Peugeot E-208 review: the price you pay for style

Peugeot E-208 verdict

Few small EVs can quite match the Peugeot E-208 when it comes to kerbside kudos; after a recent facelift, we think it’s even more attractive than before, plus a bigger battery means it can travel further on a charge, too. However, while it’s peachy to drive, so are most of the Peugeot’s competitors, which almost all happen to come in cheaper than the E-208 while offering longer ranges and more equipment.

The Peugeot’s cramped interior also means it’s destined to live its life as a second car – and a pretty expensive one at that. Unless you’re a company car driver or lucky enough to secure a sweet finance deal, we’d hold off on buying a new E-208 and instead take a look at the used market where the electric Peugeot is one of the best-value models you can buy.

Range details, specs and alternatives

The Peugeot E-208 has been around for a while now; it was the French maker’s first electric car, originally going on sale in 2019 and subsequently joined by the larger Peugeot E-2008 SUV and Peugeot E-308 hatchback.

A top-seller in Europe, the E-208 received a major facelift in 2023, with a larger battery pack, newer technology and a refreshed styling to help it keep up with a growing list of rivals that includes the Renault ZOE, MINI Electric and Fiat 500e. That’s without mentioning the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Citroen e-C4 which both share many of their parts with the Peugeot, as well as the cheap-as-chips MG4 EV and BYD Dolphin, which both greatly undercut the E-208.

As before, the E-208 is available with a 50kWh battery pack, paired to a 134bhp electric motor, resulting in an electric range of up to 225 miles. There is now, however, the option for a larger 51kWh battery which, according to Peugeot, will boost range to a maximum of 248 miles. Despite a more powerful 154bhp electric motor, there is very little difference in terms of performance between the two, while all E-208 models are able to charge from 20-80% in less than half an hour thanks to 100kW DC rapid charging.

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The trim structure for the E-208 has changed several times since it launched, with buyers now having the choice of Active, Allure and GT specifications. The list of standard equipment is relatively strong, with all cars getting LED headlights, a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control and rear parking sensors. Top-spec cars get luxuries like larger wheels, heated seats, digital dials and a reversing camera.

It’s also worth mentioning the Peugeot E-208 E-Style, which is on sale until the end of January 2024. This is only available with the old 50kWh battery pack and costs roughly £200 more than the entry-level Active model. It includes a handful of neat upgrades including enhanced fabric upholstery, diamond-cut alloy wheels, tinted windows and front parking sensors. The catch? It comes with the old seven-inch touchscreen instead of the new 10-inch system  – although, at least the E-Style does come as standard with built-in sat nav.

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