Peugeot e-208 GTi driven – pocket rocket is a worthy 205 successor
The e-208 GTi’s physical advantages, relative to some of its rivals, do come across in the car’s driving experience, which is taut, grippy, busy and energetic.
Rain-sodden roads in the west of Scotland weren’t an ideal stage to show off the car; but it had the purpose and urgency to surmount them with room to spare, and to suggest that it would be a dynamic match for any of its rivals on a really winding, challenging, dry B-road – and a lot of fun.
The car’s fairly small-diameter tiller, and heavy, meaty steering weight, makes for particularly direct steering responses – in stark contrast to the more fluent, lower-effort steering of an Alpine A290, for example. This is quite a darty-handling car; its steering managing to convey some enticing feel without too much torquesteer under power. Handling isn’t testy or hyperactive, though; and the car’s suspension, though firm, keeps the wheels under constant control and in steady contact with the road so as to assure you of its grip level, and give you the confidence to press on. It feels very well-sorted, relatively light on its feet, and more serious in its performance intent than many of its opponents.
The powertrain makes it fast and intuitive enough to drive, too – although it doesn’t have paddleshift regen control, nor any sort of engine- or gearbox mimickery going on. Peugeot Sport has taken the interesting decision to deactivate energy regeneration completely when you’re using Sport driving mode; so there’s no trailing-throttle regen, and only hydraulic pad-on-disk retardation as you squeeze the middle pedal. Which sounds like something of an answered prayer for enthusiast drivers who just want simple, predictable controls of consistent weight, doesn’t it?
Sadly, Peugeot Sport apparently wasn’t able to finish the job by tuning the e-208 GTi’s hydraulic brake servo very attentively. So all you really end up with is the slightly mushy brake pedal feel of a regular 208, in an EV that’s running less efficiently than it might be.
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments