Jaw-Dropping Peugeot 308 Goes Electric.
Jaw-Dropping Peugeot 308 Goes Electric.
The new Peugeot 308 is, in my opinion, one of the most stylish cars in the family hatchback market right now, and its distinctive and ultra-modern design makes some of its competitors look rather dull in comparison. The Peugeot brand is part of the mighty Stellantis Group, and is joined by other big names such as Opel, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and JEEP under the corporate umbrella in Europe. Having already been crowned as Europe’s biggest-selling car group, Stellantis is now the World’s fourth-largest automaker.
Up To 416km Driving Range.
The fully-electric e-308 now joins the diesel and petrol/electric hybrid variants in the new 308 model line-up, and it brings with it a driving range of up to 416km from a full battery on a WLTP combined driving cycle. As with the regular 308, the e-308 sits on the Stellantis EMP2 platform that also underpins the new Opel Astra, and the two cars share many other components under the skin too. Due to the ever-growing demand for SUVs across Europe, family hatchbacks like the 308, Astra, Focus and Golf don’t sell in the large numbers they used to a decade or two ago, but they are still important to their makers all the same. The new 308/e-308 benefits from a wheelbase that is 55mm longer than its predecessor, and this translates into greater legroom for all occupants. Boot space in the new e-308 hatchback measures in at 361-litres behind the rear seats, and increases to 1,271-litres when the rear seats are folded. For drivers looking for even more practicality, there is an estate (SW) version of the new e-308 that boats 548-litres of space behind the rear seats.
New Brand Logo.
A new Peugeot logo that features the brand name and iconic lion emblem within a shield sits proudly in the centre of the low-slung front grille, while a smaller brand logo is located at the rear of the car on the tailgate door. The dynamic front grille extends across the front of the car and flows neatly into the slim LED headlights, under which sit Peugeot’s trademark fang-like LED daytime running lights on the front corners. A gloss black strip on the rear tailgate sits between the rear lights, and a body coloured rear spoiler is also standard. Suitably positioned creases and slashes adorn the bodywork of the new 308/e-308 to provide the car with strength of character and dynamism. The distinguished and streamlined profile of the car reveals its athletic look, while the lowered roofline at the rear of the car adds a dash of sportiness to the overall design.
Upmarket Cabin.
The new e-308 shares the same high quality cabin design as its hybrid and diesel siblings, and it is one of the most interesting cabins you will find in any new hatchback. A pair of touchscreens dominate the dashboard, and a bank of metallic air vents on top of the dash sit in a silver panel that stretches from one side to the other, making the 308’s interior appear wider and roomier. Soft-touch materials and solid metal-effect trim strategically-placed throughout the cabin provide a luxurious look and a premium feel. The all-new touchscreen set-up is very intuitive in its operation and the 10-inch Peugeot i-Cockpit display is angled towards the driver so that it is easy to read in bright sunlight despite its glossy finish. Also included is the Peugeot i-Connect infotainment system with voice control and customisable i-Toggle fast keys, and every 308/e-308 comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. While the regular Peugeot 308 hatchback is available in Active, Allure and GT trim levels, the new e-308 makes do without the entry-level Active trim. With a charging speed of up to 100kW (DC), it is possible to charge the car from 20-80% in as little as 27 minutes at a public fast charging station. However, for drivers who have access to a 7.4kW domestic wallbox charger, the same charge can be achieved in 4h 40m, or in just 3h 10m via an 11kW wallbox charger.
Test Car.
My test car was a new e-308 GT, which attracted lots of admiring glances in its striking Elixir Red signature metallic paintwork, with a varnished black front grille with chrome-plated inserts and gloss black air intakes. Standard GT equipment includes 18” ‘Ottawa’ diamond-cut alloy wheels, Peugeot Matrix LED headlights with automatic adjustment, full LED 3D ‘claw-effect’ rear lights, ‘Lion’ side monograms, black inner roof lining, aluminium front door sills, aluminium foot pedals, tri-material upholstery with green top stitching, laminated front window, lumbar support on driver’s seat, leather steering wheel, Peugeot i-Cockpit 3D with customisable instrument panel, and a Driver Sport Pack which consists of customisation of the instrument panel, and an amplified and sportier engine sound (which can be deactivated). This is in addition to the comprehensive array of safety, security, comfort, convenience and infotainment features that come as standard in the e-308 Allure trim. The heated front seats and steering wheel are very useful features for the winter months, and the combination of front & rear parking sensors and a 180-degree colour reversing camera take the guesswork out of getting in and out of shopping centre car park spaces. The relatively-low driving position of the e-308 adds a sporty element to the overall driving experience, and the i-Cockpit design means that you read the dials over the top of the steering wheel, rather than through it. The leather-bound, multi-function steering wheel has a great feel to it, and it features a flat top and bottom design that is super-easy to get used to. The gear selector consists of a toggle switch within easy reach of the driver, and it is simple to operate. By pressing the button labelled ‘B’ beside the gear selector, the level of brake regeneration will be enhanced in such a fashion that it is similar to using a single pedal, and that means that you don’t have to use the brakes quite so much. This feature makes town driving easy, and the energy lost when slowing down is harnessed and fed into the battery pack in order to enhance driving range. The electric motor in the e-308 is powered by a 54kWh Lithium-ion battery pack with a usable capacity of 51kWh, and this provides the car with 156PS (154bhp) and 260Nm of instant torque. As a result, the car can sprint from 0-100km/h in 9.8-seconds, on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 170km/h (where permitted). On the road, the car feels sprightly, sporty and thoroughly engaging, and it did feel well planted and poised on the various road surfaces I drove on during my time with the car.
Pricing & Warranty.
The all-new Peugeot e-308 drives and feels like a premium product, and is in keeping with the brand’s push upmarket. Inclusive of current Irish Government EV incentives, the e-308 Allure and GT are priced from just €36,995 and €39,795 respectively. All Peugeot passenger cars are covered by a comprehensive 5-year/100,000km warranty, with the added benefit of an 8-year/160,000km traction battery warranty.
Visit www.peugeot.ie for further information.
