Toyota Yaris vs Peugeot 208
Figures updated
The Toyota Yaris and Peugeot 208 are two of the UK's most popular superminis. We compare the Mk4 (2020–) Yaris and the Mk2 (2019–) 208 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 604,777 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Toyota Yaris for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs, or the Peugeot 208 for the lower price, the bigger boot and more performance.
- The Peugeot 208 is the cheapest to buy new: from £20,565, £3,280 less than the Toyota Yaris.
- The Peugeot 208 has the biggest boot: 352 litres, 66 more than the Toyota Yaris.
- Euro NCAP safety: Toyota Yaris 5 stars (2020), Peugeot 208 4 stars (2019). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- The Toyota Yaris has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Peugeot 208 fails its MOT about 35% more often.
- The Toyota Yaris is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £84 a year less than the Peugeot 208 at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the body and structure on a Peugeot 208: it fails on them 4.1 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Toyota YarisMk4 (2020–), 5-door hatchback | Peugeot 208Mk2 (2019–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £23,845 to £30,045March 2026 price list | £20,565 to £29,815October 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 286 litres | 352 litres / 1,163 (best) |
| Length | 3,940mm | 4,055mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,745mm | 1,765mm |
| Height | 1,500mm | 1,430mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 116–130 PS | 100–156 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 9.2–9.7 sec | 8.1–10.1 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2020) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Hybrid | Diesel, Electric, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 55.4–68.9 mpg | 4.3–73.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 91–116 g/km | 96–132 g/km |
| Electric range | – | 206–258 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £931 (62.8 mpg) (best) | £1,015 (57.6 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £945 (71.6 mpg) |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £931 (petrol) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 105Above average (best) | 78Well below average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 27.7% (best) | 29.4% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.6% (best) | 14.1% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.9% (best) | 20.3% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 25.5% (best) | 37.3% |
| Most common MOT fault | Position lamp (4.0% of tests) | Joints (4.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Body and structure (4.1×), Exhaust and emissions (3.1×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 402,042 | 202,735 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Supermini | Supermini |
| Owners' average miles a year | 6,000 | 7,000 |
| On sale | 2020 on | 2019 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Toyota Yaris or the Peugeot 208 more reliable?
The Toyota Yaris. Like for like on age and mileage, the Peugeot 208 fails its MOT about 35% more often (reliability scores 105 and 78, where 100 is average). 27.7% of Toyota Yarises and 29.4% of Peugeot 208s failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Toyota Yaris or the Peugeot 208?
The Peugeot 208 is 115mm longer (4,055mm against 3,940mm). The Peugeot 208 has the bigger boot: 352 litres against 286.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Toyota Yaris or the Peugeot 208?
The Peugeot 208: new prices start at £20,565, £3,280 less than the Toyota Yaris (from £23,845). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Toyota Yaris or the Peugeot 208?
Comparing petrol versions, the Toyota Yaris costs about £84 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£931 against £1,015), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Toyota Yaris or the Peugeot 208?
Euro NCAP gave the Toyota Yaris 5 stars (2020) and the Peugeot 208 4 stars (2019). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Toyota Yaris or the Peugeot 208?
Pick the Toyota Yaris for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs, or the Peugeot 208 for the lower price, the bigger boot and more performance. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.