In the tiny tots corner we have one of the trendiest cars on the street. The 206 GTi 180 is Peugeot's answer to the demands of the market for cars with style and get-up-and-go.

In the style stakes, this Peugeot delivers with very nice styling which is neat and attractive. The wheels, the rear spoiler, the colour choices, the chrome tailpipe tip and the body-coloured bumpers and side strips demonstrate that this car is the sporty little number which Peugeot provides for the small car market. It's clearly top of the 206 line-up.

Inside, the 206 GTi 180 provides a very stylish interior which is exceptionally comfortable with a superb driving position. The front seats are attractive and functional. The side bolsters are very supportive and, as such, are a major contributor to the overall sporty nature of this superb car. In the rear, the seat are shaped for two passengers.

The get-up-and-go department has a responsive 2-litre engine which provides 130 kWs of power at 7,000 rpm. Torque is a wild 202 Nm at 4,750 rpm. Transmission is 5-speed manual and, no, there is no automatic option for the little 180.

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This is a car which looks as though it wants to be driven. And that is just what the Next Car team did. We drove it and we drove it. In fact, we covered some 1,376 kms in just 7 days. And every kilometre was a treat! The 206 GTi 180 showed its true colours on a weekend trip from Newcastle to the NSW mid-north coast. It is an absolute delight driving long distances in this car. We managed to be perfectly comfortable driving non-stop from Lake Macquarie to Port Macquarie. The handling, braking and steering is just as you would imagine ..... superb! Visiting such destinations as Stuarts Point, South West Rocks, Trial Bay and Arakoon are part of wonderful lifestyle. Doing it in a 206 GTi 180 puts the style into the life!

Stephen Walker
29th November, 2004