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

On DVSA MOT records the Peugeot 208 and the Vauxhall Corsa are too close to call — 1.1 percentage points apart on first-time MOT passes once you allow for the age of each fleet, which is inside what the choice of cars counted can move. A winner is named only at 2 points or more. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. Choose on the fault patterns and running costs below.

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
Vauxhall Corsa
Pass rate71.0%
Age-matched national76.0%
Difference-5.0
Tests94,401

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Peugeot 208s registered 2012–2022 and Vauxhall Corsas registered 2001–2022.

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:

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. 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 non-turbo petrol avoids the issue; its Easytronic automated-manual is the main risk. Best-buy: Mk5 1.4 manual, or a Mk6 with a documented belt change.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2022/046recall
    The customer might not be alerted to a malfunction of the turn indicator
    66,176 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 28 August 2019 and 31 May 2021
    Large recall — 66,176 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2019/070recall
    The lambda control might not be robust/precise enough at high speed
    53,981 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 5 January 2018 and 9 April 2019
    Large recall — 53,981 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • 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.
Typical asking price:
£3,499–£12,490, median £6,750 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel 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. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2023
Years to avoid:
2019, 2020
Used Vauxhall Corsas for saleFull Corsa fault guideUsed Vauxhalls

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.

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 wet timing belt 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?
Neither stands out on the MOT measure. Their first-time MOT pass rates sit 1.1 percentage points apart once each is compared against the national rate for cars of the same age, which is too close to call (we name a winner only at 2 points or more). 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. Pick on the specific faults each is prone to instead.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Peugeot 208 and the Vauxhall Corsa compare?
76.0% of Peugeot 208s pass their MOT first time (23,233 tests in DVSA's records) and 71.0% of Vauxhall Corsas pass their MOT first time (94,401 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Peugeot 208's age average 79.9% and cars of the Vauxhall Corsa's age 76.0% — so the Peugeot 208 runs 3.9 points worse than its age group and the Vauxhall Corsa runs 5.0 points worse 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 Vauxhall Corsa 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. 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.
Is the Peugeot 208 or the Vauxhall Corsa 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). Vauxhall Corsa: 1.2 PureTech: 40–49 mpg. 1.4 N/A (Mk5): 36–44 mpg. 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 Vauxhall Corsa 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.