Peugeot e-208 Review 2024

As the small car sector shifts to EV models, the Peugeot e-208 is well placed to tempt buyers in with its sharp looks and decent driving range. It’s good to drive, too, although the ride is quite firm. But it’s more expensive than many buyers of small cars will be used to, although this is also the case for key rivals such as the Fiat 500 Electric, the stylish Honda e, and popular Vauxhall Corsa Electric. Read on for our full Peugeot e-208 review.

The Peugeot e-208 is the small electric car with mass appeal. Easy to drive, smartly styled and capable of covering just under 250 miles on a single charge, the electric version of the Peugeot 208 is an impressive and likeable EV. 

For the start of 2024, the Peugeot e-208 has had a minor mid-life refresh, with tweaks to the styling, and upgrades to the interior tech and range.

Let’s start with the updated styling. The Peugeot e-208 has been bought into line with other recent Peugeot models, including the Peugeot 308 and bigger Peugeot 408, with a wider grille and more prominent ‘claw’ daytime running light arrangement to give it extra presence on the road.

There’s also Peugeot’s new logo sitting proudly on the centre of the grille, while depending on what trim you choose, dashes of body colour are integrated into the design of the grille.

It’s a nice-looking small EV and while not quite as unique as the Honda e, it’s definitely got more flair than the Vauxhall Corsa Electric with which it shares most of its underpinnings. 

Just as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric has seen a recent range boost thanks to a new motor, the Peugeot e-208 also enjoys the same upgrade.

Out goes the 136PS motor that’s powered by a 50kWh battery (although this will still be available in E-Style trim for a brief period), with the updated Peugeot e-208 getting a 156PS motor with a 51kWh battery. This sees the official range increase from 217 miles to 248 miles (two miles more than the Vauxhall Corsa Electric). 

Think small car and you’re probably expecting a pretty cheap interior, but the Peugeot e-208 actually has an upmarket fit and finish. The battery pack is placed under the floor to maximise cabin space and Peugeot’s i-Cockpit system combines a small steering wheel with a customisable digital display.

High-spec GT versions also get a fancy 3D instrument binnacle that does a good job of simplifying the Peugeot e-208’s range and battery charge status.

The relatively slow touchscreen infotainment interface on the older version has been updated with a new 10-inch display – opt for the top-spec Allure and GT trims, though, and you get an HD display for greater clarity. We found it to be nice and responsive.

There’s a good amount of space and storage up front, but some will find the Peugeot e-208 can feel a bit cramped in the back, with headroom and legroom limited for adults.

On the road, the Peugeot e-208 is generally relaxing to drive. The steering is light and responsive, while the new 156PS electric motor provides a rewarding zip of acceleration (although to take advantage of that power, you’ll need to be in ‘Sport’ driving mode).

Officially, 0-62mph takes 8.2 seconds, but the Peugeot e-208 feels a lot more capable on the road, thanks to its 260Nm of instant torque. 

Despite weighing a portly 1455kg, the Peugeot e-208 feels light on its wheels. The power delivery is smooth and predictable, while the vehicle’s low centre of gravity and firm suspension do a good job of keeping body lean to a minimum when it comes to cornering.

Some might find the ride comfort to be on the firm side, but the Peugeot e-208 will suppress all but the harshest of road bumps. 

A 100kW fast charging station can charge the Peugeot e-208 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, while a full charge at a 7kW home wallbox takes seven-and-a-half hours. A domestic three-pin plug will take around 20 hours for a complete charge.

Peugeot also offers some useful tech to make life easier, including a smartphone app that can be used to remotely activate the charging of the car, as well as programme the heating, air-conditioning and windscreen defrosting.

Looking for a second opinion? Read heycar’s Peugeot e-208 review.

The Peugeot e-208 is a lot more rewarding and relaxing to drive than the likes of a Renault Zoe, owing to the fact it is more refined and sharper in the handling department.

The front-mounted electric motor operates with a near-silent hum, while road and wind noise is suppressed to barely a whisper at moderate speeds.

Admittedly, things get a little louder on the motorway, but for the most part the Peugeot e-208 is a great little EV package.

Behind the wheel, there are three driving modes to choose from. Each one is self-explanatory – Eco, Normal and Sport – and even in its standard set-up, the Peugeot e-208 is fun to drive.

Much of this is down to the suspension, which is lower and firmer than that found in its small car rivals.

This means that the Peugeot e-208 is more willing to carry speed through bends, but some passengers might complain about the harshness of the ride quality on rough surfaces.

The thick door pillars do hinder visibility a little at the corners, but generally the driver gets a good all-round view of the road. All versions of the Peugeot e-208 feature an electric parking brake as standard, along with a speed sign recognition system that displays local limits on the instrument binnacle.

The electric motor delivers power to the front wheels and the mechanical set-up feels well-suited to the instant 260Nm of torque, which means the traction control system doesn’t light up each time you push the Peugeot e-208 along to join a busy road. 

As with its EV rivals, the Peugeot e-208 uses an automatic brake regeneration system to recover energy and boost the battery charge.

However, this system is not overly harsh on the brakes. In fact, in its default setting, it’s barely noticeable. This means you do not get any unexpected bouts of heavy deceleration each time you lift the throttle pedal. 

The 50kWh battery pack takes seven-and-a-half hours to charge from a 7kW wallbox, while a rapid 100kw charger will boost the charge from almost zero to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes.

Importantly, the Peugeot e-208 uses a water-cooled battery pack, which means there is no limitation to the number of rapid charges you can perform over a single journey.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the standard Peugeot 208 only managed a four-star score in Euro NCAP crash tests when assessed in 2019.

