Peugeot E-208 GTi Brings Electric Hot-Hatch Thrills Below £35,000

Peugeot's new model starts with the same basic 54kWh battery as the regular E-208, but Peugeot Sport has substantially reworked the powertrain, battery management and chassis. A front-mounted electric motor produces 281PS, or around 278bhp, and 345Nm of torque. Peugeot quotes a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 112mph. The car's power-to-weight ratio is 182bhp per ton, which TechRadar said is not as featherweight as its GTi-badged forebears but is lighter than many performance EVs on the market.

The chassis changes are central to the car's character. Peugeot Sport lowered the E-208 GTi by 30mm and widened the tracks by 56mm at the front and around 28mm at the rear. Springs, dampers, steering and anti-roll bars have been recalibrated, and a mechanical limited-slip differential is integrated into the gear reducer to help the car around corners. TechRadar said the E-208 GTi felt destined for fun, twisty routes, with enough power to raise smiles without feeling overwhelming.

In Sport Mode, Peugeot has avoided vague regenerative braking. The E-208 GTi relies solely on its hydraulic braking system, with 355mm front discs and fixed four-piston calipers. TechRadar tested the car in rain-soaked hills in Scotland and said it came alive, tucking into corners and propelling out of them like a go-kart. The brakes did not offer phenomenal feel, according to the review, but inspired confidence, while the limited-slip differential and gently guiding traction control kept lead-footed drivers largely out of trouble. There is no fake gearbox, but a subtle synthesized engine note acts as a soundtrack in Sport Mode. TechRadar said it is not as booming or in-your-face as Kia's, but helps keep EV motion sickness at bay.

Everyday usability remains part of the package. Despite sports seats and retro GTi badging, the E-208 GTi has room in the back for two adults, a decent-sized trunk and modern infotainment features. Its WLTP range is quoted at 233 miles, though TechRadar noted that enthusiastic driving seriously cuts into that figure. On a roughly 90-mile Scottish route, journalists returned with only 5% battery remaining. Peugeot says charging from 20% to 80% takes less than 30 minutes from a 100kW outlet.

The E-208 GTi traces its lineage to the first 604 GTi of the early 1980s, the original 205 GTi and the 308 and 208 GTi models sold from 2013 to the early 2020s. Its arrival follows recent news that Volkswagen will apply a proper GTI badge to its ID.3 and electric Polo models, with the ID.3 set to be the most powerful car to wear the insignia. TechRadar noted that this is not quite a commitment to a fully electric Golf GTI, but is as close as Volkswagen has come for now.

TechRadar also drove the Kia EV4 GT as part of the same test. It described the Kia as a slightly more sensible option for buyers seeking red-hot electric fun, and said it borrows heavily from Hyundai's N performance division.