Peugeot e-208 review

Introduction

Plenty of electric cars (EVs) make a statement, to the point where they might as well have a Lightning-McQueen-like lightning bolt painted down their sides. However, not every EV buyer wants that, and for them, there’s the Peugeot e-208.

Besides a couple of ‘E’ badges, it looks near-enough identical to the petrol-powered Peugeot 208. It’s perhaps perfect if you’d rather avoid getting into EV-related conversations every time you meet up with family or friends.

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50kWh Allure Hatchback 5dr Electric Auto (7.4kW Charger) (136 ps)

Expected annual mileage	5000
Term months	48
Deposit months	12
Monthly payment	£345.05
Initial payment	£4,140.60

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

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• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

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£4,141 initial payment, 48 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

The e-208 is closely related to the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, but it faces tougher competition from the Hyundai Inster and the five-star Renault 5 (R5). Can it compete? Read on to find out.

What’s new?

- July 2023: facelift announced with new design and improved infotainment system

- September 2022: e-208 upgraded, and now offers range of up to 248 miles plus a power increase to 156bhp

- August 2020: e-208 named Electric Small Car of the Year by What Car?

- August 2019: Peugeot reveals specs of new electric e-208. All cars come with electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, climate control and autonomous emergency braking

Overview

The Peugeot e-208 is smart inside and good to drive. However, it’s pricey next to the Hyundai Inster and Renault 5. As such, we'd recommend the entry-level Allure trim because it keeps the price respectable and comes with enough standard equipment.

Pros

• Smart interior
• Good to drive
• Long warranty

Cons

• Expensive
• Cramped in the back
• Driving position won’t suit everyone

Trims available

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GT

Top-spec GT trim comes with niceties such as 17in alloy wheels, rear-view camera, keyless entry, full LED headlights, and ambient interior lighting. However, it’s too pricey to recommend.

Allure

Allure is the mid-level trim and our pick. It includes 16in alloys, a configurable digital driver’s instrument display, front parking sensors, privacy glass and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, plus everything you get with entry-level Style.

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which motor is best?

There are two versions of the Peugeot e-208 and both are similarly fast. Neither feels even remotely out of their depth at motorway speeds, and both will keep up with the most powerful versions of the Hyundai Inster and Renault 5.

The upcoming Peugeot e-208 GTi hot hatch is set to be even more punchy. It’s due later this year, and we’ll tell you more about that once we’ve driven it.

Of the current line-up, our top pick is the bigger (51kWh) battery version. It’s only slightly more expensive and it has a much longer range. More on that further down.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The e-208’s steering is precise and there’s a safe amount of grip, but no, it isn’t particularly agile. The suspension is quite soft, leading to some body lean during fast cornering. The same applies to the Inster and R5 but not the sharper Mini Cooper Electric.

Mind you, the trade-off with the Mini is a firmer ride. The e-208 is more compliant over bumps and potholes – again, like the Inster and R5. It’s comfortable, even if the ride isn’t quite as well controlled as the (more expensive) Volkswagen ID 3.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The e-208 is indeed quiet. Its electric motor is as hushed as you’d expect, with barely any whine when you press the accelerator. There’s very little wind and road noise, too.

As for driving smoothly, we have just one complaint, which is that the brake pedal is a bit soft and spongey. It’s not as easy to modulate as the R5’s firmer pedal.

At least the regenerative braking does some of the work for you. There are two intensity settings but, unfortunately, no one-pedal mode.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

The e-208 is competitive on range. Even the smaller (50kWh) battery can officially cover more than 200 miles on a charge. You can’t say that about the Inster Standard Range and R5 120 Urban Range.

Sure, the Inster Long Range and R5 150 Comfort Range have bigger batteries that boost range. However, they rise to 229 and 252 miles respectively, so neither can quite match the bigger battery e-208 and its 267-mile figure.

It’s worth noting that the Corsa Electric is available with the same battery options as the e-208. As a result, the pair can cover very similar distances on a single charge.

The e-208, Corsa and R5 150 all have maximum charging speeds of 100kW, while the Inster tops out at 85kW.

"The e-208 isn’t sporty to drive, but I don't think that's a problem if you only really take it around town."— Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

One of the first things you’ll notice about the e-208’s interior is the high-set driver’s display and small wheel beneath it. Peugeot calls this setup the ‘i-Cockpit’ and it’s featured on most Peugeot car models since 2012.

Aside from that quirk – albeit one that’s becoming increasingly common – the e-208 feels mostly traditional inside, with buttons and switches in all the places you’d expect.

