Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Peugeot E-308 GT
Price: E-308 from £40,050, GT from £42,250
Motor: 115kW electric motor
Transmission: single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Battery: 54kWh lithium-ion battery (51kWh usable)
Power: 156hp
Torque: 270Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 236-267 miles
0-62mph: 9.8 seconds
Top speed: 106mph
Boot space: 361-1,271 litres
Styling
External differences between the E-308 and its more conventionally powered siblings are few and far between. So few, in fact, that there are just two differences, and so far between that there’s one on the boot lid and the others are at the very bottom of the car. So if you spotted the ‘E’ badge preceding the 308 lettering on the boot, or the 18-inch alloy wheels that are aerodynamically designed specifically for the electric 308, then 10 anorak points to you. If you didn’t, it seems that’s the point – the E-308 is specifically designed to look just like any other 308. Not that that’s a bad thing. This has to be one of the best-looking family hatchbacks on the market, what with its sharp nose and cool rear end. And it looks particularly good in Olivine Green.
Interior
Just as the E-308's exterior is much like that of the standard car, the interior follows suit. As with every other version of the 308, it gets the same, almost comically small steering wheel and the same wide touchscreen, supplemented by configurable digital 'I-Toggles'. But otherwise, the dashboard is pretty sparse, with few buttons and switches, and just a high-set instrument display above that tiny wheel.
Like other 308 models, build quality is pretty robust, with some very smart materials on display, although some parts feel a little cheap in comparison. More problematic is the technology, which is an improvement on the old 308, but still a little clunky and unintuitive in places. The 3D instrument display, for example, feels a bit messy, and it isn't necessarily that easy to see over the little wheel.
Practicality
Fortunately, the fully electric 308 is just as practical as its plug-in hybrid siblings, although it isn't quite as spacious as the petrol and diesel versions. Nevertheless, a 361-litre boot is adequate, putting the E-308 roughly on a par with the MG4 EV and just behind a petrol VW Golf. The bigger problem, however, is the lack of rear space, which means though four six-foot-tall adults will fit inside, they won't be especially flush for legroom. Headroom is no more than adequate, either, and the whole rear of the car just feels a little cramped. Again, though, it's no worse than in any other 308.
Performance
Under the bonnet of the E-308 lies a 156hp electric motor that drives the front wheels. That power output is more than adequate for a car of this size, but it isn’t exactly luxuriating in excess punch. So the 9.8-second sprint from 0-62mph is perfectly acceptable – you shouldn’t have any trouble keeping up with traffic – but it naturally doesn’t feel as potent, or as effortless, as the 200hp-plus motors offered in some rivals.
More important than performance, however, are efficiency and range. And while the E-308’s 54kWh battery doesn’t sound especially generous, it’s enough for an official range of more than 260 miles. Admittedly, real-world figures suggest you’re looking at more like 220 miles on a charge, and slightly less than 200 on a motorway shlep, but even that’s pretty good going for such a small battery. Other cars on the market are getting similar range from larger batteries, so as an efficient proposition, the E-308 scores well.
It also offers decent charging speeds, helping you to get back on the move when you have to interrupt your journey. Again, 100kW charging doesn’t sound all that impressive when you look at the near-300kW speeds offered by Audi and Porsche, but with a 54kWh battery to fill, it isn’t bad at all. It’ll charge from 20-80 per cent in just half an hour, and that will give you about 150 miles of total range, even on the motorway.
Ride & Handling
As with some other Peugeot-Citroen models, including the DS3 E-Tense and the e-Rifter, the electric 308 offers the best driving experience in the range. Admittedly, the ride isn't always brilliant, particularly at lower speeds, and petrol versions are arguably more absorbent, but the handling is pretty good for a family hatch.
That's because the weight is all low down in the car, reducing body roll in corners and making the car feel more stable. Slightly heavy steering helps a bit on that front, too, giving the E-308 a more substantial feel on the road. It never quite breaks the boundary between 'decent' and 'fun', but it's more enjoyable than the standard 308 and the lack of Peugeot's slushy eight-speed automatic gearbox is always a boon.
Credit should also go to the E-308's brakes, which have a tricky job balancing efficient regenerative braking and powerful hydraulic callipers. Often, car makers struggle to mix the two with any kind of progression, but the E-308's brakes always feel nice and positive, no matter what.
Value
With prices kicking off at just over £40,000 for an E-308, it's an expensive mode of family transport. Especially when you can get a more conventional 308 for less than £30,000. But it isn't just the electric propulsion system that makes the E-308 pricey. When MG can sell the MG4 EV for under £30,000 with a larger battery, the E-308 looks properly expensive.
At least it comes with plenty of standard equipment, because the basic versions of the 308 aren't available in E form. So you have to start part-way up the range, and that means you get satellite navigation, a reversing camera and a heated steering wheel as standard, as well as automatic air conditioning and the 18-inch Ottowa alloy wheels. Moving up to the GT adds heated front seats and sportier design, as well as a sport adjustment for the pedals and steering, while there's a First Edition option for a limited time.
Verdict
The E-308 is a wholly competent, if not especially exciting car. Easy on the eye, pleasant enough to drive and reasonably well built, it's a very convincing all-round package. Admittedly, it doesn't come cheap, but it's a solid effort from Peugeot, and that's with this 54kWh battery on board. Imagine how good it would be if Peugeot got a bit more extravagant with its battery options and upped the ante to 70- or 80-odd kilowatt-hours. Then we'd be talking about an even more compelling contender.
