Practical consumption Peugeot 205: is there progress?

We see it regularly: readers who comment on the consumption of modern cars in a striking way. The format of such a response is approximately as follows: “I was already driving more economically with my (fill in model) in (fill in a year that was long gone), what progress!” Is it spite, or are they secretly right? We’re going to experiment with this strong song.

Consumption Peugeot 205 1.4 Génération

The 205 Génération (Zjénérasjon, not Dzjenereesjun) is particularly well represented in the Consumption Monitor. This is the last series, which was available between 1996 and 1999. Under the hood was usually a 1.4-liter petrol engine with 75 hp, although it was also available with a 1.8 diesel.

The average fuel consumption of the fifteen 1.4 Génération drivers is 1 in 16.9 (5.9 l/100 km). The lowest consumption is even 1 in 19.9 (5.03 l/100 km), determined based on 20,028 kilometers. The worst value is 1 in 12.1 (8.3 l/100 km). The owner of this copy drove about 11,000 kilometers in about a year and a half: there are probably a lot of short trips that are not good for consumption.

The second worst value is 1 in 15.4 (6.5 l/100 km), achieved by a driver who also drives a limited number of kilometers per year. We therefore dare to say that with a 205 1.4 you will always score 1 out of 15 or better.

Consumption 205 1.1

Slightly older is the Peugeot 205 1.1, of which we spotted copies between 1990 and 1994 in the Consumption Monitor. The average consumption of these cars is 1 in 16.5 (6.1 l/100 km) slightly less favorable than that of the more modern 1.4. Whether this is due to the older engine technology or because the block with 55 hp – later 60 – has to work harder remains a guess.

In this case we are dealing with a shared first economy price. Two drivers achieved a consumption of 1 in 19.2 (5.2 l/100 km). Unfortunately, the first one only lasted a month with the measurement, but the second rider shows that it is really possible. The first fuel receipt of this thrift king dates from 2020 and consumption is recorded to this day. The most uneconomical 205 1.1 driver? It scored 1:14.5 (6.9 l/100 km), still not bad.

Are the critics right?

It certainly seems that way in this case. The average practical consumption of the 205 1.4 Génération exactly corresponds to that of the previous generation Peugeot 208 1.2 PureTech 82. If we look for the nuance, the differences between the two cars are considerable. The 205 weighs 830 kg, compared to 950 for the 208. The 208 is also 26 cm longer, 16.7 cm wider, 8.4 cm higher and… 1.6 seconds slower on the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h.

In terms of – undisputed – safety and – somewhat debatable – comfort, the 208 is on a higher level. And although it does not score any better in terms of CO2 emissions than its illustrious predecessor, the exhaust gases of the newcomer are somewhat cleaner. The nostalgics’ wish may not always be successful, but in the case of the compact Peugeot they at least have a strong number… er, period. And that makes the fortieth anniversary of the 205 just that little bit more festive.