Very well received when it was launched, the third generation Peugeot 308 was a successful compact sedan and a real commercial success. It has been available since 2023 in an electric version e-308, which was therefore eagerly awaited.
Unfortunately, with an initial price of €48,000, the e-308 was not at all competitive when it was launched, even against the Renault Mégane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born, which are themselves struggling to compete with the MG4 and Tesla Model 3.
Peugeot has certainly tried to correct the situation since by lowering the price of its e-308 several times, but that was still not enough, while some of its rivals also regularly reduce their prices.
Peugeot is once again selling off its e-308, which now starts at €43,900 in the Allure finish and even €42,590 once the manufacturer’s discounts have been applied. It is then possible to deduct the ecological bonus of 5000 € currently.
It’s slightly cheaper than a restyled Tesla Model 3, which starts at €42,990 excluding state aid (Tesla does not give discounts). And fortunately, because the American plays in a higher category (segment D) than the French (segment C) and because the Allure finish of the Peugeot is less complete than the standard equipment of the Tesla.
Faced with the Renault Mégane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born electric compacts, the Peugeot e-308 finally displays equivalent prices. The MG4, on the other hand, is much cheaper than the Peugeot, with a price excluding state aid of €33,990 in the Comfort version (450 km of autonomy in the WLTP mixed cycle).
Finally, remember that if the e-308 recovers the very good chassis of the other 308s, it does not benefit from a dedicated platform and makes many concessions. Its trunk volume drops from 412 l on the other versions to just 361 l and its small 54 kWh battery (51 useful kWh) gives it a range of only 400 km in the WLTP combined cycle. The e-308 will, however, benefit from an SW station wagon version, unlike its rivals.
Will it finally be competitive in 2024?
However, the e-308 may become more competitive next year. Indeed, while the amount of the ecological bonus should increase in 2024, the electric cars whose production is the most polluting will be deprived of it. This should be the case for the MG4, which is produced in China, and whose customer prices should be closer to those of the Peugeot. The Tesla Model 3 delivered in France are currently from a factory in Shanghai, and not from the Gigafactory in Berlin, and should therefore also lose this aid. The Renault Mégane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born will continue to benefit from the bonus.