Peugeot e-208 Review 2024
Written by Phil Hall
Quick overview
Pros
- Superb in the city
- Stylish and well equipped
- Decent range for a small electric car
Cons
- Other small cars are roomier
- Not as nimble as the standard 208
- You'll still be better off with a petrol for long drives
Overall verdict on the Peugeot e-208
"The Peugeot e-208 is like a terraced house that has been decked out with a high-speed data connection, ground pump heating system and smart electronics: it looks like everything else on the street, but it's actually a bit different beneath the skin."
While some other manufacturers have taken the choice to differentiate their electric cars from their conventional models – examples include cars like the Volkswagen ID.3, Nissan Leaf and Honda e – only the Peugeot e-208's badges give the game away that's it's not like any other Peugeot 208. Does this make it one of the best small electric cars or an also-ran? We'll find out in our Peugeot e-208 review.
The Peugeot e-208 is very relaxing to drive. It makes almost no noise other than a muted electrical hum that's designed to warn pedestrians of its presence, a single gear means it moves like an automatic car with a constant wave of acceleration, and regenerative brakes mean it slows down when you lift your foot off the, er, gas. All this makes the Peugeot e-208 a great car for driving in town where, incidentally, it's at its most efficient.
The Peugeot e-208 is pretty good on short country blasts, too. It builds speed progressively and remains extremely quiet, and although it's a lot heavier than a petrol 208, you'll have to being going some to notice its tendency to push wide through corners on B roads. Efficiency does drop noticeably compared to driving in town, mind.
That said, on the motorway its range falls off the proverbial cliff, and 200-mile trips will necessitate on-the-fly use of the UK's famously patchy charging infrastructure. Fine on the odd occasion, but not ideal if you do big drives everyday.
If it's the right time for you to make the move to electricity, though, nothing else about the Peugeot e-208 will stop you, because otherwise, it's pretty much identical to the 208.
That means it's a great-looking little car on the outside and very stylish on the inside. All cars get a centre infotainment screen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can mirror the display of your phone on the car's big screen and use its apps for navigation, music playback and the like. Go for a higher-spec e-208, and you also get a digital dashboard that's bursting with slick animations that make the rival screen in a VW Polo look boring and stuffy.
The sensible German has the last laugh in terms of ease of use and interior quality, however. Finding your way around the Peugeot e-208's display takes a bit of getting used to, and it can be hard to find the perfect driving position. The quality of the interior plastics is a bit patchy, too.
On the upside, the Peugeot e-208 does have plenty of space for adults in the front, and more room in the back than you'll find in some rival electric cars. However, conventional alternatives like the Polo, SEAT Ibiza and Hyundai i20 are better options if you regularly carry four tall passengers, and their boots are also a little bit bigger than the Peugeot e-208's.
That being said, if you're looking for a small electric car that can replace your old petrol or diesel with as little friction as possible, the Peugeot e-208 remains one of your best options. It looks and feels like a conventional model, while bringing with it all the advantages of electric power. If you can live with the reduced range and time it take to charge the battery, the Peugeot e-208 could just be the EV for you.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Peugeot Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Peugeot e-208s for sale. If you're looking for the petrol/diesel version, you need our Peugeot 208 review.
What’s the best Peugeot e-208 model/engine to choose?
Initially, all Peugeot e-208s came with the same 136PS motor and 50kWh battery. Later, however, a second powertrain option was added to the range, teaming a 156PS motor with a 51kW battery for a little more range. Which you'll want depends on how much range you need. If you can live with between 218 and 225 miles, you can same money by choosing the less powerful version, but if you want the security of the more powerful car's 248-mile range, you might consider it worth paying the extra for.
What other cars are similar to the Peugeot e-208?
There's no shortage of new electric cars, and as a small electric electric car that looks very conventional, the Peugeot e-208 is similar to the Vauxhall e-Corsa (later renamed as the Corsa Electric), which in fact shares the Peugeot's mechanicals. In fact, the Stellantis Group that owns both brand also offers loads more electric models that sit on the same architecture: the Vauxhall Mokka Electric, the Peugeot e-2008, the Jeep Avenger, the Fiat 600e, the DS3... the list goes on.
There are other conventional-looking small EVs, but the Renault Zoe, MINI Electric and Honda e are all smaller.
Comfort and design: Peugeot e-208 interior
"All Peugeot e-208s come with a steering wheel that moves for reach and height, and a driver's seat that offers a wide range of movement, including height."
As a result of this, getting a comfortable driving position in the Peugeot e-208 isn't an issue, but getting a good view of the instrument panel could be a problem. That's because Peugeot's iCockpit design has your instruments sitting above a small steering wheel that can often block your view.
While this is a fairly major issue, it is the only one that sticks out in a cabin that is generally very comfortable. Even entry-level models have a leather-covered steering wheel and climate control that keeps the interior at a set temperature, while Allure models and above add a front centre armrest, and a rear-view mirror that filters glare at night.