On the plus side, all models come with lane keep assist and automatic emergency braking tech. They also have a full spread of airbags and Isofix child seat mounts. You can add adaptive cruise control as an option.

Peugeot does not quote any weights for towing, whether with a braked or unbraked trailer.

If you want an electric car that has the look and feel of a standard hatchback, the Peugoet e-208 will be the small car for you.

The layout is pretty much identical to that of the petrol or diesel Peugeot 208 and it doesn’t employ any of the unfamiliar and futuristic design that you’ll find in the Honda e, for example.

Both the driver and front passenger get a decent amount of head and legroom, but things are less impressive in the back.

The sloping roof cuts headroom for tall adults and legroom is on the tight side. The rear doors are also quite narrow, and this makes it difficult for large people to get in and out with any form of grace. 

Boot space on the Peugeot e-208 is identical to the Vauxhall Corsa Electric at 309 litres, making it one of the biggest capacities offered on a small electric model – although it’s some 43 litres down on the standard Peugeot 208. 

The Peugeot e-208 certainly feels like one of the best made cars in its class.

There’s a pleasing mix of materials and shapes around the dash that gives a premium appeal, and the French firm has done well to hide any low-spec plastics out of sight and reach.

Earlier cars got either seven-inch or 10-inch touchscreens depending on the trim you opted for, but 10-inch is now standard across the range (with the exception of the Peugeot e-208 E-Style, which still has a seven-inch display).

The only difference now comes down to resolution, with the entry-level Active model getting an SD resolution screen, while Allure and GT have an HD display. Both are easy to read on the move.

While wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, buyers will appreciate the mirrored navigation in the digital display that saves you having to glance at the central touchscreen.

Other infotainment systems are a bit more intuitive, but once you get the hang of the Peugeot e-208’s menu system, it’s pretty good. There are also some clearly arranged ‘piano keys’ that sit below the screen to provide quick access to various controls, including audio, sat-nav and climate control. 

High-spec models do get a smart 3D digital instrument cluster, which means you can bypass the touchscreen when it comes to route directions and in-car settings.

Some drivers might find the system to be a little fussy to start with – the 3D layout takes a bit of getting used to – but we found it to do a really good job of simplifying the vehicle’s vital battery and range functions.

Just as we’ve seen with the Peugeot e-208’s sister car, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, you’re going to be paying a hefty premium for the electric version compared with the standard car.

Whereas the standard Peugeot 208 range starts at a little over £20,000, the e-208 gets under way at £32,400 (£100 less than the starting price of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, if you’re interested). 

You’ll probably be tempted by the extras that the Allure trim brings, which will set you back a further £1650, while the top-of-the-range Peugeot e-208 GT costs £36,250. 

To put that in perspective, the excellent MG4 starts at around £27,000, and you’re getting a much bigger car for your money.

The price also puts it in the mix with the likes of the new Volvo EX30 small electric SUV, which starts at £33,795.

As we’ve seen with other small electric cars, there are bargains to be had when buying used. Admittedly you’ll miss out on the latest tech and the slightly better range, but 2020 used Peugeot e-208s can be found for as little as £14,500. That’s quite a saving for a car with only around 30,000 miles covered.

According to WLTP figures, the Peugeot e-208 can manage 248 miles between recharging stops. Of course, you will need to be driving conservatively to see that mileage, and you’ll be looking to recharge before the battery is fully drained.

As such, reckon on 160-180 miles between plug-ins for the Peugeot e-208. With a rapid charger, you can go from 20% charge to 80% in half an hour.

With zero tailpipe emissions, the Peugeot e-208 has obvious appeal to company car drivers thanks to its 2% Benefit-in-Kind rating. It also comes in for free road tax, which helps offset its high list price.

Servicing at Peugeot dealers is on a par with its main rivals when it comes to costs, and Peugeot also offers fixed price servicing deals over varying lengths of time.

A three-year, 60,000-mile warranty covers most of the Peugeot e-208, while the battery has eight-year, 100,000-mile cover. This also comes with a guarantee that the battery will have at least 70% of its original range at this age and mileage.

The opening model in the range is the Peugeot e-208 Active and it comes with a pretty comprehensive range of standard kit.

This includes push-button start, Peugeot’s i-Cockpit digital instrument display, a 10-inch SD touchscreen display, Bluetooth, DAB radio, Mirror Screen (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), smartphone docking station, voice recognition and six-speaker radio with MP3 compatibility. 

You also get automatic headlights, 16-inch ‘Monti’ steel wheels, automatic air-conditioning, pre-heating functionality, electric and heated door mirrors, electric parking brake, rear parking sensors, leather steering wheel, cloth seat trim, Peugeot’s ECO LED headlights, LED rear lights, two USB sockets in the front and twin USB sockets in the rear.

For a short period you’ll be able to order a Peugeot e-208 E-Style. It’s only £250 more than the Active trim model, but the catch is you’ll only be able to get this with the older 136PS motor that's paired with the 50kWh battery.

It comes with 16-inch Noma alloy wheels, electric door mirrors, rear privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors, and gloss black bumper inserts. Inside, you’ll find Casual Lomsa fabric upholstery, and a seven-inch infotainment screen.

With the Peugeot e-208 Allure, you have 16-inch Noma alloy wheels, an upgraded 10-inch HD touchscreen display, combined leather-effect and cloth seat trim, Peugeot 3D configurable head-up instrument panel and automatic windscreen wipers.

The Peugeot e-208 GT adds fully automated parking assistance with reversing camera. There are also 17-inch Yanaka alloy wheels, wireless phone charging, full LED headlights, dynamic front seats, ‘Capy’ leather effect and ‘Belomka’ cloth seat trim with green stitch detailing.