Peugeot 208 electric: specs, price and on-sale date
Reservations for the new, all-electric Peugeot e-208 are now being taken, with order books set to open officially this summer ahead of sales starting early in 2020.
The company is accepting deposits of £500 online, which are fully refundable until seven days after customers have viewed demonstrator models of the electric 208. No date for the arrival of these in the UK has been given at this stage.
The Peugeot e-208 made its world debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March, as the French brand took its first step towards full electrification of its range by 2023.
The e-208 features a 50kWh battery capable of delivering 211 miles of range on the latest WLTP test cycle. The battery is covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
The supermini is powered by a 100kW (134bhp) electric motor, although top speed and 0-62mph figures remain under wraps for now.
The e-208 comes with three driving modes: ‘Eco’ to maximise range, ‘Normal’ for passenger comfort, and ‘Sport’ for performance driving.
Up to 100kW rapid charging is offered, with Peugeot estimating a 0-80% charge taking as little as 30 minutes at that rate. A full top-up should take around eight hours from a wallbox charger, increasing to over 20 hours using a domestic three-pin socket.
Peugeot also promises charging can be controlled remotely using the MyPeugeot app, with pre-programming features for heating, air-conditioning and windscreen defrosting, too.
Peugeot e-208 styling
Built on the same CMP platform as the next-generation Vauxhall Corsa and DS 3 Crossback, the e-208 adopts largely the same design as its petrol and diesel siblings, albeit with some key differences.
A pair of ‘e’ motifs feature on the rear panels, and the company’s lion logo is said to appear to change colour from different angles. The front grille gains a chequered colour scheme to match the body paint.
As expected, the e-208 adopts a five-door hatchback shape, with the grille appearing more upright than on previous generations of the internal combustion-engined car. Meanwhile, the roofline drops down towards the rear for a sporty look.
Interior and infotainment
Peugeot says the battery has been positioned to maximise interior space, and claims that the boot space doesn’t suffer at all compared to the petrol and diesel variants.
The carmaker’s 3D i-Cockpit infotainment system – much criticised when it was launched, but now much more favourably received – features inside, with either seven or 10-inch touchscreens included depending on trim level.
This 3D i-Cockpit comes with TomTom Traffic updates and Peugeot Mirror Screen, making it compatible with MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. It also incorporates Free2Move Services, which provides access to charging points across Europe and suggests the best routes for long-distance journeys.
The interior benefits from a padded dashboard with a carbon finish on the central section, and storage areas can be found under the front armrest, in front of the gearlever and in the centre console itself. Higher trim levels add heated seats.
Additionally, the interior can be customised with a choice of eight LED colour accents, and in GT-spec cars, the e-208 gains Alcantara leather upholstery, plus 17-inch alloy wheels with “special inserts”.
The e-208 also benefits from Peugeot Driver Assist, which includes a suite of safety systems: these include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance up to 45mph, parking assistance, emergency braking assistance, speed-limit and traffic-sign recognition, automatic headlight dipping and blind-spot monitoring, among others.
A head-up display projects driver information onto the windscreen, so you don’t need to divert your eyes from the road.
