Peugeot’s small hatchback electric vehicle e-208. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
Recently, as interest in environment-friendliness has increased and emission regulations have been strengthened in countries around the world, electric vehicles have become one of the main options for drivers. Electric vehicles are evaluated as being eco-friendly because they do not have emissions, but they are more expensive than the same class of internal combustion locomotives, and have the disadvantage of reducing the mileage in winter.
The e-208, a compact electric car launched by Peugeot last year, is a clever option to bypass these shortcomings. The car price of 40 million won is lowered to 20 million won upon receiving subsidy, and the actual fuel consumption (fuel efficiency of electric vehicles) is high, so even in cold winter, it can handle more than the mileage certified in Korea. A pleasant driving sensation and a luxurious ride are a bonus.
The Peugeot e-208 has a compact hatchback design. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
The Peugeot e-208 is a compact electric car with a hatchback design. The total length is 4055mm, which is only over 4m, and the shaft distance is only 2540mm, which is smaller than the discontinued Hyundai Accent. The overall height is also 1435mm, which is quite low. Still, the bonnet comes out quite a bit, and it feels like a compact car. The front part is characterized by a vertically elongated daytime running light (DRL) and a unique grill design.
The interior is stylish and surprisingly spacious. First of all, Peugeot’s own i-cockpit interior was applied. The compact Z-cut steering wheel cut to the top and bottom is not only excellent in design, but also adds to the driver’s’hand taste’ while reducing the occupied volume. The door trim, etc., are finished with carbon pattern film, which takes up less volume, while the part where the driver’s elbows will touch is dug deep. Thanks to that, I also felt that the interior was comfortable.
The interior of the Peugeot e-208 GT line with a 10-inch main display. In domestic vehicles, the main display is reduced to 8 inches. Photo = PSA
It also has various convenience specifications. Just above the steering wheel is a 3D instrument cluster that clearly shows various driving information. The completeness of the 3D instrument cluster is outstanding so that the need for a’head-up display (HUD)’ that is applied to new cars is unclear. Smartphone wireless chargers are uniquely spacious, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also supported by all trims.
The Peugeot e-208 was released in two trims: the Allure and the GT line, and the test drive was the GT line. Eight colors of ambient light, harfreder seats, and 17-inch wheels are added. The main display is part of the e-208’s strengths and weaknesses.
Originally, the e-208 Allure has a 7-inch display and the GT line has a 10-inch display, but due to problems with map data export and system, both trims were replaced with 8-inch Android all-in-one displays. This is good news for allure buyers and regrettable for GT line buyers.
The interior of the Peugeot e-208 GT line distributed in Korea. You can see that the main display is smaller. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
As it is a compact car, the rear seats are quite limited. Thanks to the deep digging of the back of the front seats, there was no one that could touch the knees, but the legroom was so narrow that there was only half a fist. It would be okay for a while, but the long ride seemed to be tiring.
The video reporter, who was in the back seat for the filming, was over 180cm tall, complaining of the inconvenience that his head touched the ceiling. The reporter, 175cm tall, did not feel any discomfort in the front seat, and the ride was relatively satisfactory. The trunk is 311L, and considering the car class, there is a lot of room.
When the battery was charged to 80% for a test drive, the driving range was about 218 km. If it is 100% charged, it can be expected to exceed 270km. The domestic certified driving range of the e-208 is 244km at room temperature, and the low temperature (winter season) is 215km. This means that even in winter, a longer driving distance than the domestic room temperature certification value is secured.
Spacious smartphone wireless charger and storage space, 3D instrument cluster with increased driving distance up to 222 km, limited rear seat space and gear knob. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
Of course, there are differences depending on the driving mode. The e-208 supports three driving modes: △Eco △Normal △Sport. Regenerative braking is maximized in Echo and power consumption increases in sports.
As it was winter, I turned on the seat heating wire and heater and started driving. When the mileage was set to Eco, the mileage gradually increased and exceeded 220km. When I changed it to normal, it slightly decreased. It was less reduced compared to the distance run.
The official electric power consumption of the e-208 is 4.8km/kWh in the city center, but the actual electric power including regenerative braking seemed to exceed 6km/kWh. When the sport mode was used, the actual fuel economy became similar to the government-approved fuel economy. When I switched to sport mode, as soon as I pressed the pedal deeply, the speed rose to the level of 50 km/h. It is enough to lead the flow on the general road and hit it out.
The Peugeot e-208’s trunk capacity is 311L, which is more spacious than its class. You can increase capacity by folding the rear seats, but it does not fold into a full flat. Photo = Reporter Oh Se-sung and Hankyung.com
The e-208 has a peak output of 136 hp and a maximum torque of 26.5 kg.m. For this reason, it is not unreasonable to run to the speed limit on highways, but the acceleration performance at high speeds becomes somewhat flat. However, compared to the internal combustion locomotive, it was quiet and there was no vibration, so it felt foreign.
It is equipped with a torsion beam suspension, but one of Peugeot’s special features is the ride comfort that is multi-link. If you don’t increase the speed too much, the speed bumps go over smoothly, and thanks to the low center of gravity, it maintains a stable ride even at high speeds. Semi-autonomous driving functions such as lane maintenance assistance and adaptive cruise control are also high-level.
The price of the Peugeot e-208 is 41 million won for Allure and 45.9 million won for the GT line. When government and local government subsidies are added, the actual burden is lowered by more than 11 million won. Depending on the region, allure can be purchased for 25 million won. If you can abandon the wheel and seat material and ambient light, Allure is a reasonable option.
It is a disadvantage that the mileage is shorter than that of an electric vehicle scheduled to be released this year, but there is no big inconvenience as the recharge function through regenerative braking is excellent. If you are considering a second car that will operate in the city center, in addition to this, it is worth considering if there is an electric vehicle charging station near your residence. However, it should be taken into account that there may be a waiting period due to the limited amount of domestic imports.
Sesung Oh, reporter of Hankyung.com [email protected]
Video = Choi Hyuk, reporter of Hankyung.com [email protected]
Article reports and press releases [email protected]