020 XP130 had documented rear-beam corrosion in coastal areas — that generation is the one to avoid.
Is the Peugeot 208 or the Toyota Yaris cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine, and for a plug-in or electric version on whether you can charge at home. Peugeot 208: 44–51 mpg (1.2 PureTech real-world UK mixed); 59–71 mpg (1.5 BlueHDi); 3.5–4.1 mi/kWh (e-208 real-world). Toyota Yaris: 58–69 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.5 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheet). WLTP figures are official lab results; your own driving can return a different figure. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. The electric versions (e-208) pay the same £200/year standard rate since 1 April 2025 (electric cars were exempt before then), with the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 only on one first registered from 1 April 2025 that listed at over £50,000 new. Any Peugeot 208 or Toyota Yaris registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.