Peugeot 206 Sedan. Price: from 329,000 rubles. On sale: 2006.
2006 Peugeot 206 Sedan
© Photo: Peugeot
The continuation of the two hundred series after the super-popular 205 model left the stage became one of Peugeot's main bets of the nineties. Much depended on the success of the 206 model, and serious forces were involved in its development. Three- and five-door hatchbacks saw the light of day in the summer of 1998. By the year 2000, this car received a sixteen-valve 1.6 engine with 109 hp, and the advanced-for-its-time 206 CC version was also released: a coupe-cabriolet with a rigid folding roof. In 2002, the body range was supplemented with a station wagon, and the long-awaited "hot" RC with a two-liter 177 hp engine appeared in the model range. To date, the task has been accomplished: the Peugeot 206 sold well all over the world and did not yield to its predecessor in popularity.
206 became the last Peugeot with an independent rear suspension and torsion bars as its elastic elements. The traditional McPherson is left at the front. Among the strong points of the car, in relation to Russian operation, the durable and rigid body stands out. It withstands both vibrations from our roads and the chemical aggression of winter reagents.
Throughout its modern history, Peugeot has balanced between Paris and the provinces, so to speak. Cars with a lion on the hood are organically perceived both at the doors of a boutique and at the gates of a farm. And the little cars of the "second" series, which are striking for the French company, are the most pervasive. Ask several interlocutors what they associate with the Peugeot 205, and you will get as many different answers as you meet people. For some, it is the monstrous pressure of the mythical 205 T16, which no one could resist in the World Rally Championship. For some, it is the most compact and "scalded" GTI of its era. For a huge number of people, it is a small cheap car with a motor from a mixer and bicycle-like handling. And for colorful French villagers, it is a GT for transporting chickens: in the cabin there is compound feed, around the fuel filler neck there is an eternal stain of diesel fuel, and the hairy elbow of the driver sticks out of the driver's window. And if the narrow tires do not squeal in every turn, then today is an unsuccessful day. And also, the 205 became the most numerous Peugeot in the entire history of the company.
2006 Peugeot 206 Sedan
© Photo: Peugeot
The Peugeot 206 repeated the success of its great ancestor, and with the advent of the sedan, the fall of the previous record of "lion cub" production became as inevitable as the change of seasons. Initially, the 206 model caused a storm of delight with its design. The creation of a complex perception of a simple car was facilitated by victories in the world rally of the Peugeot 206 WRC, one of the most beautiful racing cars of all time (and, by the way, just as successful). However, all this did not prevent the 206 from becoming a faithful helper for the inhabitants of the province.
The Peugeot 206 sedan is a product created for the province in a strategic sense, and not only around Western European cities. The cut of its sly eyes will become "one of the boys" in a province that is not Western at all, and even not Europe at all. Our acquaintance with the version of the car extended in every sense, already on the market, took place on the roads of central Russia.
I don't think I will sin much against the truth if I say that the front part of the Iranian-assembled car looks more impressive than the "muzzle" of the lion's share of sold Peugeot 206s: only the "sport" version of the front bumper is installed on sedans. But the trunk, which was attached to one of the most harmonious compacts in the world, seemed neither beautiful nor appropriate. However, let's end all talk about design here: a two-day acquaintance with the car and several hundred kilometers covered by us on normal Russian roads made us forget about the golden proportions and remember more prosaic considerations.
384 liters of useful trunk volume is a strong argument, which, moreover, brings with it a pleasant addition. There is now a place for a full-size spare wheel inside the car: unlike the classic hatchback. The rear seat back folds in parts, which is important in an absentee dispute with an important competitor. In the back row of seats, you will not be able to find either serious shortcomings or advantages: you can sit there with acceptable spatial comfort, however, if the front passenger seat is free, no one will think of riding in the back.
2006 Peugeot 206 Sedan
© Photo: Peugeot
The front passenger and driver are unlikely to be able to find differences from the interior of the "French" Peugeot 206. Both the trim materials and the assembly of the panels completely repeat the interior of the familiar car. Everything that is good and bad in any 206 applies to the sedan as well. Simple but well-designed seats do not tire the occupants. The algorithm for changing the backrest angle is not the most successful, but the adjustment ranges are sufficient for a person of any height. The driver's seat lift is also retained. Two airbags and belts with pretensioners. Front electric windows, central locking, CD, fog lights: all this will be present in a white car with a 1.4 engine (75 hp) and a five-speed manual, the price of which corresponds to the announced "base" of 329,000. For a different color you will have to pay an additional 7,500 rubles.
Price is an extremely important part of this offer, since both the base version and the car with the lively sixteen-valve 1.6 (110 hp) will cost the buyer significantly less than the French hatchback. What had to be sacrificed for such a benefit, besides difficulties for ladies when parking in reverse? The kilometers of the test run were a real balm for the heart: the elastokinematics of the suspensions and the characteristics of their elastic elements did not become a victim of "rationalization" activities. The car handles worthily in all modes and at any speed. The union of comfort and handling, dense operation on uneven surfaces, sufficient travel and energy intensity of the suspension: everything that is good in the Peugeot 206 is present here as well. The owner of the car will not have to pay for a lower price with a larger "amount of car" with practically anything, except for the prestige of the assembly location and the ideological age of their car.
Driving
Handling was good in French hatchbacks. The sedan also drives excellently.
Interior
Refined design, decent materials. Transformable interior and spacious trunk.
Comfort
Nothing superfluous, but everything necessary is there. Height-adjustable driver's seat.
Safety
Two airbags and belt pretensioners. Good handling.
Price
A very advantageous offer.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Price, trunk volume, transformable interior, handling, safety.
– Uninformative clutch drive on 1.4-liter cars, vague nature of the gearbox lever operation.
Technical characteristics of Peugeot 206 Sedan
Dimensions – 4188/14371452 mm
Engine – petrol, in-line, 4-cylinder, 1360 (1587) cm3, 75 (110) hp at 5500 (5800) rpm
Transmission – manual, 5-speed; automatic, 4-speed.
Competitors – Renault Clio Simbol, Renault Logan, Lada Kalina, Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Focus, Hyundai Accent.
Our opinion
The main thing about the Peugeot 206 sedan: it is a European car developed in the late nineties. An interesting offer for its price. Today, there are not many cars in the initial price range offering a comparable level of engineering and ergonomics, handling and safety, equipment and quality. Here, everything except the design is real and correct: no surrogates.