How does it look?
The 208 as a whole has a remit to appeal to the widest possible audience – both young and old, male and female – and it’s clear Peugeot has tried to achieve this by appealing to a style-conscious buyer. It has an air of sophistication but with bold styling features that make it stand out from the crowd.peugeot e 208 parked in front of the beach
That ‘three-claw’ headlight design up front is a particular stand out, while LED headlights all ‘round really ramp up the appearance of quality. It looks best in bold colours, too, which do well to show off its smart details.
The e-208 in particular is perfect for people who want a car that looks good but don’t want to be too overt about the fact they bought an electric vehicle, as save for a few badges it’s almost indistinguishable from other powertrain choices.
What’s it like inside?
It’s more of the same from Peugeot, which has been offering high quality and handsome interiors for a few years now. Even in lower-specification models, material quality feels high while the new 3D i-Cockpit instrument binnacle is a quality touch.
As with other 208 variants, it shares the same foibles of being a touch cramped for taller passengers, particularly in the rear, while the positioning of that i-Cockpit screen means the view of all your important information is blocked by the steering wheel for some drivers.
What’s the spec like?
Many electric vehicles are only offered in the highest trim levels to justify the more expensive price tag, but the e-208 is available across the same trim levels as petrols and diesels. In fact, it’s been designed to be the same price over a few years as a petrol equivalent – more up front, but when running costs are taken into account, it’s about the same.
The result is that you can get an e-208 for £25,050 (all prices include the £3,500 plug-in car grant) in Active trim with cruise control, a leather steering wheel and lane-keep assist. Allure, starting at £26,250, adds 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-effect upholstery, and 3D i-Cockpit. Then there’s GT-Line, which adds parking sensors, GT-specific body upgrades, extra leather inside and the active safety brake driver aid, from £28,100.
Finally, there’s an e-208-specific trim level at the very top of the range, starting from £29,650. That adds a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, adaptive cruise control, Alcantara upholstery and heated front seats.
Verdict
Peugeot’s strategy to incorporate its electric vehicles into its existing model line-up seems like a sensible decision, normalising electric powertrains instead of separating them from the nameplates buyers have known for years.
