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1) Its responsive handling redefined driving fun
On its introduction, the PEUGEOT 205 GTi was the pinnacle of hot hatch engineering. Its short overhangs front and rear, and 2,420 mm wheelbase give the 205 GTi such agile and responsive handling that it made driving a hitherto unexpected delight for the regular car owner. The fully independent suspension, with Macpherson struts at the front combined with rear trailing arms and torsion bar, gives a compliant ride while still feeling connected to the road. And the unassisted steering is weighty and full of feedback. The late Sir Stirling Moss, who knew a thing or two about driving, owned one and claimed it was “Exciting to drive with excellent manoeuvrability.” Enough said.
2) Lightweight equals incredible agility
One of the reasons the 205 GTi feels so manoeuvrable and reactive to driver inputs is its weight, or rather lack of it. The first 1.6-litre model tips the scales at just 848 kg; the 1.9-litre is 910 kg, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 142 hp per tonne. The Volkswagen Golf GTi of the time weighed more than a tonne and had a power-to-weight ratio that was 20 hp lower. Hardly surprising that the 205 GTi feels so nimble to drive in comparison to its bigger rival. And on B-road jaunts at the time, the little PEUGEOT’s agility gave it supercar-worrying performance.
3) Brilliant driving position
Slip into the part-leather sports seats of the PEUGEOT 205 GTi and you feel low down and at one with both car and road. Yet because of the 205 design’s large glass area, you seem to be simultaneously high up. The result is a great view, which enables you to position the car precisely through corners. The analogue instruments give all the information needed and nothing more, further emphasising that this is a machine designed for fun.
4) Amazing engines, great gearbox
The 205 GTi was launched with a 1,580cc 4-cylinder Bosch electronically fuel-injected engine with 105 hp. This was boosted to 115 hp for 1986, the same time that the fuel-injected 1,905cc 4-cylinder was unveiled with its 130 hp. The two engines have very different characters. While you access the 1.6’s performance through revs, the 1.9 feels slightly more relaxed, relying on its torque. Whichever you choose, the 205 GTi rewards you with instant throttle response and thrilling performance. The 1.9 races from 0 to 62 mph in 7.8 seconds, and the 1.6 charges to 62 mph in 8.7 seconds. Both are helped along the way by the positive action of the five-speed transmission with its close-ratio gears.
5) Still looks great – four decades later
More than 40 years might have passed since it was first designed, but even today, the 205 GTi appears remarkably fresh. Designed in-house for PEUGEOT by Gérard Welter, the 205 was always delicately proportioned; the GTi version takes that to a new level, imbued with eagerness and intent. There are the red pin stripes that ring the car’s midriff trim and make it instantly identifiable. The way the GTi sits on the road is squat and purposeful, hunkered down with the wheel arches perfectly filled by the 1.9’s 15-inch rims, and has a cooler fuel filler cap ever been integrated into a car’s C pillar? There’s even a convertible version, the 205 CTI designed by Pininfarina, that was initially launched with the 1.6 engine and later had the 1.9 too.
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6) A miracle of efficient packaging
The genius of the 205 is how Welter worked within certain constraints to create a design that is practical and has remained up to date for decades. Using the previous 104 as a base, Welter moved the spare wheel from inside the engine bay to beneath the boot floor. That didn’t just improve weight distribution and therefore handling, it also enabled PEUGEOT to squeeze bigger engines in. Lift the bonnet on the 1.9 and there isn’t a great deal of room. In later models, that lack of space dictated that owners could either specify power steering or air conditioning, but not both.
7) Maximum thrills for your money
Although its performance was a match for some far more expensive motors of the time, the 205 GTi won praise for offering a brilliantly engaging driving experience at an affordable price. With ‘just’ 130 hp in the most powerful model, drivers enjoyed a car they could use to its full potential. It was quicker than rivals of the time, such as the Ford Escort RS Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTi. And it didn’t just offer affordable performance, because the GTi was based on a big-selling production car, maintenance was and still is inexpensive.
8) Even the wheels are iconic
There are few cars that have such instantly recognisable wheels as the 205 GTi. Whether you choose the 14-inch ‘pepper pot’ rims from the 1.6 or the 1.9’s 15-inch Speedlines, it’s impossible to separate the wheels from the legendary little car. The larger holes on the 1.9 were needed to cool the brakes as the more powerful car uses discs at the back instead of the rear drums of the 1.6.
9) Good fuel consumption
The 205 GTi is unashamedly a performance car. But its lightweight makes it economical too. The 1.6 recorded 39.2 mpg on the combined cycle with the 1.9 returning 36.2 mpg. That may not sound overly impressive today, but bearing in mind the 205 GTi’s performance and the engine management technology of the time, it’s remarkable.
10) They now make a great investment
Over the past few years, age and the 205 GTi’s cult following have seen the car increasingly spoken about by experts as a ‘classic’ with prices on the up as a result. According to Hagerty’s Hot Hatch Index**, the 205 GTi 1.9 grew in value more than any other car in 2024, with prices for good condition examples up 13% compared with the previous year. And of course, its status as an automotive icon helps too.
