The Peugeot E-208 faces a tough battle in the electric hatchback sector, with rivals ranging from Mini to MG, so can it compete on price, range and specification?

Peugeot E-208 review

November 18, 2024 Matt Allan

The Peugeot E-208 faces a tough battle in the electric hatchback sector, with rivals ranging from Mini to MG, so can it compete on price, range and specification?

Peugeot knows a thing or two about small hatchbacks, having built some memorable models in the past. In recent years, it has turned more to SUVs, but the E-208 is proof that (unlike Ford) it hasn’t abandoned buyers who don’t want or need a high-riding, plastic-clad faux off-roader.

And it’s keen to bring those buyers into the electric age, with a fully electric option to rival models as varied as the Mini Cooper E, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, MG4 and BYD Dolphin.

Design, interior and technology

Peugeot’s designers have been on a charge in its electrification era and a lot of that started with the E-208 back in 2019. Even five years on, this compact hatchback looks great.

A facelift last year sharpened up the front end with new lights and a revised grille but maintained unique elements such as the three-strip ‘lion’s claw’ running lights. Aside from that big, body-coloured grille, there’s not much fussy design about the E-208 and the simple lines create a squat, muscular look that works particularly well on the 17-inch alloys of high-spec models.

I even love the opinion-splitting Agueda Yellow colour, and Peugeot’s brass neck to make it the only no-cost option.

The interior shows the car’s age slightly more that the exterior. The winged instrument binnacle which projects out towards the driver and encloses the 3D digital dials is innovative and still looks modern, as does the split-level dashboard. The faux carbon fibre panels and lurid green touches in the upholstery add character, but elsewhere the cabin feels like it’s been superseded by other Peugeots.

The infotainment screen is a decent 10 inches but cloaked in a thick plastic surround, and It’s a slightly older platform, so elements such as the i-toggles are a generation behind, as are functions like battery and charge management. The materials also feel a step behind the latest Peugeots or Minis, but they’re better than the likes of the MG4 or BYD Dolphin.

Being a compact hatchback, space isn’t a strong point for the E-208. Those in the front seats have enough legroom but the rear is a really tight squeeze. A couple of small children will manage but teenagers or adults will struggle to fit on board. While there’s not much space for people, there is a decent amount of storage around the cabin for phones, drinks and other odds and ends. And the boot is a reasonable 309 litres, so there’s room for the weekly shop.

Peugeot E-208 battery, motor and performance

Peugeot still sells two versions of the E-208. There’s an entry level car with a 47kWh battery and 134bhp motor, then there’s the version we’re testing, with a 154bhp motor and 51kWh battery.

Those are only marginal increases but motor and battery are newer and more efficient, bringing a 27-mile increase in range. That means it is theoretically capable of up to 258 miles (on 16-inch wheels), with official efficiency of 4.8 miles per KWh and 100kW DC charging.

Over a week that took in a mixture of short local journeys and a couple of four-hour slogs along A roads and motorways, I saw an impressive 4.1m/kWh from the car but an estimated 210 miles of real-world range. That means it’s not an ideal long-distance option but pretty handy as a commuter car or urban runaround.

The problem is that the range prediction is wildly unreliable, even after Peugeot’s work to make it more accurate. Other brands manage to ensure the onboard computer is within a few miles of the real range, even under varied driving conditions, but the E-208 was out on multiple occasions by more than 20 miles.

Untrustworthy trip computer aside, the 154bhp motor is punchy enough for a compact hatchback and allows it to make decent progress whatever the setting. Like a lot of cars there are different outputs depending on your drive mode, which create a stepped feeling to acceleration but if you hoof it, you’ll get a decent lively response.

Sadly, the chassis can’t back up that response. To look at the car you’d think ‘small and nimble’. But, despite quick steering from the tiny steering wheel, on A roads it feels saggy and slack and doesn’t inspire confidence.

The counterpoint to that is that it’s actually very well mannered on motorways. At steady high speeds, it is composed and quiet and capable of soaking up long drives. It also rides well, so is more forgiving than some small cars, and acoustic glass cuts down on noise intrusion.

Peugeot E-208 price and specification

As mentioned, there are two versions of the E-208 and, predictably, the bigger battery one costs more.

It starts at £30,695 and in top-spec GT trim like our test car reaches £32,900 before options. As I write this, that makes the GT cheaper than the equivalent version of Vauxhall Corsa Electric, but the Stellantis brands announce new offers and special editions so frequently it’s hard to keep track of which is the best value at any given time. What we do know is that, at that price it’s competing with a lot of similarly sized models and plenty of larger, longer-range ones too.

For your £33,000 you get plenty of GT badging, a black contrast roof, LED lights, sporty cloth and faux-leather seats, and ambient cabin lighting. You also get keyless entry and start, wireless smartphone mirroring, cruise control and a reversing camera.

Compared with a lot of alternatives the equipment list feels a little light, especially when things like heated seats, wireless phone charging, sat nav and even blind spot warning are all extra-cost options, as is a heat pump.

Verdict

The Peugeot E-208 has a tough job. Its size and price mean it’s competing against a whole range of different cars – from the premium Mini Cooper E to the high-value MG4.

On its own, it’s a good-looking small car that fulfils the compact hatchback brief with a smart interior, sensible range and decent charging speed.

But its rivals offer something more in one direction or the other. The Mini Cooper looks and feels more modern and higher quality if you can live with the shorter range and even more compromised practicality.

On the other hand, accepting a cheaper looking and feeling car will get you the better equipped, more spacious and longer-range Chinese alternatives, leaving the Peugeot trapped in no-man’s land.