Quality and finish
The Peugeot e-208's cabin scores on visual appeal rather than interior quality. It doesn't have the same big-car-in-a-small-package feel that you get with the Volkswagen Polo, because less of its plastics are soft and squidgy, and the infotainment screen displays aren't quite as sharp and colourful. That said, you'd never describe the e-208 as looking dour, an accusation the Polo doesn't shake off so easily.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Peugeot e-208
Even the basic Peugeot e-208 comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so it is easy to mirror the display of your smartphone on the car's big screen, giving you access to apps like Google Maps and Spotify. In early examples, the screen was a 7.0-inch item on most versions with the range-topping GT getting a 10.0-inch screen. Following a 2023 facelift, though, the bigger screen became standard across the board.
Step up the range a bit, and you'll find mid-range models combine the centre infotainment screen with a digital dashboard that sports cool animations that bring the interior to life. This display is 3D on the GT model.
Top-of-the-range Peugeot e-208 GT models, meanwhile, swap the seven-inch screen in the rest of the range for a 10-inch version which has connected services. That means the sat-nav can route around congestion as well as display petrol station fuel prices and other information, it's a neat trick although not really needed if you have a smartphone that's compatible with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
All early Peugeot e-208s came with one USB-C and four USB plugs, giving you plenty of charging capacity at your fingertips. On later cars, entry-level Active cars had a single USB-C port in the front and USB-C and USB-A ports in the back, while Allure and GT trims add an additional USB-C in the front.
Space and practicality: Peugeot e-208 boot space
Externally, the Peugeot e-208 is identical to the 208, measuring 4055mm long and 1755mm wide (ignoring door mirrors), which means when comes to interior space the Peugeot e-208 is identical to the petrol 208. That means you get odd ergonomics up front, which can make it tricky to simultaneously have the steering wheel at your ideal height, while also seeing the dashboard's dials and readouts. If you can crack that, however, there's plenty of room up front for two adults.
The same is not true in the back where two tall adults will feel squeezed for kneeroom, while shoehorning a third person into the middle pushes your passengers on the outer seats into the car's low-slung roofline. Whichever way you look at it it's not ideal, although compared to other small electric cars, the e-208 - along with the Vauxhall e-Corsa - is actually one of your better options for rear-seat passengers.
The same is true for boot space, because while the Peugeot e-208's 311-litre boot is someway off a conventional alternative like the Volkswagen Polo (351 litres), it's some way ahead of EV alternatives like the MINI Electric (211 litres) and Fiat 500 Electric (185 litres).
Anything else worthy of note? Well, the Peugeot e-208 is packed full of smaller storage spaces and it is good to see ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats, so it is easy to mount a pair of child seats.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Peugeot e-208 like to drive?
"The petrol-powered 208 is already a very comfortable small car, a quality the electric e-208 enhances."
The only powertrain noise the Peugeot e-208 produces is a distant hum, and its instant pick-up at low speeds, along with its one-speed gearbox, mean you can squirt into gaps in traffic without having to worry about bogging down or changing gear.
Factor in its zero emissions (so no low-emission zone charges to worry about) and small size, and you'd be hard pressed to find a car that's better suited to the city. You even get rear parking sensors fitted as standard so you can slide into tight spaces in a jiffy.
The only negative next to the conventional car is the Peugeot e-208's slightly more brittle ride. That's brought about by the EV's stiffer suspension needed to contain its extra heft: due to its batteries, the e-208 weighs more than 1500kg, while some versions of the conventional car come in at less than 1000kg.
The battery is housed underneath the car's floor, which helps give it a low centre of gravity and tidy handling, although it never feels quite as nimble as you might expect given its modest proportions.
Where the Peugeot e-208 makes the least sense is on the motorway, where your achievable electric range falls off the proverbial cliff. We'd advise against it if you often drive more than 150 miles in a day because you'll likely need to charge between journeys.
Not only does it chew through its battery quicker at higher speeds - it's limited to a modest 93mph top speed to combat this, somewhat unsuccessfully - it also no longer has the sparkling acceleration you get in town.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Peugeot e-208?
Initially, all Peugeot e-208s had the same 136PS electric motor that produced its 260Nm of torque instantaneously. That means the car can get away with having a single-speed transmission, and it operates just like an automatic car, although even more smoothly.
It scampers off the line with a handy enthusiasm that is useful when you're trying to put some clean air between yourself, cyclists and scooters, or just trying to nip into gaps in traffic.
Its official 8.1-second 0-62mph time doesn't really do this low-speed acceleration justice, as the performance tails off significantly the faster you go.
Another feather in the Peugeot e-208's cap is its regenerative brakes. They recharge the e-208's battery every time you lift your foot off the accelerator, slowing the car as they do so, meaning a lot of the time you can start and stop using the accelerator, only pressing the brake pedal when you need to slow quickly. The regenerative brakes also reduce wear of the car's friction brake discs and pads.
