Peugeot e-208 Review

The Peugeot e-208 has always had a slightly different role from some rival electric cars. Where models such as the Renault 5 E-Tech and MINI Cooper Electric lean harder into character, and cars such as the Hyundai Kona Electric focus more on range and rationality, the Peugeot tries to feel like a smart, normal small hatchback that just happens to be electric.

That still suits it. The e-208 is one of the easier EVs to step into if you are moving from a petrol supermini, because there is very little learning curve. It looks familiar, it drives in a very natural way and it avoids the temptation to reinvent everything just because there is a battery under the floor.

The 2023 update helped a lot. It brought the larger 51kWh battery and 156hp motor into the line-up, along with a cleaner infotainment setup and a more convincing trim structure. Those changes did not turn the e-208 into a class leader overnight, but they did make it a much more rounded small EV.

Its strengths are still obvious. It is quiet, smooth and reassuring in town, it has enough range for everyday use and it still looks more stylish than many alternatives. The compromise is that rear-seat space and motorway usability are merely decent rather than outstanding.

There is still a regular Peugeot 208 with petrol and hybrid power, but our Peugeot 208 review covers that separately. In electric form, the Peugeot e-208 now stands as a worthwhile model in its own right rather than simply the niche version of the standard car.

For most buyers, the best Peugeot e-208 is the Electric 51kWh 156 in GT trim. That version gives you the strongest range, the most convincing efficiency and the extra trim details that make the e-208 feel more special day to day.

The older Electric 50kWh 136 still has a place, especially if price matters most, because it remains perfectly usable for urban and suburban driving. But the longer-range 156hp version is the one that makes the strongest new-car case. It stretches official WLTP range to as much as 268 miles and feels that bit more resolved as an all-round EV.

As for trim, Allure already brings a lot of what you want, including Peugeot’s 10-inch digital cluster, connected services and the main tech upgrades that matter. GT adds full LED lighting, Peugeot’s 3D-style digital cluster and the visual details that better suit the e-208’s design-led character. GT Premium adds luxury extras, but it is more of a want than a need.

In simple terms, Allure is the sensible buy, GT is the sweet spot and GT Premium is the indulgent one.

The Peugeot e-208 now starts from £22,995 in Allure Electric 50kWh 136 form in Peugeot’s current UK configurator. A GT Electric 50kWh 136 comes in at £25,645, while the GT Premium rises to £27,445. If you want the newer 51kWh 156 powertrain, prices run from £23,795 in Allure to £28,245 in GT Premium.

That pricing looks far healthier than the e-208’s older list prices did. The return of the Electric Car Grant and Peugeot’s own UK pricing strategy have helped make the car feel much more competitive.

Used values are also worth noting. Early cars now sit at attractive money, which means there is a useful route into e-208 ownership even if the newest 156hp versions are out of reach.

The Renault 5 E-Tech is one of the Peugeot e-208’s clearest modern rivals. It is more playful in style and image, feels fresh and current and makes a very strong case if you want a small EV with real personality.

The MINI Cooper Electric is another obvious alternative if driving enjoyment and design matter most. It is more distinctive and more fun to drive than the Peugeot, but it is also less practical in the back and less straightforward as an everyday small family car.

The Hyundai Kona Electric is the rational benchmark if range and overall usability matter most. It goes farther on a charge, offers more rear space and feels like the more grown-up long-distance EV, even if it cannot match the Peugeot e-208 for supermini charm.

Beyond those three, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric remains the obvious close relation, while the Citroen e-C3 is worth a look if you want a cheaper, comfort-led alternative. The Peugeot e-208 makes the most sense if you want a small electric hatchback that feels stylish and familiar rather than radically different.

One of the Peugeot e-208’s big strengths is that it still feels like a proper supermini rather than a cut-down city car. Up front there is plenty of space for two adults, and the seats are comfortable enough for longer journeys. The raised centre console and layered dashboard also make the cabin feel a little more substantial than some rivals.

Rear-seat space is more of a mixed bag. Two adults can fit, but taller passengers will notice that legroom is only average, and the lower roofline makes the e-208 feel less airy than some conventional petrol superminis. That said, it is still one of the better options among compact EV hatchbacks for rear passengers.

Boot space is 309 litres, which is some way behind a Volkswagen Polo, but still competitive by small-EV standards. It is notably more useful than the load spaces in a MINI Cooper Electric or Fiat 500e, and it helps make the Peugeot feel like a more complete all-round small car rather than just a stylish urban toy.

Fold the rear seats and capacity rises to 1,118 litres. So while the Peugeot e-208 is not the most practical car in the class, it still has enough space to work as a genuine everyday hatchback.

The Peugeot e-208 measures 4,055mm long, 1,745mm wide & 1,430mm high. That places it right in the heart of the supermini class and makes it compact enough to suit town driving while still feeling substantial enough for longer trips.

