In a nutshell:
- New PEUGEOT e-208 wins ‘Electric Small Car of the Year’.
- Range of 217 miles and can achieve 80% charge in 30 mins.
- Real rival to the similarly-priced Honda e or Renault Zoe.
- Comes loaded with kit and with emphasis on driver comfort.
- Prices start from £25,050.
Range, comfort and affordability is what makes the all-electric PEUGEOT e-208 stand out from the crowd.
Now the acclaimed car - particularly in ‘Allure Premium’ trim - has just won the prize for ‘Electric Small Car of the Year’ at the inaugural What Car? Electric Car Awards, pipping a host of rivals to the title, including the much-lauded Honda E and the ever-popular Renault Zoe.
And that award is the perfect opportunity to take another look at an electric car first unleashed on the market at the back end of last year.
Singing the e-208’s praises, What Car? Editor, Steve Huntingford, said: “All things considered, the e-208 is the best small electric car you can buy. It has a good real-world range, the suspension does a great job of keeping you comfortable, and the interior is as eye-catching as it is classy.
“We particularly like the Allure Premium version, because it's attractively priced, but still comes with loads of kit, including climate control, wireless phone charging and a 10.0in infotainment system with phone mirroring."
The numbers stack up, too.
The e-208 comes with an electric 100kW motor and a 50kWh battery to create a 136hp powertrain that’s capable of up to 217 miles of range from a single charge under the WLTP testing. It also supports rapid charging of up to 100kW, reaching 80% charge in as little as 30 minutes.
Prices for the e-208 start at £25,050.
To put that into context, the upcoming - and amazingly-styled - Honda e will have a shorter range of around 136 miles and cost north of £26,000.
The e-208 comes with three driving modes: Eco, to optimise range, Normal, optimising comfort, and Sport, allowing the driver to prioritise performance, while the battery is covered by an 8 year, 100,000 mile manufacturer warranty.
You also get the all-new PEUGEOT fully-connected ‘3D i-Cockpit’, featuring a head-up display, 10 inch colour touchscreen, and a huge choice of interior colours.
And there’s an extensive list of driver assist gadgets, depending on the model you opt for.
That includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Positioning Assist, Full Park Assist, Automatic Emergency Brake Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Monitoring, Speed Limit Recognition and Recommendation, Extended traffic sign recognition, Active Blind Spot Monitoring, and Electric parking brake.
The e-208 is also available in range-topping ‘GT Line’ trim, with Alcantara grey upholstery featuring a 3D technical mesh knit, and 17’ alloy wheels with special inserts.
David Peel, Managing Director of PEUGEOT UK, said: “The all-new e-208 is our first new generation full electric vehicle, and it’s great to see it immediately recognised by both the industry and the buying public. We are very honoured to receive the ‘Electric Small Car of the Year’ award from What Car?'”
With PEUGEOT on a mission to electrify the entire range by 2023, it’s wise to ‘watch this space’.
