A stylish supermini with big-car attitude
The Peugeot 208 has become one of the most recognisable small hatchbacks on UK roads. Sharp looks, a premium interior and a wide choice of petrol, hybrid and electric power make it an appealing option if you want something with more character than the usual choices.
I ran the 2021 Peugeot e208 for several months. It was one of those cars that I genuinely looked forward to driving. Even the lower trim levels look smart. The styling carries a sporty feel that gives the car a little hot hatch vibe, especially when seen from the rear. Living with one day to day uncovered some quirks, but as a whole package it left a very strong impression.
Below is my full review based on real ownership and the latest UK specs.
Styling and first impressions
The Peugeot 208 is one of the best-looking superminis on sale. Peugeot’s design team has nailed the mix of sharp lines, compact proportions and premium touches. The front end looks modern with the large grille and the signature vertical “claw” lighting. The stance is sporty without feeling forced.
Even the entry-level Style trim looks good. Higher trims bring bigger wheels, gloss black accents and Peugeot’s 3D i-Cockpit display, but you never feel short-changed with the cheaper versions.
Inside, the cabin feels more upmarket than many rivals. The driving position is wrapped around you and the materials are mostly soft and premium. It feels like Peugeot focused on design first and found a way to keep costs sensible, which is rare in this class.
Driving position and comfort
Peugeot’s i-Cockpit layout is unique, but not perfect for everyone. The small steering wheel sits low and you are meant to look over it to see the dials. For me, this caused two issues.
- Getting in and out was awkward because the wheel sat exactly where my legs needed to go.
- With the wheel in my comfortable position, the digital cockpit was often obscured.
The optional 3D effect driver display looks great at first, but I found it impossible to read when the sun came through the driver’s window. The reflections washed out the information completely.
Comfort in the front seats is good, and at 5 foot 11 I had plenty of space. Rear space is not great. I rarely carried passengers, but someone my height would not want to sit behind me for long.
Petrol, mild hybrid and electric options
Peugeot offers the 208 in three main power types:
Petrol
- 1.2 PureTech 100
- Six speed manual
- Punchy for its size and well suited to mixed driving
Hybrid (MHEV)
- Hybrid 100 or Hybrid 136
- Six speed automatic
- Smoother than the manual petrol and more efficient
- Good choice for town or commuting
Electric (e-208)
- 50 kWh or 51 kWh battery
- 136 hp or 156 hp motor
- Up to 224 to 258 miles WLTP depending on version
My experience with the Peugeot e208
The e208 was a fun car to live with. The acceleration was strong and instant, which made it great on twisty B-roads. It felt planted, responsive and genuinely enjoyable. At lower speeds, the range was fairly accurate. Driving up to 50 mph gave predictable energy use and a real-world range that matched expectations.
Once you sit at 70 mph, the story changes. You can watch the range drop at around three miles for every one mile travelled. This made long trips more stressful than they needed to be. I travelled from Brighton to Norwich regularly. It is under 200 miles, yet I never attempted it in one go. The combination of motorway speed and patchy rapid chargers made me less brave than the numbers might suggest.
Charging was also not the quickest. The car supports up to 100 kW rapid charging, but in reality I rarely saw speeds that made long trips feel convenient.
One small annoyance was the lack of auto hold on the automatic versions. The car creeps forward when stationary unless you keep your foot firmly on the brake. City driving would be easier with a true hold function.
Range and charging (official figures from Peugeot UK)
e-208 50 kWh (136 hp)
- WLTP range up to 224 miles
- 7.4 kW home charging
- Up to 100 kW DC charging
- Around 30 minutes from 20 to 80 percent on a rapid charger
e-208 51 kWh (156 hp)
- WLTP range up to 258 miles
- Same charging speeds
- More efficient motor and improved battery chemistry
In normal UK conditions, especially in winter, expect less. My real-world range was usually in the 150 to 180 mile window depending on weather and speed.
Performance and fun factor
The 208 in any form feels lively and light. The small steering wheel gives the car a playful feel. The suspension is set up to be comfortable, yet it still handles direction changes well.
The petrol models suit drivers who want a simple, efficient supermini. The hybrids are better for town use and bring smoother acceleration. The e208 is the most enjoyable to drive because of its instant torque and quietness.
