2019 Peugeot 208 and e-208: prices, details, electric range and on sale date
Pure-electric power will complement petrol and diesel from launch
DESPITE BEING one of the smallest models it makes, Peugeot’s latest 208 is a very big statement of intent.
What is the Peugeot 208?
The 208 is the latest in a long line of compact family hatchbacks from Peugeot, and the French car maker’s answer to class-leading superminis such as the best-selling Ford Fiesta.
Peugeot has gone to great lengths to emphasise the little 208’s advanced features. Despite its diminutive size, the new 208 is crammed with big car technology, and will pave the way for a 100% electrified Peugeot range (i.e. only hybrids and pure-electric models) by 2023.
What engines will the 2019 Peugeot 208 have?
From launch, the 208 will be available with four engines, of which three are 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrols. The petrol range starts at a 74bhp engine that only comes with a five-speed manual transmission, up to a 128bhp engine that exclusively comes with an eight-speed automatic. Slotting in between is a 99bhp petrol that can be fitted with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed auto ‘box.
Drivers who want diesel power are also catered for, as a 99bhp, 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel rounds out the range. However, unlike the comparably-powered petrol option, the diesel will only be available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Will there be a hybrid or electric Peugeot 208?
Though there won’t be any hybrids from launch, Peugeot will sell a pure-electric “e-208” at the same time as its petrol and diesel-powered counterparts. On paper, the e-208 sounds like an impressive piece of kit: with 132bhp it’ll be the most powerful 208 at launch, and Peugeot claims its 50kWh battery is good for 211 miles on a single charge. The battery pack is covered by an eight-year, 100,000 mile warranty, too.
When hooked up to a 1o0kW rapid charger, 80% of the battery can be topped up in 30 minutes, while a slower home charging point can fully recharge the e-208 in approximately eight hours.
What technology will the Peugeot 208 have?
It may be a small car but the Peugeot 208 will be available with lots of gadgets you’d normally expect to find on larger more expensive models. In particular, the many safety assists such as blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and driver attention monitoring.
The Peugeot e-208 will also make use of a MyPeugeot smartphone app, allowing owners to remotely turn on the car’s heating systems to warm the interior and defrost the windscreen.
How much will the Peugeot 208 cost?
Prices for the new 208 haven’t yet been announced but it’s likely the supermini will cost about the same as its’s predecessor, so around £15,000 for the entry-level Active version and £18,000-plus for models in GT-Line trim.
The e-208 is likely to be a little more expensive — we’d suggest over £20,000 even with the government plug-in car grant.
When will the Peugeot 208 go on sale?
Peugeot won’t be accepting orders for the new 208 and e-208 until late summer 2019, but you will be able to make early reservations online by the end of March.
What are the 2019 Peugeot 208 and e-208’s rivals?
The Peugeot 208 will enter a hotly contested sector of the new car market when it arrives before the end of the year. The ever-popular Ford Fiesta will be firmly in the 208’s sights, as will the Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza. All-new versions of the Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa are expected to go on sale a roughly the same time as the Peugeot, too.
Meanwhile, the e-208 will face off against an increasing number of affordable electric models offering 200 mile-plus ranges, including the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Niro and Nissan Leaf e+. Tesla’s Model 3 will be arriving in right-hand driver form later this year. If over 200 miles per charge isn’t such a priority, there’s also the Renault Zoe and Hyundai Ioniq electric, both of which offer around 175 miles of range.
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