Peugeot introduced the 206 in 1998 as a replacement for the long-gone 205 and remained in production for more than two decades in various markets worldwide.
The small-size segment was highly contested in Europe when the 206 appeared on the market. It faced stiff competition from Renault's Clio, Volkswagen's Polo, and Opel's Corsa. And yet, Peugeot made it slightly better by offering the car as a hatchback with three or five doors, a station wagon, a sedan, and a hard top coupe-cabriolet.
In the three-door version, the 206 showed a sporty appearance with headlights resembling a feline pair of eyes. The narrow grille featured a horizontal slat, while the main cooling area was located in the apron where a second grille was found. This version of the 206 featured longer doors and pop-out rear windows, like its famous predecessor. Moreover, the C-pillars featured a wider lower area which, in turn, decreased the driver's rear three-quarter visibility, but it looked better from the outside. At the back, the tailgate was flanked by the taillights, which made a cut through the liftgate's panel.
When it was launched, Peugeot's stated that it designed the car with the feminine customers in mind. Thus, it was the first vehicle that sported pedals adapted for driving with high heels. Moreover, the rear seats offered enough room for two passengers, while the split-folding bench expanded the trunk for a longer shopping session.
Under the hood, the carmaker installed a wide engine choice ranging from a 1.1-liter gasoline unit to a sporty 2.0-liter. Last but not least, the car was available with a few turbo-diesel powerplants that proved to be highly fuel-efficient.