We drive the Peugeot e-208 GTi: Can an electric hot hatch live up to the legendary French performance badge?

As the market shifts towards luxury performance cars, SUVs, and family-friendly EVs, petrolheads fear the 'boy racer' and his hot hatch are a dying breed.But all is not lost.Peugeot has put its GTi badge on a swift small car for the electric era.Enter the Peugeot e-208 GTi – an EV hot hatch that aims to live up to the legendary 205 GTi.At a touch under £34,000 on the road, it rivals Alpine's A290 – the sportier version of the Renault 5 – which has a similar 230-mile range.With 281hp and a claim to the best power-to-weight ratio in its segment, Peugeot promises 'no compromise on sportiness'. But can its first proper electric hot hatch deliver? Daily Mail and This is Money Senior Motoring Reporter Freda Lewis-Stempel travelled to Scotland to find out... Peugeot's first-ever electric hot hatch, the e-208 GTi, has arrived. Can it deliver the kind of heady thrills we all want and expect from a hot hatch even though it is electric?A potted history of Peugeot GTi Peugeot and hot hatches go hand in hand, and have done since the 205 GTi of 1984.That was when those three letters were first added to a Peugeot, and since then there have been several memorable hot hatch models.The 205 is regarded as the epitome of the GTi. It undercut its German rival, the VW Golf GTI, and its lightweight construction combined with a 1.6-litre engine made it remarkably quick for such a small car.The 106 GTi, launched in 1996, was another cracker of a hot hatch, offering brilliant handling and performance while remaining small enough for town driving and practical enough for everyday family use. The Peugeot 205 GTi (left) was the first Peugeot to carry the GTi badge. Today, its legacy is carried on by the electric e-208 GTi (right) The 306 GTi-6 also arrived that year and, with its six-speed gearbox and 2.0-litre engine, became a class first. It was succeeded by the 206 GTi 180 in 2003 and the 207 GTi THP 175 in 2007.In 2012, the 208 GTi was seen as a return to form for Peugeot's performance range and a great modern hot hatch.Then, in 2015, Peugeot launched its most powerful GTi model ever: the 308 GTi.With 262hp, it could sprint from 0-62mph in just six seconds, yet its styling remained relatively subtle. It didn't scream hot hatch despite its performance.Tell me about the e-208 GTi looksThe 2025 concept that inspired the e-208 GTi was very well received, and Peugeot has stuck closely to that winning formula for the production car.While retaining much of the muscular yet compact styling of the standard e-208, the GTi lowers the body and widens the track to create a more aggressive stance.Sporty features include Peugeot's three-claw lighting signature front and rear, 18-inch perforated alloy wheels, widened wheel arches, a front spoiler and a gloss-black diffuser.Most noticeable are the red accents, from the grille and brake calipers to the '208 GTi' pillar badges, all of which set the tone for the red detailing found throughout the cabin. The e-208's interior looks like a Barry's Bootcamp workout class: black with red accents throughout Space, interior and practicalityThe e-208 GTi's interior is rather like the automotive equivalent of a Barry's Bootcamp or 1Rebel workout class: black with red accents everywhere and full-adrenaline energy.The sports bucket seats, which are extremely comfortable and supportive, are complemented by a black dashboard, black leather-and-Alcantara steering wheel, black centre console and black carbon fibre-effect trim.Contrasting with the dark theme are lashings of red throughout the cabin, including red carpets, floor mats and seatbelts as a nod to the 205 GTi, alongside red stitching and red ambient lighting.Even the digital displays adopt a red-themed design.The 10-inch touchscreen is quite slow, and some of the graphics really don't look as though they belong in a 2026 car. Apple CarPlay connectivity was also so poor that I eventually gave up using my iPhone and switched to my friend's Android phone instead.The physical controls have a nice retro flair, while the 0-60mph timer and G-force meter add personality. However, the haptic dashboard controls sit at an awkward angle to the driver, and even the drive mode selector on the centre console is difficult to reach without taking your eyes off the road. There is not much legroom or headroom in the rear for adults 5ft 8in or taller, and the boot offers only 309 litres of space It's a cool cockpit to spend time in and feels suitably spicy and sporty, but practicality is not its strongest suit.Even with my seat positioned as far forward as most drivers would reasonably sit, a 5ft 8in adult felt cramped in the rear seat behind me, and headroom is limited too.I wouldn't recommend squeezing three adults into the back for any lengthy journey, especially if they don't know each other very well. Then again, it is a hot hatch, so family-car practicality shouldn't be