Peugeot 208 vs Vauxhall Corsa: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Peugeot 208 is the more reliable used buy: it passes its first MOT 1.1 percentage points more often than the Vauxhall Corsa once both are compared against what the national fleet scores at the same age. That comparison covers 117,634 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
Vauxhall Corsa	71%	76%	-5	94,401

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

Vauxhall Corsa

Mk5 (E) 2014–2019, Mk6 (F) 2019+ · supermini / city hatch

The Vauxhall Corsa Mk6 (2019+) uses the PSA 1.2 PureTech engine, which is efficient but runs its timing belt in engine oil — the "wet belt" that has caused engine failures across Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall. It is a service item, not a lottery: Stellantis cut the interval to 6 years or 62,000 miles, so what matters is whether the belt has been done, not the model year. The older Mk5 (2014–2019) with the 1.4 naturally aspirated petrol avoids the issue entirely and is near-bulletproof; its Easytronic automated-manual is the only real risk. Best-buy: Mk5 1.4 manual, or a Mk6 with a documented belt change.

What goes wrong

1.2 PureTech wet timing belt (Mk6)critical
Oil level dropping between services; rattle or whine on cold start; engine warning light; in the worst case sudden oil-pressure loss and engine failure
2019–2023 Mk6 (1.2 PureTech petrol — the wet belt was phased out for a chain from 2023) · Belt is due at 6 years or 62,000 miles, whichever comes first — failures cluster on cars that passed it · £450–£850 at a UK independent for the belt including cleaning the oil pick-up; £4,000+ if the belt has already shed debris and starved the engine
Check: This engine runs its timing belt submerged in engine oil. As the belt ages it sheds rubber particles, and those particles block the oil pick-up strainer — so the belt does not usually snap, it starves the engine instead. Ask one question: has the belt been changed, and is there an invoice? Stellantis revised the interval down to 6 years or 62,000 miles with annual oil changes on the correct 5W-30, so a 2019–2020 car is at or past it now. Pull the dipstick and treat a low level as a red flag. Stellantis also runs a UK compensation portal covering qualifying wet-belt repairs paid for between January 2022 and December 2024, and a warranty extension of up to 10 years / 112,000 miles on these engines — worth checking before you accept any quote.
Easytronic automated-manual (Mk5)major
Hesitation and shuddering in slow traffic; clutch actuator warning; slow gearchanges
Mk5 with Easytronic (not the 5-speed manual) · 50,000+ miles · £600–£1,200 clutch actuator + clutch plate; full Easytronic overhaul £1,500+
Check: Test drive in stop-start traffic only. Smooth clutch engagement on pull-away is the test. Any shudder = actuator worn. Check exactly which gearbox is fitted — Easytronic vs manual via VIN.
Electric power steering (EPS) failuremoderate
"Power Steering" warning; heavy steering; loss of assistance at low speeds
Mk5 and early Mk6 · 60,000+ miles · £450–£900 EPS motor or control unit
Check: Test power steering at parking lot speeds. Should be effortless. Any heaviness or warning = EPS issue.
Brake booster failure (Mk5)moderate
Hard brake pedal requiring heavy foot pressure; longer stopping distances
Mk5 2014–2019 · 75,000+ miles · £350–£600
Check: Press brake pedal firmly several times with engine off — should feel firm but not rock-hard when engine starts. Hard pedal with engine running = booster suspect.

Typical asking price:: Mk5: £3,500–£9,000 | Mk6: £8,000–£18,000 (2019–2023)
Real-world economy:: 1.2 PureTech: 40–49 mpg. 1.4 N/A (Mk5): 36–44 mpg
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 Corsa fault guide Used Vauxhalls

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.

Vauxhall Corsa

Good for: First-time buyers on a budget; urban commuters; buyers wanting low running costs. The Mk5 1.4 manual is the most forgiving used car buy in the UK under £10,000.

Less good for: Anyone considering a 2019–2020 Mk6 1.2 PureTech without confirmed service history — the timing chain risk is real. Buyers needing a car primarily for motorway miles (too small for comfort).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Peugeot 208 or the Vauxhall Corsa?

The Peugeot 208. It passes its first MOT 1.1 percentage points more often than the Vauxhall Corsa once both are age-adjusted, across 117,634 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 Vauxhall Corsa?

71% of Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT first time, from 94,401 tests. Against the 76% that cars of its age average, it runs 5 points worse.

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 Vauxhall Corsa, 2019–2020 Mk6 cars are now past the revised 6-year/62,000-mile belt interval, and this is the failure that matters: the belt degrades in the oil, the debris blocks the oil pick-up, and the engine is starved rather than the belt snapping. A car of these years with no belt invoice is carrying an open-ended risk, and repair once debris has circulated runs well beyond the cost of the belt itself.

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 Vauxhall Corsa returns 1.2 PureTech: 40–49 mpg. 1.4 N/A (Mk5): 36–44 mpg. 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).; Corsa — £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.