Peugeot’s compact electric hatchback looks sharp and offers a longer range after a recent update. A strong all-rounder that’s been around since 2019 but is still competitive in its class
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Electric SUVs remain flavour of the month but there’s a lot to be said for battery-powered superminis such as the Peugeot e-208. While not cheap outright, it’s decent value for money and if you’ve got the right home (or workplace) charging set-up running costs could be extremely low.
The battery diversity is good, especially with the new 51 kWh battery option – around two hundred miles in real-world situations is worth enough for many users. This is a car that’s probably more than being bought for normal long-distance travel; Equally vital is the fact that it is effective in power and supports one hundred kW of charging. Overall, despite the complex years, the E-208 still feels fresh, with an ambitious internal design that gives it a good thing that some competing cars can’t match. It’s also simple and fun to drive, feeling at home in urban spaces where many buyers are likely to use it.
I toured many kilometers in the Peugeot E-208, making a circular from Dorset to Derbyshire, an escape to the beach in Devon and the daily journey to the rural school.
Independent note: 7/10
Peugeot updated the E-208 in 2023 with some cosmetic external changes, internal changes and, above all, a new electric motor and a new battery. The combination of Forward Step Forward, only to have in the top GT trim, now provides you with a 115kW electric motor and a 51kWh battery, smart for a maximum beach of 248 miles. However, if you need to save money, the two least expensive final grades are delivered with the previous configuration: a hundred-kW and 50 kWh engine that provide a maximum competitive diversity of 225 miles. The two versions of the 208 have a maximum charging rate of one hundred kW, which corresponds to other maximum electric cars of this size.
There’s little to separate the two versions of the e-208 for performance – both pull away quickly and feel responsive on the move. You can choose between three drive modes – normal, sport or eco – and two braking modes that give you either a similar feel to a petrol car or one more akin to ‘one-pedal’ driving where lifting off the accelerator pedal slows the car down quickly. In general the e-208 is an enjoyable car to drive – nippy around town but settled at speed.
You can’t mistake the interior of the e-208 for anything but a modern Peugeot – like all of the brand’s key models it has a distinctive, sharp-edged look and a layout that Peugeot calls ‘i-Cockpit’. Key to this is an unusually small steering wheel that you look over – rather than through – to see the driver display. For most people it works well enough but some may find that they can’t achieve both a comfortable driving position and a good view of the display. Ergonomics aside, the combination of design flair and (mostly) smart materials gives the e-208’s interior a pleasantly modern, upmarket look.
Practicality is what one would expect from a small car: there’s plenty of head and legroom in the front, but two tall adults likely wouldn’t have enough room to maneuver in the rear. The trunk is also quite small and unlike some electric cars, the e-208 does not have a “frunk” (trunk or front trunk).
It might have been there for a few years, however the E-208 still looks quite existing on the inside. It has a pleasantly high-tech look, and all editions have a 10-inch that looks good, especially the HD edition which you get with the middle position and setting above the competition. Some have a larger, flashier display, however, the E-208s are sleek, responsive, and sometimes easy to use. , remember) that you get with the two most sensitive trims is also smart: it’s a shame that the entry-level active setting makes a traditional 3. 5-inch display.
All versions allow wireless Apple Apple or Android Auto mirroring. There are USB sockets in the front and rear; A wireless charger in the base of the dash is a charging option for treadmill models and the GT trim. Other technological goodies reserved for the GT trim come with an opposite camera and a key input.
If you’ve been thinking about buying an E-208 for a while, here’s some great news: Peugeot has reduced its value by £3,000 in the summer of 2024, making it a much more affordable option. In fact, it’s now one of the cheapest electric vehicles, although a starting price of £28,200 is still more than you’d pay for the cheapest MG4, Vauxhall Corsa Electric or Vauxhall. The basic trim of the E-208: active – is well equipped, although it wants to go to the atrometer to upgrade features such as alloy wheels, SAT-NAV and a high-resolution touch screen.
Energy efficiency is above average, ranging from 3.9 to 4.4 miles per kWh. A heat pump – which can make it even more efficient – is an option across the range.
Peugeot cites a 0-80% tariff time of 24 minutes for the 50 kWk battery to a hundred kW evaluator, or 27 minutes for the 51 kWh version.
The e-208 is competitively priced considering the range and equipment you get – it’s in the same ballpark as its key rivals and is decent value overall.
Peugeot’s warranty follows the industry standard: 3 years or 60,000 miles for the car itself, with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first) for the battery. Includes replacement or solution of the battery if its capacity falls below 70% during the warranty period.
Peugeot is on a roll at the moment and I think the e-208 is a great little EV – it’s stylish, competitive for range and still feels up to date compared with newer rivals.
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The Peugeot e-208 presents decent value for money, with cheap running costs given the right setup
The Peugeot E-208 is a price for money, with low prices with the right configuration
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