Peugeot e-308 GT review: punchy performance but pricey too

If you’re looking for cheap thrills in an all-electric car, then look no further than the no-frills but equally no-nonsense MG4. If you’re keen to spend more, then it could be time to investigate this, the Peugeot e-308, which sits on the same Stellantis EMP2 platform as the Vauxhall Astra Electric. Both these cars are similar money and both look good too, with each having their own personality.

In fact, much like every other recent Peugeot, the design factor is one of the best bits about this new all-electric model. Aside from the looks, there’s actually quite a lot that feels very similar to the Vauxhall car and, perhaps, quite a lot of other models in the current (extensive) Stellantis collection. The carmaker has more than enough brands to keep itself busy, but drive a few of its products and you soon see quite a lot of them use components from the same parts bin.

Nothing wrong with that of course; times are hard and streamlining things back at the factory means you can stay competitive. Faced with increasing competition from an ever-expanding tide of Chinese cars, that’s going to be vital for Stellantis. The question remains though, is the Peugeot e-308 worth paying over £40k for? Compared to a mid-£20k MG4 that seems like a very big difference. Let’s find out, shall we?

The styling

You can buy the Peugeot e-308 in three different trim variants, starting with the Allure and GT trim interspersed with a limited First Edition car, with a price tag in-between the two other options. The Allure starts at £40,050, the First Edition £42,080 and the GT and hefty £42,250 though the latter comes with Matrix LED headlights and a plusher interior thanks to a smattering of Alcantara. Extra cash also covers some party trick stuff, such as ambient lighting, funky 3D dials and massage seats.

Inside, the Peugeot e-308 looks okay if you can tolerate the small, square-ish steering wheel, which not everybody can. There’s the Peugeot signature ‘i-Cockpit’ too, which gives some visual interest to the dial area of the dash. Some of the information displayed looks a bit fiddly though, but the use of colour is good and, overall, the effect is quite successful if you can adjust your driving position enough to see everything around that slightly awkward steering wheel.

Elsewhere in the cockpit, there’s the usual smattering of Stellantis drivetrain controls, with the same buttons and bits seen in other EVs across the range. Everything works well enough, but theirs is a slightly interchangeable aspect to the driving experience of these cars. Seating is comfy enough though and the view from inside to out is decent from most angles, aside from where the thick back pillars get in the way of things. A reversing camera comes to the rescue for such occasions though.

The drive

All three variants of the Peugeot e-308 come with the same front-wheel drive motor and battery arrangement, which means you’ve got 54kWh to push through the 115kW electric motor and onwards to those cool 19-inch alloys. It’s a formula that certainly works with the Peugeot e-308 feeling really lively out in the countryside. This is a car that’s small enough to push through the curves and it inspires plenty of confidence even with the hammer down.

Eco, Normal and Sport modes keep the drive simple to manage, while a ‘B’ button, which will also look familiar to Stellantis devotees, allows a little bit of regeneration to put some goodness back into the battery. Sport really helps to pep up performance if you’re looking to have some fun, while Normal tends to take the edge of proceedings a little. Nevertheless, if you’re on an average, everyday type of journey the e-308 feels perfectly happy if you take it easy. All in all, there’s nothing to disappoint with the drivability of this particular EV.

The technology

While the interior styling looks quite interesting, it does tend to look and feel quite plasticky. Some of the surfaces are a little too shiny for their own good too, although soon dull down a tad once you’ve covered them in fingerprints. A good example of this is the 10-inch touchscreen. Sitting in the middle of the dash, this works well even if that too is quite reflective in some conditions.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature as you’d expect. Meanwhile, everyday tasks are streamlined somewhat thanks to a row of chunky buttons along the bottom of the screen. Those 3D-effect dials in the GT car are quite clever, but as mentioned, they can be a little fiddly to get the most from, especially if you’re trying to keep your eyes on the road.

Peugeot e-308 verdict

The Peugeot e-308 turns out to be a veritable bundle of fun, although it’s not quite a hot hatch, more of a warm-ish one instead. That’s not to grumble about its abilities though because the Peugeot e-308 turns into a proper little troublemaker if you start pushing it around quiet backroads. The biggest issue with a car like this is there’s a lot of competition and much of it comes from the same Stellantis group product portfolio – like the comparable Vauxhall Astra Electric as perhaps the prime example.

There’s much more to consider too, with the excellent Cupra Born being one of the best cars to drive if you’re prepared to spend similar money to the Peugeot. It doesn’t stop there though with the likes of the VW ID.3 and Korean star turns the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV being hard to beat. Nevertheless, the smallish Peugeot e-308 is fun and pick one in a lively colour and it’s a treat to look at. It doesn’t feel quite as special as should be, but the drive is entertaining enough. Overall, then, the Peugeot e-308 is good but not quite great.

Tech specs

Motor	asynchronous electric motor
Battery	54kWh
Power	156bhp
Torque	192b ft
0-60mph	9.8sec
Top speed	106mph
Range	257 miles
Charge rate	100kW
Cargo volume	361 litres