your top priority.Boot space stands at 309 litres. That's not especially generous, but the Vauxhall Corsa GSe - another hot e-hatch rival - offers just 267 litres, while the Alpine A290 provides 326 litres. The e-208 GTi did itself proud on the mountain passes around Loch Lomond in Scotland, feeling keen, aggressive, composed and fast What's the e-208 GTi like to drive?My invite to the winding roads near Scotland’s Loch Lomond was one I had been looking forward to for some time.I'm not one to turn down an invite to drive the latest hot hatch - especially one that's transporting one of the most legendary performance badges in existence into a new electric generation. And the e-208 GTi proves that you can have plenty of fun in an EV that isn't an expensive sports car or hypercar that costs north of £100k.It acquitted itself brilliantly on mountain passes, feeling delightfully keen, aggressive, composed and fast. That 281hp output delivers serious pace, but the car never feels out of control thanks to its planted and confidence-inspiring handling.Peugeot has widened the track by 56mm at the front and 28mm at the rear, while also fitting bespoke suspension, a rear anti-roll bar and a mechanical limited-slip differential. Together, these upgrades help the e-208 GTi grip the road, improve cornering stability and inspire plenty of confidence.Other highlights include regenerative braking that automatically deactivates in Sport mode, as well as the small steering wheel, which makes the car feel agile and direct. Peugeot has added bespoke suspension, a rear anti-roll bar and a mechanical limited-slip differential, all of which improve grip and cornering stability The downside is the firm ride, which can become unsettled on poor UK road surfaces, along with some questionable ergonomics However, there are drawbacks. The ride is firm and can feel quite jarring over broken UK roads, while the positioning of the brake pedal and steering wheel is less convincing.Although the steering wheel feels great in your hands, it offers limited adjustment. For many drivers, it obscures much of the instrument display, which feels like a significant design flaw.The brake pedal is positioned quite high too, meaning even shorter drivers have limited space between their knees and the steering column. As a result, your kneecaps can occasionally take a knock.The brakes themselves are also a little vague, but aside from these relatively minor gripes, the e-208 GTi is a hot hatch that many drivers will enjoy. The e-208 GTi can achieve a WLTP range of 233 miles on a single charge, just one mile more than the Corsa GSe Range and chargingThe e-208 GTi delivers a WLTP range of 233 miles on a full charge, just one mile more than the Vauxhall Corsa GSe.Higher-spec versions of the Alpine A290 can manage up to 235 miles.As such, the Peugeot sits broadly in line with its electric hot hatch rivals and should provide enough range for spirited weekend drives as well as everyday errands.Charging from 20 to 80 per cent takes under 30 minutes using a 100kW DC charger, or around four hours and 40 minutes using a 7.4kW home wallbox.Pricing and trimsPeugeot keeps things simple, as there is only one version of the e-208 GTi available.It costs £34,995, which is £500 more than the Vauxhall Corsa GSe and nearly £5,000 more than the £30,245 Alpine A290.Like the Corsa GSe, the e-208 GTi qualifies for the Government's £1,500 Electric Car Grant, reducing its on-the-road price to £33,495.As with Peugeot's wider EV range, the e-208 GTi comes with an eight-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty. The e-208 GTi is a compelling take on the electric hot hatch and proves enthusiasts will still have exciting options in an EV future The Cars & Motoring VerdictThe e-208 GTi is theatrical in all the right ways and should appeal to a broad audience.It's a convincing take on the electric hot hatch and proves that enthusiasts will still be able to enjoy small, exciting performance cars as more motorists make the switch to EVs.Expect to have a smile on your face behind the wheel, though don't expect miracles when it comes to range. Driven enthusiastically, we suspect it will get through its battery charge fairly quickly.That said, most buyers in this segment are unlikely to mind, and many will simply appreciate that it doesn't cost a fortune.For a first crack at an electric hot hatch, Peugeot Sport's engineers should be rather pleased with themselves.Peugeot e-208 GTi: Specs at a glance On sale: nowPrice: £33,495(after the ECG) DIMENSIONSLength: 4,100mmWidth: 1,771mmHeight: 1,405mmWeight: 1,987kg (gross)Boot capacity (backrests up): 309 litresPERFORMANCEDrivetrain: Electric Battery size: 51kWh Drive: Front-wheel drive Max power: 281hpMax torque: 345NmAcceleration (0-62mph): 5.5 secondsTop speed: 112mphTurning circle: 10.3 metres ECONOMYEV range: 233 miles DC charging maximum power: 100kWDC charging time 20-80%: 30 mins CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST