Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Peugeot E-208 GT Premium 51kWh
Price: E-208 51kWh from £30,150; GT Premium from £34,100 (£36,710 as tested)
Motor: 115kW electric motor
Battery: 51kWh lithium-ion battery (48.1kWh usable)
Transmission: single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 156hp
Torque: 260Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 248 miles
0-62mph: 8.2 seconds
Top speed: 93mph
Boot space: 309-1,118 litres
Styling
The latest-generation E-208 doesn't look all that different from its predecessor, but there's nothing wrong with that. The fragmented grille design is lightly updated, but the LED 'fangs' at the front remain, and the basic shape is identical, and just as handsome as before. The rear end has been modified slightly, too, with some new tail lights, but that hasn't damaged what is unquestionably one of the more visually intriguing small hatchbacks on the market.
Interior
Just as the E-208’s exterior design is among the most attractive out there, so too is the cabin design – even if some aspects require a little getting used to. The small steering wheel and high-set instrument cluster won’t be to everyone’s taste, and we reckon a test drive is extra important with this car, just to make sure you can cope with it.
But if you can deal with the driving position, the E-208’s interior will prove a very pleasant place to be. The build quality is up there with the very best in the class, and the same goes for the materials. Naturally, there is some evidence of cost-cutting if you look for it, but this is one of the more premium-feeling superminis on the market.
And the tech has come a long way since the 208 was first introduced, too. It isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the instrument cluster is laid out nicely and the touchscreen looks sharp and smart, even if some of the menus are a bit confusing. It’s a shame Peugeot persists with leaving all the climate control interfaces in the screen, but at least there’s a row of shortcut buttons below the screen that make accessing those interfaces slightly easier.
Practicality
Life in the front of the E-208 is good, with plenty of space for even very tall drivers, although the aforementioned driving position issues remain. Space in the back, however, is less generous, and you'll find more room in the rear seats of VW Polo, for example. Nevertheless, those back seats are fine for kids, and the seats in the front are remarkably comfortable. Sadly, boot space is a bit less impressive, at 309 litres, but at least that's more than you get in a Vauxhall Corsa Electric.
Performance
Under the floor, the E-208 is offered with a choice of two batteries that sound remarkably similar, but offer very different performance. The base option is the 50kWh battery, which comes with a 136hp electric motor driving the front wheels, while the more upmarket choice is the 51kWh battery with a 156hp electric motor.
While they may not sound that different, the two batteries use different chemistry, so the 51kWh option has significantly greater range. Whereas the official figures suggest the 50kWh car will do 224 miles on a single charge, the 51kWh battery increases that range to 268 miles. For what is ostensibly a two-per-cent increase in capacity, that's quite a difference. However, our test suggested that in the real world, the larger battery is still only capable of about 220 miles on a charge, assuming you're on a long motorway drive.
But that's partly because the 51kWh battery is combined with a 156hp motor that offers greater straight-line speed, getting the E-208 from 0-62mph in about eight seconds. And the system is smooth and punchy, which makes this GT version of the E-208 feel like a bit of a hot hatchback. But if you treat it that way, it definitely won't manage 280 miles between trips to the plug.
When you arrive at the plug, though, the 100kW charging means the battery will charge from 20 to 80 per cent in about 25 minutes or so, which is pretty good from a rapid public charge point. And you can expect a domestic 'wallbox' charger to fill the battery completely overnight.
Ride & Handling
The E-208's driving experience has always been among its strong suits, and we're pleased to report that even the roads of the UK can't spoil it. As we found on foreign soil, the 208 is one of the most agile superminis out there, with quick steering and plenty of grip, allowing the car to nip around nicely in town and turn sharply on a country road. Admittedly, there's still a bit of body roll, but the 208 manages to make that part of the experience, rather than detracting too much from the occasion.
Normally, such agility and engagement comes at the cost of comfort, but that's not such a great problem in the E-208. Perhaps it doesn't feel quite as supple as it did on the silky surfaces of Spain, but it still rides tidily. A few bumps will make an impact on those inside, but it is much smoother than most electric hatchbacks, and that only improves the E-208's credentials for longer journeys.
Value
The cheapest E-208 out there is the 50kWh version, which comes in at just over £30,000. That isn't bad for a small electric car, but when you can pick up a Nissan Micra with even greater range for less than £27,000, it isn't the bargain it might once have been.
Admittedly, the E-208 is still nicer than the Micra inside, but equipment-wise it's much of a muchness. The basic E-208 Allure comes with tri-material seats, alloy wheels and a digital cockpit and touchscreen, as well as parking sensors and keyless start. Automatic climate control is standard, too.
Moving up to the bigger battery costs less than a grand, and unless you're only going to drive in the city, it's worth paying the extra. And we'd consider upgrading to the £32,300 or £34,100 GT or GT Premium models, too, which get goodies such as bigger wheels and a reversing camera. The GT Premium gets heated seats and satellite navigation, too.
But even if you do that, the E-208 is still around £5,000 more expensive than the equivalent Micra or Renault 5, and though it's fractionally more spacious and much more solidly built, it's no better equipped.
Verdict
In short, the E-208 is still worthy of its place among the best electric small hatchbacks, but the game is moving on at pace, and with the likes of the Renault 5 and Nissan Micra edging ahead in some ways, the E-208 cannot rest on its laurels for long. Nevertheless, it's still a cracking EV that's fun to drive, well appointed inside and easy on the eye.
