The Peugeot E-208 GTi is presented as the successor to the legendary 205 GTi. But can this “electric athlete” with no petrol, no sound and only average performance really convince?
GTi – three letters that once meant pure driving pleasure. Mechanical immediacy, raw sound and the feeling of sitting on the edge of an explosion. And now? Peugeot E-208 GTi. An electric interpretation of the legend, but instead of “roar” it serves up “meh”.
Peugeot E-208 GTi: Interesting on paper, but compared to other numbers – too average
Make no mistake – paper can withstand a lot, and so can the Peugeot E-208 GTi. 280 horsepower (206 kW), 345 Nm of torque, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. That's not bad in numbers. But in a world where two-ton Teslas fly in three seconds, and the identical Abarth 500e with similar power bites into the asphalt more confidently, the GTi somehow gets lost in the gray. Nothing exciting, nothing that would make your heart beat faster. A similarly mediocre story, like Alpine 290.
There's no sound either. We get it, electrics are quiet – but that means you have to give the driver something else. Something more. Peugeot Sport lowered the car, widened it, gave it a stiffer chassis and wider tires, but the result is more of an "editorial compromise" than a "driving spectacle". The car is more playful than the regular e-208, but still not brutal enough to deserve the GTi label. Where's that "wild kart box" feeling from the 80s?
Range and charging: no better than the classic
And then there's the range. WLTP says 350 kilometers. Great if you live by the catalog. Realistic? Be prepared to charge after 260 kilometers, if the car is driven as the badge on the trunk says. And when it comes time to charge? Hope you find a fast DC station. 30 minutes for 10 to 80 %. Fast on paper. In practice? Too long if you're in "GTi mood" and waiting for the next adrenaline rush. The car still only offers "100 kW" charging.
The interior is nice – Alcantara, red stitching, retro stripes on the seats. But it’s like someone giving you champagne… without the bubbles. It lacks that brutal, “on the edge of the cliff” feel that once defined the GTi.
Conclusion: GTi with a defibrillator?
The Peugeot E-208 GTi isn't a bad car. It's a very solid, stylish electric hatchback. Is it a GTi? At heart? Hardly. If you're an old-school fan, you'll be disappointed. If you're new to the world of GTi, you'll be confused. And if you're looking for pure driving pleasure, there are more compelling (and faster) alternatives.
Peugeot tried to evoke nostalgia – with colors, stripes and symbols. But if the legendary GTi from the 1980s represents wildness and freedom today, then this electric experiment feels like a museum. Sterile, quiet and – honestly – a bit empty.
For almost 40 thousand, you get a car that is interesting, but does not offer what the GTi has always meant: soulBut maybe Peugeot will have to include some electric excitement in addition to electricity next time.
