Video test – Peugeot e308: Allure without the oomph

The Peugeot 308 goes electric while retaining its superb appearance and well-damped chassis. But this electrified thermal compact lacks watts to justify its pricing claims.

Presented in March 2021, the Peugeot 308 was until now available with thermal and hybrid engines. Here it is now in a 100% electric version with a 156 hp permanent magnet synchronous motor located at the front cantilevered with the torque reducer. A motor powered by a “small” battery (NMC Nickel Manganese Cobalt type) with a capacity of 51 kWh net capacity for 54 kWh gross. This Peugeot e308 retains its traditional thermal car architecture with a basic chassis composed of McPherson units at the front of a semi-rigid Panhard bar rear axle. The size remains the same, namely 4.36 m long, 1.85 m wide and 1.48 m high, making it one of the longest compact sedans on the market. The electric Renault Mégane is 17 cm shorter and even the big MG4 remains 7 cm shorter than the Peugeot.

Big and small

Unfortunately the habitability and the trunk do not benefit from these generous dimensions. With only 361 liters of loading volume, the Peugeot e308 carries less luggage than its competitors. The mini housing under the floor can only accommodate a small cable and there is no second trunk at the front. We will console ourselves with the presence of a ski hatch, a floor that is not too hollow and fairly wide access. In the back seat, same disappointment. If the space is enough to transport two adults of average size, the knee room is not immense and the central tunnel penalizes the middle seat.

French chic

Although it is not very spacious, the Peugeot e308 takes care of its presentation. Its very elaborate design is accompanied by good build quality with beautiful paint, thick door seals and regular bodywork adjustments. The entry-level Allure finish of our test model receives a beautiful black grille, black window surrounds, dark-tinted rear windows and beautiful 18-inch rims. Led optics with very efficient automatic high beams are also included in the basic equipment.

On board, the atmosphere is modern and warm. The furniture is essentially made up of well-padded plastics with very comfortable upholstery adorned with very high-quality stitching. Although the adjustments remain manual on this Allure version, they are made quickly and the passenger also benefits from an adjustment in seat height. In this electric version, the Peugeot e308 includes heated seats and a heated steering wheel as standard. The Peugeot e308 also stands out for its numerous storage spaces with large door bins and a huge glove box. The only downside is the poorly placed and inefficient induction charger. There is therefore no need to opt for this €350 option.

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Square but not connected

On the multimedia side, the Peugeot e308 blows hot and cold. The digital screen is perfectly integrated into the dashboard and the ergonomics of all the controls are very well thought out. The air conditioning settings are intuitive, as is the layout of all the menus. The wireless connectivity to get Apple Carplay is also very nice and very reliable. Note also that the standard car radio offers good sound quality. The colorful digital instrumentation also deserves praise with a very readable display even in direct sunlight which presents the level of autonomy both in kilometers and in percentage.

On the other hand, the steering wheel is located far too close to the knees even when it is adjusted to the highest position with the seat at the lowest position. And its small size prevents you from seeing the instrumentation under the upper branch. So unless you like driving with the steering wheel on your knees, the beautiful instrumentation is completely illegible. A major defect that has affected all Peugeots for a long time without any improvement ever being made. A great mystery. Another downside is the very limited connectivity between the smartphone and your car. The application allowing you to monitor your charge or turn on the air conditioning before departure lacks responsiveness and reliability and requires unbearable administrative procedures to be installed. We didn’t even try to test the scheduling function offered on this totally obsolete application.

Urban bargain

In its Allure version, the Peugeot e308 costs €350 for hands-free access. You still have to press the start button while pressing the brake pedal to start. A fairly slow procedure which can be stressful when in a hurry. The 360° camera is very effective but requires a heavy investment of €1,200 in a pack integrating the alarm. That said, the large mirrors and the rear window with wiper ensure good peripheral visibility. The fairly short turning circle of 10.5 m, the gentle steering and the very discreet sound of the pedestrian warning are greatly appreciated in urban use.

