Here’s a detailed look at the paint palette available on the Peugeot 208 5-seater supermini, and its fully electric derivative the e-208, which we hope will help you choose your perfect new car colour. Read our in-depth Peugeot 208 review for more detail on Peugeot's stylish hatchback.
There are 8 main paint options for the 208/E-208, comprising 1 solid paint, 4 metallic paints and 3 signature metallic or pearlescent paints. Once you get to GT trim level and above, the Peugeot 208 comes with a contrasting Diamond Black roof as standard, for a 2-tone look to the hatchback. Besides the exterior hues, we also outline the various interior upholsteries that go with these body colours.
Paint Types
Solid = a simple body colour with no additives in the paint. Usually comprises 3 coats, these being a primer, then the paint, then a clear, protective lacquer. Solid paints aren’t particularly shiny and are normally the only standard/no-cost colours offered by manufacturers.
Metallic = same application process as above but the paint now has powdered metal mixed into it, which reflects more light to give the car a shinier appearance. Metallic finishes usually cost more than solid paints.
Pearlescent/Mica = as above, only instead of metal, ceramic crystals (known as ‘mica’) are added to the paint. These not only reflect light but refract it too, giving one colour different appearances in different levels of light. They’re normally as expensive as or pricier than metallic paints.
Matte = uses special ‘flattening’ agents in the paint/layering make-up to give the car a non-reflective appearance, and sometimes an unusual texture too. These are normally the most expensive and rarest of paint options, and are not offered on many new car models.
Exterior
Faro Yellow
Type: Metallic
Cost: No cost (default colour on all models)
Available On: All models
Arguably the biggest USP of the Peugeot 208 and E-208 is the way these cars look – they’re resplendent with striking, concept-car styling on the outside. To that end, Peugeot clearly feels such quality aesthetic work needs a bold standard colour, so Faro Yellow it is. This is the ‘basic’ paint finish for all 4 specifications of the French supermini (Active Premium, Allure Premium, GT and then GT Premium), and it’s also provided as the factory colour on both models with internal combustion engines (ICE) and also the E-208 electric vehicle (EV). You can’t fail to have noticed that Faro is a metallic paint, NOT a solid. Weirdly, for the solitary solid paint in the line-up, you have to pay a near-300-quid premium…
Bianca White
Type: Solid
Cost: £275
Available On: Active Premium and Allure Premium (petrol and diesel cars), Active Premium only (E-208)
A straightforward flat white, and no, by that, we do not mean a simple coffee. Bianca White is a solid paint, which perhaps doesn’t do much for the 208’s attractive lines. It’s probably for that reason that Bianca, which is a £275 option, is only offered on the lower 2 specifications of the 208 range. And that’s just for the ICE models – if you go for the EV, Bianca White is an option on the most basic Active Premium E-208 alone.
Cumulus Grey
Type: Metallic
Cost: £545
Available On: All models
Cloudy with a chance of boulettes de viande here, as the first of the optional metallics is called Cumulus Grey. At £545, it’s not a cheap option but it is available on all 4 trim specifications and is a choice whether you go for an ICE 208 or the zero-emission E-208, so it’ll be widely seen on this Gallic runaround. Cumulus is one of those automotive ‘greys’ which we would probably more accurately describe as ‘silver’ – Argent Cumulus would have been a nice name for it – but whether you think this paint is a grey or not, it’s going to be one which requires minimal upkeep throughout the year to look its best, so it's ideal for those who have a phobia of washing cars.
Nimbus Grey
Type: Metallic
Cost: £545
Available On: Petrol and diesel 208s only – not available on E-208
More overcast nomenclature here as the next £545 metallic option is Nimbus Grey. However, it differs from Cumulus Grey in 2 key areas: the first is that it actually looks grey, a nice, dark charcoal colour which should present itself as smart and tidy all year round, no matter how dirty it is; and the second main point to note is that this is a body colour for ICE models of the 208 only – you can’t spec it on the E-208. Which means that if you see a small, deep grey Peugeot hatchback running around, you’ll now know instantly that it’s either a petrol or diesel 208 you’re looking at. Won’t you?