It feels classier inside than the Corsa Electric and Inster, thanks to a more widespread use of soft-touch materials. The R5 is a closer call.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

The e-208’s i-Cockpit divides opinion. If you happen to be long in the body or like to sit close to the steering wheel with the seat jacked up, you’ll probably think the whole arrangement is great. Unfortunately, just as many people will find that the steering wheel blocks their view of the instruments and will have to move the wheel or seat to an uncomfortable position just so they can see what speed they're doing. Try before you buy, that’s what we’d say.

If the i-Cockpit doesn’t suit you, note that the closely related Corsa Electric has a normal-sized steering wheel and more conventional dashboard arrangement.

As for seeing out of the e-208, you’ll probably find the windscreen pillars get in the way a bit at junctions and roundabouts, but all versions have rear parking sensors to help out with reversing. Every e-208 gets front and rear parking sensors, with GT adding a reversing camera and GT Premium a 360-degree camera.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

As standard, all e-208’s come with a 10.0in infotainment touchscreen which offers sharp graphics and relatively quick response times. You also get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. However, Peugeot's operating system isn't very intuitive, so it takes a while to learn where certain functions are buried.

It's also slightly annoying that you have to use the touchscreen to adjust the air-conditioning. It would be far better if there were physical dials for tweaking the interior temperature, like those in the Corsa Electric.

"The unconventional driving position didn't really work for me, and I didn't find the ‘3D’ digital instruments as clear as I'd hoped." — Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

Although the Peugeot e-208 is a relatively small car, even tall people should find enough space in the front. Head and leg room are plentiful, and the interior is wide enough to not risk an elbow fight between front-seat occupants.

Leg room in the back is reasonable as long as you're not sitting behind a tall driver, and there’s a generous amount of foot space under the front seats. Overall, the e-208 has similar space compared with the R5, but choose the Inster and – thanks in part to its sliding rear seats – you’ll have more room. In other words, six-footers will find the Inster more airy.

If you're buying an e-208, we'd recommend you avoid adding the optional panoramic sunroof because it lowers the height of the ceiling quite a bit and makes head room tight for adults.

How much room does it have for luggage?

In the interior, there’s also a decent amount of storage space, including well-sized door bins, a tray at the bottom of the dashboard and various other cubbies. Above that, there's a hidden compartment that clicks open to reveal another handy storage spot for your phone (which doubles as a wireless charging pad as standard on GT Premium models).

The e-208 (and 208, for that matter) has a 311-litre boot that’s big enough to take five carry-on suitcases. For comparison, the R5 can fit four suitcases. We’ve yet to suitcase test the Inster, but its sliding rear seats give you more flexibility and space, should you want it. It has 238 to 351 litres, depending on where you position the rear seats.

"Rear space isn’t great by wider small car standards, but on a hour-long trip, a couple of my six-footers passengers didn't feel too squished." — Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The Peugeot e-208 is more expensive than the Inster and R5. In fact, the entry-level e-208 costs a similar amount to a range-topping Inster or R5.

The e-208’s entry-level trim is called Allure, and with it you get 16in alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, faux leather and cloth seats and a leather steering wheel. We’d stick with Allure to keep the price to a minimum.

However, we can see why GT would appeal. It comes with a few more luxuries, like keyless entry and ambient lighting. It also gets a black roof and 17in wheels.

Range-topping GT Premium then adds standard-fit heated front seats, a massage function for the driver’s seat, and adaptive cruise control.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The e-208 came 11th out of 19 cars in the electric car class of our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. Its score was a so-so 89.4%. It ranked higher than the Corsa Electric but lower than the VW ID 3.

As a brand, Peugeot came a respectable 11th out of 30 brands featured – above Renault (20th) but below Hyundai (14th).

Speaking of Hyundai, it offers an eight-year, 100-000-mile battery warranty, with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty on the rest of the car. That’s good, but Peugeot’s warranty can beat it. You see, electric Peugeots get an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty that covers the battery, electric motor, charging system and key electrical and mechanical components. Just be aware that, to get the full eight-year coverage, your car must be regularly serviced at a Peugeot dealer.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

All e-208s come with automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and road-sign recognition as standard. If you want blind-spot monitoring, you’ll have to pay extra for it or upgrade to GT Premium trim.

What’s slightly disappointing is the fact that the e-208 received four stars out of five for safety when it was appraised by Euro NCAP in 2019, with whiplash protection for adults in the back rated "poor". The Inster and R5 also got four stars, but the VW ID 3 got five.

"To me, the e-208 doesn’t feel much more expensive than a Renault 5, yet you look at the pricing and it is." — Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

Buy it if…

- You appreciate comfort more than sportiness

- You want a long electric range (relatively speaking)

- You’re after an upmarket interior

Don’t buy it if…

- You want fun handling

- You don’t get on with Peugeot's i-Cockpit driving position

- You’re looking for a cheaper option within the small electric car class

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