Regularly at the top of sales of city and electric cars in France and Europe, the Peugeot 208 is an essential model for Stellantis. With its new engines, Peugeot’s cub intends to catch up with the Renault Clio, which has been making a strong comeback for a few months.
With its redesigned grille and revised rear lights, the new Peugeot 208 is back in an even sharper style, without denying the incisive pencil stroke that made it so successful. The aesthetic changes are discreet but integrate the small city car perfectly into the modern Peugeot range, characterized in particular by the light signature with three claws. Ever more feline, the 208 is upping its game with new electrified engines.
Up to 156 horsepower, exit diesel
Long acclaimed by French motorists, diesel city cars will soon be banned from cities, where they once swarmed. Unsurprisingly, Peugeot has therefore abandoned its old BlueHDI diesel blocks to focus on more virtuous engines.
The 100% electric version called Peugeot e-208 is thus equipped with the new 156 horsepower engine already present on the e-308, and takes the opportunity to extend its range to 400 km WLTP against 362 km previously. This slight gain allows it to rub shoulders more with its big sister, the e-308, and above all to obtain greater versatility. We regret, however, that the charging power remains blocked at 100 kW.
Two 48 V hybrid motors
On the thermal engine side, Peugeot still trusts its 1.2 L PureTech engine, this time equipped with a transmission chain to correct the reliability problems encountered with this block.
To get into the matter, the most accessible 208 will be entitled to the 3-cylinder engine developing 75 horsepower. The higher version bolsters the cavalry with an additional 25 horsepower, bringing the total to 100 equines.
Finally, Peugeot adds its new 136 horsepower hybrid engine, based on the same PureTech block and accompanied by a 48 V electric motor. The brand is also unveiling a new engine using the same base, but with a deflated cavalry of 100 horsepower. This light hybridization should bring more pleasure at mid-range and above all reduce the appetite of the engine, which is usually quite greedy with regard to its performance.
Three levels of finishes
The new range of Peugeot city cars is based on three trim levels: Allure, Active and GT. Peugeot has however made some small changes, generalizing for example on all finishes the 10-inch screen formerly reserved for the GT level, the most upscale.
The latter stands out in particular with some specific more premium fittings, ambient lighting or even a specific LED light signature.
Peugeot has not yet communicated its price list. However, it’s a safe bet that the Peugeot 208 will feel inflation, especially since the brand is now ignoring the entry-level finish Like, currently displayed from 18,630 €. We can therefore expect prices ranging from around €21,000 for the Peugeot 208 Active to nearly €40,000 in GT finish for the e-208.