Peugeot 202
| Company type | Supermini car |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Peugeot 201 |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Defunct | 1949 |
| Successor | Peugeot 203 |
| Headquarters | Sochaux , France |
| Products | Peugeot 202 car model |
The Peugeot 202 is a supermini produced by the French automaker Peugeot. Its manufacturing spanned from 1938 to 1942, briefly resumed with a limited run of 20 units in early 1945, and then fully recommenced in mid-1946 until 1949, when it was succeeded by the Peugeot 203.
Launch
Mass production commenced in January 1938, followed by an official unveiling on 2 March at a press gathering in Paris. Before its debut, Peugeot conducted an extensive survey among prospective buyers at the 1937 Paris Motor Show to assess expectations for the upcoming compact vehicle, which helped generate favorable anticipation ahead of the launch.
The body
The 202 featured a steel body and showcased Peugeot’s distinctive closely spaced headlights positioned behind the grille. The most sought-after variant was the four-door berline (saloon), which from 1948 onward came standard with a steel-panel sliding sunroof. Its trunk space was modest and accessible solely from inside the cabin. The two-door cabriolet had an independent boot lid but was priced approximately 30% higher than the berline. Additionally, a four-door "berline découvrable" with a fully retractable roof was offered; this style became impractical with the introduction of monocoque construction in its successor, the Peugeot 203. Both versions were equipped with front-hinged suicide doors.
Between 1947 and 1949, Peugeot manufactured 3,015 timber-framed "hatch" conversions on an extended chassis, which cost about 55% more than the berline. This use of wooden bodywork responded to post-war steel shortages and represented a revival of craftsmanship methods abandoned since 1931.
Within its category, only one competitor—the soon-to-be phased-out Simca 8—provided such an extensive variety of body styles.
Chassis, engine and running gear
A distinctive aspect of the 202’s chassis design was the battery placement beneath and ahead of the radiator, enabled by the streamlined sloping front grille shared with larger late-1930s Peugeot models such as the 402 and 302.
Under the hood, the 202 housed a 1133 cc water-cooled engine delivering 30 PS at 4000 rpm, achieving a maximum speed close to 100 km/h. It utilized overhead valves, offering superior performance compared to rivals like the Renault Juvaquatre, which employed a side-valve configuration. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox featuring synchromesh on the top two gears.
Building on the pioneering independent front suspension introduced by Peugeot in the 201 model of 1931, the 202 also incorporated this system, enhancing ride comfort and handling—a feature not matched by Renault at that period. Initially fitted with intricate "Pilote" style wheels akin to those on the Citroën Traction Avant, post-war production resumed in 1946 with more economical pressed disc wheels following reconstruction at the Sochaux factory.
Improvements
Gradual enhancements were implemented throughout its production run. Hydraulic brakes made their debut in 1946 alongside a revamped dashboard that included a small glove compartment. In 1948, chrome-plated hubcaps and updated hydraulic shock absorbers—based on components designed for the forthcoming Peugeot 203—were introduced.
For the model year of 1949, Peugeot released the 202 "Affaires," a budget-friendly version lacking features such as a heater and sliding steel sunroof and equipped with narrower tires. Priced at 320,000 Francs, it provided over a six percent price reduction compared to the standard edition, likely intended to clear remaining stock. Shortly after the October 1948 Paris Motor Show, production of the cabriolet ceased as attention shifted toward promoting the extensively advertised Peugeot 203 launched that same year.
Commercial Performance
The production volume reached 104,126 units in total.