by Ané Theron

If you're new to the driving thing, you may want to consider a car that isn't just economical to run, but safe as well. Does the Peugeot 208 cut the mustard for the newly-licensed driver?

The short answer is yes. The Peugeot 208 is, first and foremost, a French car, and the French are quite serious about safety. It is classified as a supermini, and if you're concerned with the fact that parts may be expensive, Mr Malcolm Kinsey will prove you wrong. His research proves that the Peugeot 208 has the cheapest parts basked in our local 'supermini' segment, beating both the VW Polo as well as the Renault Sandero with its affordable parts pricing. Assessed across three categories of service, maintenance and ‘crash’ items, the Kinsey report confirmed that the 208 is one of the most affordable cars to own maintain and insure. 

To see if for yourself, we recommend that you read the Kinsey Report right here.

So, now we've got that out of the way, let's focus on safety features...

The new, entry-level Peugeot 1.2 Active will cost you an affordable R204 900, but if you can't buy a new model, a lightly used demo model or pre-loved 208 with low mileage is the next-best thing.

The 208 competes with the likes of the Mazda2, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta and new Nissan Micra, Renault Clio and Kia Rio. In 1.2 Active guise, the 208 comes generously equipped with safety equipment. On the list is ABS with EBD, brake assist, traction and stability control, and 4 airbags. It also has cruise control, front fog lamps, LED head- and tail-lamps, and fingertip controls so your eyes can stay firmly glued to the road ahead. 

Fitted with Peugeot's 1.2-litre, naturally aspirated PureTech engine (60kW and 118Nm) and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 12.2 seconds it doesn't look very potent on paper; but bear in mind that the bodyshell is small and light, so there's not much heft to lug around. Build quality is very good and you'll really look the part if you're concerned about your image! And while the driving position can be something to get used to, it makes for a more involving experience.

But what about the question on everybody's lips: The availability of parts?

“We realise how important parts pricing and availability are as an influencer of long-term ownership particularly when it comes to vehicles coming out of warranty.  We are determined to dispel the negative perception regarding our parts pricing by continuing to work hard to prove that perception is not reality", said Francisco Gaie, Peugeot MD.

“Aftersales is a critical area for any brand in any market and we have focused a tremendous amount of energy and resources on this aspect of our business.

"A local warehouse with over R35 million worth of fast moving parts is situated in Johannesburg ensuring that parts are delivered to the outlying Peugeot Dealer network on a regular basis, and twice a day in Gauteng." 

So there you have it. There's no real reason not to buy a French car in South Africa. 

• To read our review on the fiesty 208 GT Line, click here.
• Also read ​Five French cars to beat the fuel price hike.