We drive the updated Peugeot e-208, which is available with both the ‘old’ and a new electric… Facelift makes you more efficient (again).
Remarkable: the ‘old’ electric powertrain remains available in the electric Peugeot 208 in addition to the new one. The latter is 2,000 euros more expensive, but has one important advantage. Both versions benefit from a facelift, which brings some appearances and extra equipment.What about the electric powertrains of the Peugeot 208?
As early as 2022, Peugeot officially announced an improved version of the electric Peugeot e-208. That car offered 156 hp and a range of 400 kilometers, but remarkably disappeared from the price list shortly afterwards. The facelifted Peugeot 208 was announced in mid-2023, and indeed: the updated electric powertrain has since been officially available again. However, this story is not over yet, because Peugeot continues to supply the ‘old’ drivetrain in the facelifted 208. Quite remarkable, because on paper the difference between the two is not that big. The new one is a reasonable 20 hp more powerful, but only offers one kilowatt hour more battery capacity.
Will that make a difference?
No, but the consumption is. We are still looking for an official value, but the range says it all. While the ‘old’ e-208 should be able to travel 362 km with 50 kWh, the new Peugeot e-208 can travel 410 kilometers with almost the same battery capacity. This efficiency is very welcome in practice, because the original e-208 was actually remarkably inefficient. With those 410 kilometers, the e-208 in turn hardly scores better than the much larger and 250 kg heavier Peugeot e-308 SW (409 km). It is therefore clear that the streamline plays a much greater role in the consumption of an EV than the weight.
The black wheel arch edges are no longer standard on all versions of the e-208. Also note the rear lights and the special wheels.
How does the updated Peugeot e-208 drive?
The 208 is and feels clearly smoother than its big brother and has more than enough power with 156 hp. He can use the power well and without drama, but still always gets away quickly. Suspension and damping are forgiving and offer great comfort. Due to the slightly higher, but low weight in the car, the electric hatchback feels remarkably serious and stable, while the direct steering contributes to the feeling of agility. Just pleasant.
It’s only about the electric e-208. Is the Peugeot 208 also available on petrol?
Of course. The entire 208 series benefits from a facelift that is very similar to the renewal we previously saw with the 508 and 2008. A new front bumper with new triple LED bars on either side, new wheels, rear lights with horizontal LED stripes and a written out ‘Peugeot’ branding on the back are the main appearances. There is also more to choose from when it comes to petrol, because in addition to the well-known 1.2 PureTech with 75 or 100 hp, there are now also mild hybrids with 100 or 136 hp and a new, six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. We’ll get to know that again later. There were hardly any external differences between the electric and non-electric version, but now even less than before. For example, before the facelift, the e-208 still received standard black wheel arch edges, while the regular 208 only had them on the luxury GT. Now the latter applies in all cases.
Recognizably different: above the ‘old’, below the renewed Peugeot 208.
Has the interior of the Peugeot 208 also changed?
The Peugeot 208 has one of the most beautiful interiors in its class and fortunately nothing changes with the facelift. The special but coherent design creates an unmistakable Peugeot atmosphere and still looks very modern. New colors and materials and the new Peugeot logo are more than enough to bring things up to date, although the now standard 10-inch touchscreen also helps. The system is still not fast, but in this segment we don’t put too much emphasis on that. The ergonomics are also not great: the menu structure is difficult to understand and the placement of physical controls does not always seem to have been carefully thought through. Too bad, but the overall impression is good. This applies less to the space in the back. Of course, nothing will change with the facelift, but the 208 remains as tight as ever. The luggage compartment is still okay at 352 liters, but in the electric versions there is still 309 liters left.
A new logo, a standard 10-inch touchscreen and new colors and materials: the inside of the facelifted Peugeot 208.
Such a compact model is no longer really cheap, right?
Certainly not, and that applies even more to the EV. The electric 208 is available from €35,320, for the 51 kWh version you pay at least €37,320. Due to the lower consumption we would always recommend the new one, but the prices are high anyway. In this segment it is still very noticeable that such an electric drivetrain costs money and with the same equipment and an automatic transmission you are looking at an 8,000 or 10,000 euro price difference with a petrol 208. However, this was no different for the facelift, so there is no reason to assume that the e-208 will lose any popularity.