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

On DVSA MOT records the Toyota Yaris is the more reliable used buy: it passes its first MOT 7.7 percentage points more often than the Peugeot 208 once both are compared against what the national fleet scores at the same age. That comparison covers 72,629 real tests, not a survey.

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.

Model	Pass rate	Age-matched national	Difference	Tests
Peugeot 208	76%	79.9%	-3.9	23,233
Toyota Yaris	79.5%	75.7%	+3.8	49,396

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Applies to Great Britain — Northern Ireland is tested by the DVA under a separate manual.

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 and well-specified supermini but the 1.2 PureTech 100 engine has a documented timing chain and oil consumption problem on early 2019–2020 production cars. Buyers should specifically check for the PureTech chain recall fix and verify the car does not consume oil between services. The e-208 electric variant avoids all petrol engine concerns and is an excellent choice for urban UK drivers.

What goes wrong

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.
Gearbox judder — EAT8 automaticmoderate
Shuddering or hesitation when moving off from standstill; harshness in low-speed traffic; jerky low-speed gear changes
2019–2021 (EAT8 8-speed automatic) · Above 25,000 miles in urban use · £300–£600 software recalibration; £1,200–£2,800 if mechatronic unit or solenoids require replacement
Check: Test the EAT8 auto specifically in slow-moving traffic and from a complete standstill. Any shudder or hesitation when pulling away is the known EAT8 low-speed judder symptom. A software calibration update (free at dealer under warranty) often resolves it — check whether the update has been applied on older cars. Avoid high-mileage EAT8 automatics without documented gearbox service.
Front brake judder — warped discsmoderate
Steering wheel shaking under braking from motorway speeds; pulsing through brake pedal
All years above 25,000 miles · 25,000+ miles · £280–£500 front discs and pads replacement
Check: Brake firmly from 50 mph on a quiet road. Any vibration through the pedal or steering wheel indicates warped discs — common on 208s used in urban stop-start traffic. Front disc and pad replacement is straightforward and relatively inexpensive on the 208.

Typical asking price:: Mk2 2019–2021: £6,000–£13,000 | Mk2 e-208 (2020–2022): £8,000–£13,000
Real-world 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. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:: 2021, 2022, 2023
Years to avoid:: 2019, 2020

Full 208 fault guide Used Peugeots

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

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).
Brake squeak (regen)minor
Squeak at low speeds, fades with speed
All hybrids · Cosmetic
Check: Common, not a fault.
Touch 2 infotainment lagminor
Slow CarPlay response
2020–2022 · No fix — software limitation
Check: Use 10+ minutes during test drive to assess if liveable.

Typical asking price:: £14,000–£22,000 (2020–2024)
Real-world economy:: 63–74 mpg hybrid — best-in-class
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Full Yaris fault guide Used Toyotas

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 doing short-to-medium daily distances under 124 miles.

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?

The Toyota Yaris. It passes its first MOT 7.7 percentage points more often than the Peugeot 208 once both are age-adjusted, across 72,629 DVSA-recorded tests.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 208?

76% of Peugeot 208s pass their MOT first time, from 23,233 tests in DVSA's records. The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of this model's age average 79.9% — so it runs 3.9 points worse than its age group.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Yaris?

79.5% of Toyota Yariss pass their MOT first time, from 49,396 tests. Against the 75.7% that cars of its age average, it runs 3.8 points better.

Which years should I avoid?

For the 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. For the 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.

Which is cheaper to run?

The Peugeot 208 returns 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) in real UK driving; the Toyota Yaris returns 63–74 mpg hybrid — best-in-class. Vehicle tax: 208 — £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).; Yaris — £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, 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: 2026-08-14 / 2026-08-14.