Review of the Peugeot e-308

The Peugeot e-308 is an electric hatchback that adds style to the segment. With eye-catching good looks and a smart interior, it is the perfect car for small families. 

Rivals to the e-308 include the Vauxhall Astra Electric, Cupra Born, MG4 EV, and Volkswagen ID.3. 

Our Peugeot e-308 review covers: 

• Sporty exterior design with an eye-catching front end 
• Smart and driver-oriented interior 
• 361 litres of boot space 
• 54kWh battery paired with 156bhp electric motor 
• Two trim levels 

Pros:

• Arguably the best-looking electric hatchback on the market 
• Comfortable interior 
• Driver-oriented cabin 

Cons:

• Rear space is limited 
• Range falls short of its rivals 
• Infotainment system tricky to understand 

If you were to judge the e-308 based purely on its exterior design, you'd be pretty impressed. At the front, you have a combination of a bold grille, sleek headlights, and vertical fog lights that look almost like fangs. At the rear, there's a refined rear end with creases in the bodywork. 

If you've got a small family or plan on using the e-308 as a commuter, you'll be satisfied with the interior space. In the front, there's ample space for two adults, and the small steering wheel means there is more legroom for the driver. In the rear, there's space for three passengers, however we'd recommend keeping it to two if you want everyone to be comfortable. There's decent leg and headroom, however, there's a hump in the middle of the floor. 

Boot space comes in at 361 litres, which is an 80-litre decrease from the combustion-engined 308. Even with this decrease, space is still decent compared to its rivals, exceeding the MG4 and being just slightly smaller than the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID.3. 

If that's not enough, you can drop the rear seats to increase space to 1,271 litres. 

One of the e-308's strongest features is its interior. It's undoubtedly one of the best on the market for an electric hatchback, featuring a driver-oriented cabin that's backed up by a range of premium materials. A big plus for the e-308 is how simple the dashboard is to navigate, with touchscreen features combined with traditional buttons and switches. 

Regarding tech, the e-308 comes with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that looks and works great, albeit once you understand how to use it. Thanks to Peugeot's iCockpit design, you also get a digital driver's display that's available with 3D graphics on the range-topping GT trim. 

Two trim levels are available for the e-308: Allure and GT. 

Allure comes with 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, high beam assist, iConnect and 3D navigation, a 180-degrees reversing camera, and tinted rear glass. 

GT adds 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, full matrix LED headlights, 3D rear lights, eight-colour ambient lighting, and wireless mirror screen technology. 

The e-308 comes with just one battery and motor combination. It has a 54kWh battery that's paired with a 156bhp electric motor to return up to 257 miles of range, which falls slightly short of the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech. 

Performance is relatively decent; you'll top out at just over 100mph and get from 0 to 62mph in just under ten seconds. 

For charging, it'll take the e-308 four and a half hours to charge using a 7kW home charger. Rapid charging is available up to 100kW, which takes the battery from 10 to 80% in just 12 minutes. 

The e-308 is a good all-round car. It's capable both around town and on the motorway, and can have a bit of fun on a country lane. 

Like all electric cars, the e-308 is pretty good to drive around town. Accurate handling, good ride quality, and almost no engine noise make for a relaxing driving experience. Although you won't pull off from a standstill as quickly as the Vauxhall Astra Electric or Cupra Born, there's still more than enough power to facilitate a nippy inner-city drive. 

The e-308 remains a good car for longer journeys thanks to easy acceleration and good ride quality. However, consistent driving at 70mph drains the battery pretty quickly, so ensure you plan a charging stop before your journey. 

Prices for the new Peugeot e-308 start from £36,805.00 OTR* or to lease from £397.58 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Peugeot e-308? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.