Later on in 2023, the 136PS powertrain was joined in the range by a 156PS version that also has a slightly bigger battery. In reality, it's hardly any quicker, certainly not by enough on its own to warrant spending the extra it costs to buy. It's only worth it if you need the extra range it provides, which amounts to just 23 miles according to official figures.
Maximum EV range in the Peugeot e-208
Initially, the Peugeot e-208 could officially travel up to 217 miles on a single charge of its 50kWh battery. Over time, improvements in the battery technology raised this to between 218- and 225 miles, depending on the spec of the car in question.
When the more powerful version with its bigger 51kWh battery was introduced, the maximum range leaped up to 248 miles according to WLTP figures. OK, so this is more of a hop than a leap, but some might find it useful.
Refinement and noise levels
The regular 208 is a mature small car that leans towards comfort, with compliant suspension and impressive noise suppression at a cruise. The Peugeot e-208 model amplifies these qualities by being extremely quiet and relaxing to drive at town speeds thanks to its almost-silent, torquey electric motor.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Peugeot e-208?
The Peugeot e-208 was awarded a four-star safety certificate when it was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2019. It comes with most of the safety kit you would expect of a small car including a glut of airbags and automatic emergency brakes that can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars. However, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are optional extras, and can only be added to high-spec versions.
Charging times: How much does it cost to charge the Peugeot e-208?
"The Peugeot e-208 has a 50kWh battery that costs less than £10 to charge at home from a wall charger."
Charging times for the Peugeot e-208 vary from eight hours using a 7kW wall-mounted charger at home to 30-40 minutes using a 50kWh public charger. That could be even quicker if you can find one of the UK's few 100kWh chargers.
How reliable is the Peugeot e-208
Right now, we're not aware of any common issues that plague the Peugeot e-208, and with fewer moving parts to go wrong compared with a petrol or diesel car, the e-208 should be a dependable choice. Peugeot offers a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, while the battery has an eight-year warranty.
Peugeot as a brand performs pretty averagely (and that's being kind) in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, ranking 24th out of 29 manufacturers in the 2023 study.
Insurance groups and costs
Buy an early Peugeot e-208, and it sits between insurance groups 26 and 28, so it won't cost a fortune to get covered, but it will be significantly more than a standard petrol model. Buy a car from after the 2023 facelift, though, and it'll be in group 31, regardless of trim level. We're not entirely sure what's to blame for the hike, but even so, premiums still shouldn't be ruinous.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Peugeot e-208?
As an electric car, you don't pay any road tax on the Peugeot e-208 whatsoever. However, this is likely to change in 2025.
How much should you be paying for a used Peugeot e-208?
"The Peugeot e-208 is well priced as a new car, compared with other small electric cars. At the time this review was last updated, prices started at around £31,500 and topped out at around £36,000."
However, the car has been around long enough that you can make some massive savings by buying a used one. Check out heycar's listings, and you find a generous selection at around the £13,000 mark. These will be a mixture of younger, lower-spec models with lower mileages, and slightly older high-end models with more miles under their wheels.
Either way, there are some very tempting cars there for a fraction of what they cost new, plus you can have a used one in days, rather than having to wait for a brand new one to be built and shipped.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Once upon a time, the Peugeot e-208 was available in five trim levels called Active Premium, Allure, Allure Premium, GT and GT Premium.
Active Premium is the basic trim but it's still well equipped to offset the e-208's high price relative to a conventional model of the same size. It has 16-inch alloy wheels on the outside and inside you get a seven-inch centre screen, rear parking sensors and air conditioning.
Peugeot e-208 Allure models add to that with full LED rear lights (only the daytime running lights are LEDs in Active Premium), climate control and automatic wipers. Allure Premium models feel posher inside thanks to their digital dashboard and part leather seats, while the reversing camera and four interior USBs make them easier to drive and live with.
Peugeot e-208 GT models look the smartest: they get 17-inch alloys and LED lights front and back, plus plenty of sporty GT badges. Inside, you'll find the upgraded 10-inch centre touchscreen, which has connected services so you can communicate with it wirelessly using an app on your phone and route around congestion on the fly.
GT Premium models get kit that makes the e-208 feel like a little luxury car. You can open and start the car without needing to take the key out your pocket, you get posh Alcantara heated seats to sit in and once you're underway you'll find the active cruise control, which can brake and accelerate the car automatically, a major boon on long journeys.
As part of the 2023 facelift, the trim levels were pared back to Active, Allure and GT. The Active has 16-inch steel wheels, a leather steering wheel, climate control air-con, electric and heated door mirrors, four electric windows, rear parking sensors, and the 10.0-inch central screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Allure adds alloy wheels, extra exterior styling touches, part-leather-effect upholstery, front parking sensors, digital instruments, and power folding door mirrors. GT trim gets you a colour reversing camera, keyless entry and go, and wireless smartphone charging, along with sporty styling touches inside and out.
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