Peugeot e-208 facelift brings bold new look and even more range

Just a couple of months after the reveal of the new e-2008 SUV, a facelifted version of the top-selling Peugeot e-208 supermini has been unveiled. Already the best-selling small EV in Europe, the updated version of the e-208 gets an even sharper design than before as well as a larger battery pack for a greater electric range.

Pricing for the new Peugeot e-208 is yet to be announced, but you can expect a small uplift over the current car’s £31,595 starting price when it goes on sale in October of this year. The updated Peugeot supermini will rejoin a fiercely competitive small EV segment, with new competition arriving by the minute such as the Volvo EX30 and the £25,490 BYD Dolphin.

Sharing its e-CMP underpinnings with the newly-facelifted Vauxhall Corsa Electric, the 2023 Peugeot e-208 gets a larger 54kWh battery to replace the old 50kWh unit. This, Peugeot says, bumps range up to a maximum of 248 miles on the WLTP test cycle – 23 miles more than the old car.

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Power also sees an increase thanks to a more-powerful 154bhp electric motor (up from 134bhp). However, due to the extra weight of the battery, we doubt there will be any visible performance gains; the updated Peugeot e-2008 is actually slower than the pre-facelift car, despite also getting a boost in power.

As before, the Peugeot e-208’s maximum rapid charging rate stands at 100kW; if you can find a compatible public charger, Peugeot claims you can top-up its electric supermini from 20-80% in “less than 25 minutes”.

Elsewhere, perhaps the most recognisable change for the e-208’s mid-life facelift is its restyled front end; the French maker’s smallest EV now gets a body-coloured grille, as seen on the larger Peugeot 508 PSE, as well as redesigned ‘lion’s claw’ LED running lights.

There’s redesigned lighting at the rear, too, while there’s also two new colours to choose from: Agueda Yellow (pictured) and Selenium Grey. New alloy wheel designs range from 16-17 inches in diameter, plus Peugeot’s redesigned emblem now takes pride of place on not only the front and rear of the car, but on the steering wheel inside, too.

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Speaking of the facelifted Peugeot e-208’s interior, the French electric hatchback retains its futuristic i-Cockpit layout, however, new models now get a toggle switch-style gearlever, as well as refreshed upholstery. A 10-inch touchscreen is now standard on all models while Allure and GT cars also get a 10-inch digital instrument cluster – entry-level Active cars make do with analogue dials and a small 3.5-inch information display.

Other incremental improvements include new USB-C ports to replace the now-outdated standard USB sockets. A more-powerful wireless charging pad can be fully utilised by the latest smartphones for faster charging, while GT trim now gets an upgraded reversing camera for a clearer view during manoeuvres.