Nera Black
Type: Metallic
Cost: £545
Available On: All models
Nera is your classic metallic black – looks amazing when all shiny and clean, will probably show up road grime and salts far worse in winter than you might expect of a dark-coloured car. That said, although the Peugeot is all youthful and zesty, and thus looks good in the bright yellow, red and blue body options the manufacturer provides in the paint palette, Nera Black suits the 208/E-208’s lines very nicely indeed.
Elixir Red
Type: Signature metallic
Cost: £695
Available On: Active Premium, GT, GT Premium
The first of the ‘signature’ metallic and pearlescent paints, which require an extra £150 over and above the price of the optional metallic greys/blacks provided elsewhere in the range, is Elixir Red. This is a smashing deeper red, which looks superb on the 208’s distinctive form. Elixir also probably won’t look too bad even when it’s mucky, either, so it’s a great all-round choice for a 208 buyer. It also works particularly well with the sportier appearance of the GT and GT Premium models.
Vertigo Blue
Type: Signature metallic
Cost: £695
Available On: Active Premium, GT, GT Premium
Perhaps reflecting the tricolore national flag of Peugeot’s home country, the French carmaker seems to have put more effort into its red, white and blue £695 paints in terms of visual appeal. This Vertigo Blue signature finish is again eye-catching and suits the 208’s adventurous styling down to a tee. It’ll look good whether it has just been deep-cleaned and detailed, or whether the Peugeot is running around in winter caked in road filth, so it’s a strong selection for the 208 and E-208 cars. Allez les Bleus!
Pearlescent White
Type: Pearlescent
Cost: £695
Available On: Active Premium, GT, GT Premium
The solitary pearlescent, costing the same £695 as Elixir Red and Vertigo Blue – and, like those 2 colours, reserved only for the higher 3 specifications of the 208/E-208 family; you can’t spec any of these finishes on the Active Premium base cars – gives its name away in the title. Pearlescent White is a warmer, richer shade of the colour than Bianca White, justifying the additional £420 you’ll need to have this glittery version of the hue, instead of the duller solid offering.
Interior
Trimaterial ‘Pneuma’ and ‘Rimini’ Cloth With Orange Top-Stitching
Type: Cloth
Cost: No cost
Available On: Active Premium
Available With All Body Colours?: Yes
A simple dark-grey fabric interior for the basic Active Premium models of the 208 and E-208 line-up is the opening interior offering here, which is contrasted with Orange top-stitching for a touch of colour.
Trimaterial ‘Cozy’ Leather-effect and ‘Isabella’ cloth With Light Blue Top-Stitching
Type: Man-made leather and cloth
Cost: No cost
Available On: Allure Premium
Available With All Body Colours?: Yes
There’s a little more detail to the cloth design in the second grade up the Peugeot 208 and E-208 tree, represented by the Allure Premium models, while leather-effect side bolsters and centre strips add more texture to the upholstery. The top-stitching in the Allue Premium cars is now Light Blue.
Trimaterial ‘Capy’ Leather-effect and ‘Isabella’ Cloth With Lime Green Top-Stitching
Type: Man-made leather and cloth
Cost: No cost
Available On: GT
Available With All Body Colours?: Yes
The cloth stays the same as Allure Premium when moving into the interiors of the GT models, but the leather-effect material is wrapped around sportier front seats with deeper bolsters, while the top-stitching is switched from Light Blue to Lime Green.
Trimaterial ‘Mistral’ Black Alcantara and ‘Isabella’ Cloth With Lime Green Top-Stitching
Type: Alcantara and cloth
Cost: No cost
Available On: GT Premium
Available With All Body Colours?: Yes
As befits the range-topping model of the 208 range, the sporty Alcantara finish for the upholstery in the GT Premium really lifts things and works well in place of the ‘Capy’ man-made leather of the lesser GT cars.
Nappa Mistral full-grain leather with Charcoal Grey Top-Stitching
Type: Leather
Cost: £1400
Available On: GT, GT Premium
Available With All Body Colours?: Yes
If you want genuine cow hide in your Peugeot 208, something which is becoming less and less desirable with every passing day (what with the rise of vegans and environmentalism), then Peugeot can provide – but only on the top 2 specifications of GT and GT Premium. For a chunky £1400 premium, you can switch the standard interiors of the grander 208s for this Nappa Mistral leather cabin, which is complemented by Charcoal Grey top-stitching for a classy overall finish.
Check out our latest Peugeot 208 lease deals here.