In practical terms, it is easy to park, easy to thread through tight urban streets and still large enough not to feel flimsy or compromised on faster roads. That balance remains one of its key strengths.

Technology has improved a lot since the earlier e-208s first appeared. The facelifted car now gets a 10-inch central touchscreen as standard, and that makes a real difference because the old setup felt more basic and less responsive.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and Peugeot’s latest interface is sharper and easier to get on with than before. The screen still is not the most intuitive in the business, but it is far less frustrating than the early systems.

The familiar i-Cockpit layout remains, with the small steering wheel and high-set instruments. It is a distinctive setup and one that some drivers genuinely enjoy, but it still needs trying before you buy because it will not suit everyone.

The Peugeot e-208 majors on visual appeal rather than outright solidity. The design is smart, the trim finishes are more interesting than average and the cabin does enough to feel a little upmarket for a small hatchback.

It is not quite as uniformly solid as a Volkswagen Polo inside, and lower down you will still find some cheaper plastics, but the overall effect is more stylish and less dour than many alternatives. GT and GT Premium do the best job of showing this off, with richer trim and more elaborate cabin details.

The Peugeot e-208 is offered with two battery and motor combinations. The older Electric 50kWh 136 manages up to 226 miles in Peugeot’s current UK figures, while the newer Electric 51kWh 156 stretches that to as much as 268 miles.

Performance is perfectly respectable for a small EV, but not especially exciting by electric-car standards. The 136PS version is quick enough off the line and feels responsive at low speed, while the 156PS car adds a little more flexibility and a little more reassurance rather than transforming the experience.

The range spread reflects both battery size and trim. Lower-spec cars on smaller wheels are the efficiency champions, while GT and GT Premium trade a little range for more kit and visual appeal.

The Peugeot e-208 is extremely easy to drive. The electric motor’s instant response, the single-speed transmission and the compact dimensions all make it feel very natural in traffic, and it is one of those EVs that quickly becomes second nature.

It is also comfortable. The standard 208 already leans more towards comfort than sportiness, and the e-208 retains that character, even if the extra battery weight does bring a slightly firmer edge over sharper bumps. Even so, it remains a calm and settled small car in normal use.

On a twisting road, the extra mass means it is never as nimble as the lighter petrol 208, and a MINI Cooper Electric is more playful if handling matters to you. But the e-208 feels tidy enough, secure enough and very easy to trust.

Refinement is strongest at lower speeds, where the near-silent motor gives it a relaxed and grown-up feel. At motorway pace, wind and road noise increase and the car’s shorter-range nature becomes more obvious, but it still remains a pleasant cruiser by small-car standards.

The Peugeot e-208 received a four-star Euro NCAP rating in 2019. That no longer looks exceptional, but it is still a respectable result for a small hatchback.

Standard safety kit is decent, with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and a spread of airbags all included. Higher trims and option packs add adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane positioning assistance.

So while the e-208 is not a class leader on crash-test headlines, it still offers the key safety features most small-car buyers will want.

Charging performance is competitive enough for a small EV. Peugeot quotes 20 to 80 per cent charging in approximately 25 minutes for the 50kWh battery and 27 minutes for the 51kWh battery when connected to a high-power public fast charger.

At home, charging from 20 to 80 per cent takes roughly four and a half to four hours 40 minutes on a suitable private wallbox, depending on battery size. In real life, most owners will simply top it up overnight.

Because the battery is modest by modern EV standards, home charging costs should stay relatively manageable, depending on your tariff. That remains one of the e-208’s everyday advantages.

Peugeot’s standard manufacturer warranty is three years from first registration. In the first two years it is unlimited mileage, while the third year is capped at 60,000 miles. The traction battery is covered separately for eight years or 100,000 miles, with a 70 per cent capacity guarantee.

Peugeot Care also applies to the e-208. That builds on the standard warranty with service-activated cover of up to eight years or 100,000 miles, subject to the relevant terms and servicing conditions.

Servicing intervals are more specific on Peugeot’s current EV guidance than generic warranty wording suggests. Initial operation is due at one year or 8,000 miles, with scheduled services then every two years or 16,000 miles.

Insurance groups for the Peugeot e-208 have climbed as the line-up has evolved. Earlier cars generally sat in groups 26 to 28, while more recent facelifted versions are commonly listed in group 31.

That means it is not the cheapest supermini to insure, but it still sits broadly where you would expect for a modern small EV with a relatively high list price and decent performance.

The Peugeot e-208 now costs £200 a year in VED after year one, which is the current standard annual rate for electric cars.

The EV Expensive Car Supplement applies only to electric cars with a list price of more than £50,000. The Peugeot e-208 sits comfortably below that threshold, so it avoids the extra charge.

In simple terms, tax is straightforward here and there is no premium-car sting.