On a twisty road, the e208 is a proper laugh. It darts into corners, grips well and feels more agile than many small EVs.
Interior, tech and infotainment
The 10 inch touchscreen has all the essentials, but it can be fiddly. The menus are not the most intuitive and the system can be slow. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto help, but it still feels more awkward than rivals like the Polo or Ibiza.
Storage is fine in the front, limited in the back. The boot sits at around 309 to 311 litres depending on version. It is usable, but the load lip is high and the opening is narrow.
Real-world practicality
- Front space: good
- Rear space: tight
- Boot space: average
- Visibility: restricted by the styling
- Ride comfort: very good on most roads
- Noise: well controlled, especially at speed
Running costs and leasing value
The petrol and hybrid models offer strong real-world efficiency. The electric model is cheap to run day to day but loses range quickly at motorway speeds.
Where the 208 becomes very tempting is leasing. With the current incentives from Peugeot, the 208 and e208 can be extremely affordable. For drivers wanting a stylish small car with low monthly costs, this is one of the strongest options on the market.
Want to explore how much this would cost you on a business or personal lease? Check out Rivervale today for the latest deals.
2025 Peugeot 208
Summary
A stylish small car with plenty of personality.
The Peugeot 208 stands out in a crowded class. It looks great, it feels high quality and it is genuinely enjoyable to drive. The electric version adds instant performance and refinement, although it is less suited to long motorway journeys.
The i-Cockpit driving position will divide opinion and the infotainment is more complicated than it needs to be. The rear seats are tight and the boot opening is narrow.
Even with those compromises, the 208 remains one of the most appealing small cars you can lease right now. It brings style and fun without a premium badge price.
For many people, that is exactly the sweet spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Peugeot 208 is a very good small car if you value style, comfort and a premium feeling interior. It is not the most practical in its class, but it feels more upmarket than many rivals and is enjoyable to drive.
Recent owner surveys show Peugeot performing above the industry average for reliability. The 208 is not perfect, but it does not have any major, widely reported weak points. As with any car, a full service history and regular maintenance are key.
In my experience, the e-208 works well for mixed driving at up to around 50 mph, where the range estimate is fairly accurate. On faster roads at 70 mph, the range drops quickly and you can see several miles of range disappear for every mile travelled. For regular motorway trips, plan to stop and charge.
On paper, certain e-208 models have a WLTP range of over 220 miles. In real-world UK conditions, at motorway speeds, I would not rely on a single charge for a 200 mile trip. When I drove regularly from Brighton to Norwich, I always planned a charging stop rather than trying to stretch the battery to its limit.
Yes. The 208 rides very well for a small car and feels settled on the motorway. Road and wind noise are well controlled and the seats offer good support. The only caveat is the driving position. If the i-Cockpit layout does not suit your body shape, you may struggle to find a perfect position.
Tall drivers should be fine in the front, although the small steering wheel and high dials can make it tricky to get fully comfortable. Rear space is limited. At around 5 foot 11, I would not expect someone of the same height to sit behind me in comfort for a long trip.
It can be. The 1.2 petrol versions are easy to drive, compact and efficient. The interior feels more special than many rivals, which new drivers will appreciate. Insurance groups are not the very lowest in the class though, so it is worth getting quotes before you commit.
The main complaints are the i-Cockpit driving position, limited rear legroom, a narrow boot opening and a touchscreen that can be laggy and fiddly to use. On electric versions, some drivers also find rapid charging speeds and high-speed range a little disappointing.
Yes. The 208 often benefits from strong manufacturer and finance offers, which makes it very attractive as a lease car. The electric e-208 can also work out well on personal or business lease, especially if you do mainly town and suburban driving and can charge at home.
Choose petrol if you want a simple, affordable small car and mainly do mixed town and A-road driving.
Choose hybrid if you want an automatic and better efficiency, especially in traffic.
Choose electric (e-208) if you have home charging, mainly drive locally and like strong acceleration and very low running costs.
For regular long motorway runs, petrol or hybrid will be less stressful.
Yes. The e-208 feels very quick at normal road speeds thanks to instant torque from the electric motor. It is not a hot hatch in the traditional sense, but it pulls strongly away from junctions and out of corners and feels very lively on B-roads.