At low speed, the damping appears a bit firm but remains very adequate and absorbs big shocks without hitting while the ground clearance is high enough not to rub on the speed bumps. The braking is also illustrated by its progressiveness and its precise dosage but the regenerative braking is not very pronounced. A button B makes it possible to reinforce this “engine braking” which is then similar to that of a diesel but does not allow the vehicle to come to a complete stop.

Well anchored, poorly balanced.

On small, degraded roads, the Peugeot e308 always impresses with the quality of its damping with an excellent compromise between shock filtration and body support when cornering or braking. Steering and braking carefully calibrated always give just as much satisfaction. Great French cuisine! ECO, NORMAL, SPORT modes only modify the throttle response and air conditioning. Only Sport mode allows you to exploit the full power and torque of 270 Nm which does not in any way disturb the front drive wheels fitted with excellent Michelin ePremacy tires.

Performance is sufficient in absolute terms (10.5 s for 0-100 km/h) but is significantly less energetic than competitors who offer at least 50 hp more. When the pace increases, the Peugeot e308 shows its relatively high weight (1684 kg empty or 1759 kg EU standard) and its less favorable weight distribution than its competitors designed around a single electric engine. The heavily loaded front axle and the locked rear axle generate a fairly understeering behavior which ensures great stability at the expense of agility.

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Numerous breaks

On the highway, the Peugeot e308 swallows the connections with delight and seems insensitive to side winds. A real sucker which benefits from a very efficient active cruise control with clear operation. We especially appreciated the presence of a shortcut button to configure the driving aids (ADAS) which never felt intrusive. It must also be said that they are fewer in number than those of the latest Chinese electric cars meeting the new safety standards of 2024. The trajectory correction is included as standard from the Allure finish and operates with great delicacy.

Too bad that the lane keeping assistance system is reserved for the GT version for an optional €1000. Restricted to 170 km/h, the Peugeot e308 avoids being flashed for excessive speed on French motorways but risks proving frustrating in Germany. However, the average soundproofing of air and rolling noise does not encourage you to increase the speed.

The small 51 kWh battery also encourages moderation even if the Peugeot e308 demonstrates great sobriety. During a motorway journey of around 500 km between Paris and Le Mans, the average consumption did not exceed 21 kWh/100 km and it is possible to be satisfied with 19 kWh/100 km on the expressway by scrupulously respecting the limitations. In mixed use on the road, count on 17 kWh/100 km. Enough to cover 200 km of highway and 300 km in urban use. A little short for heavy riders who will also regret not being able to tow a trailer. Only a bicycle rack can be placed behind the bumper (load of 80 kg maximum).

Fairly fast charging

If the maximum charging power of the Peugeot e308, limited to 100 kW in direct current (DC), may seem low, the charging curve is quite regular and the moderate size of the battery allows a full charge of 10-80% in 30 min which remains acceptable. The power of the onboard charger of 11 kW, to connect to public terminals or an alternating current (AC) Wallbox, is also in the good average.

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Floating prices

First priced at €45,720, the Peugeot 308 lowered its prices on the sly (following the launch of the new restyled Tesla Model 3) to €43,900. The Peugeot configurator even displays a discounted price of €42,590 excluding ecological bonus. It is therefore difficult to know precisely the prices of this model which will be available from October 2023. But the figures displayed for the moment are close to those of the reference American sedan which offers 280 hp, 60 kWh, two trunks and a much more advanced multimedia package for €42,990.

It is also difficult for the Peugeot to fight with the MG4, accessible from €29,990 with a battery comparable to that of the Sochalienne and less than €40,000 with a large 77 KWh battery. With the change in the rule for the allocation of the ecological bonus in 2024, the French compact will undoubtedly manage to be a little more competitive despite its batteries of Chinese origin (CATL). But relying on public aid to keep up with the competition is not a lasting solution.

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