Peugeot E-208 Review

Pricing

It might take some getting used to when you first glance at the price list of the Peugeot E-208 and see that the electric version costs so much more than the petrol equivalents. Before you dismiss it though, do some sums and you might find the electric model could work out cheaper in the long run - especially if you choose to finance it rather than buying outright; The monthly finance costs of the E-208 aren’t as far removed from the monthly finance costs of the hybrid or petrol models. Take a look at our running cost section to see more detail. 

Although it might seem expensive compared to petrol cars, the Peugeot E-208 is actually well priced compared to other electric cars, especially considering it has a decent-sized battery and 100Kw fast charge capability as standard . There’s more choice than in other electric car ranges too, with five trim levels. 

Running costs

Low running costs mean the Peugeot E-208 starts to claw back some of the extra investment you had to make to buy the electric version in the first place. First the fuel costs: plug in at home and the E-208 will cost about £14 for a full charge, or you can cut that cost by as much as two thirds if you can charge up overnight on a cheap off-peak tariff. Even if you don’t get cut price electricity, if you charge at home and average 210 miles to a charge in the E-208, you’ll be paying around 7p per mile – roughly half what it costs to run an efficient diesel car. Charging at a rapid charger costs just as much as running a fairly thirsty petrol car, though, so it's a good thing that most electric car drivers only resort to a quick rapid charge when necessary on the occasional longer journey. 

While list price is high, finance costs aren’t so bad on the E-208, and with a £4,500 deposit or trade-in value, monthly payments should be around the £280 mark – and there are often zero interest offers available, too.

Choose an E-208 as your company car and you’ll see the biggest savings though. New rules around Benefit in Kind (BIK) taxation mean you will only pay 2% tax for having an electric car, until 2025, saving hundreds or even thousands compared to a petrol or diesel car. 

Insurance

The Peugeot E-208 GT falls into insurance group 28, which is quite a bit higher than the Renault Zoe, for instance. Costs will depend on where you live, how long you’ve been driving and various other factors. Always make sure you get a quote for insurance cover before taking the plunge with any car, especially if you’re considering insuring a new- or younger driver. 

Servicing costs 

Servicing is usefully cheaper on the electric 208 compared to its petrol equivalents, as the E-208 only needs to be serviced every two years and 16,000 miles – as opposed to every year or 12,500 miles for the petrol 208 models. A fixed price servicing package for the E-208 costs are under £12 for the E-208, saving around £150 over two years compared with a petrol 208, and making for very low running costs even by the standards of other small electric cars. 

The new 'Allure Care' warranty is impressive too. It covers the electric motor, onboard charger, transmission and main electrical and mechanical components for up to eight years or 100,000 miles. That's in addition to the standard warranty which already applies to the high voltage battery for eight years or 100,000 miles. The catch is that you need to keep the car serviced in a Peugeot-approved dealer.