SINCE the arrival of the iconic 205, there can't be anyone in the country who wouldn't recognise its latest ancestor, the Peugeot 208.

Stylish inside and out it's a lovely car to drive but there's a new kid on the block in the form of the all-electric e-208.

How does it stand up against its conventionally-powered siblings?

The answer is - very well. For a start, it's almost indistinguishable from its stylish brothers and sisters, just a slight blue-green tinge to the brand's lion badge and body-coloured highlights to the grille marking it out.

Under the bonnet is a 134bhp electric motor fed by a 50kWh battery. The official driving range is now 225 miles thanks to some tweaks late last year.

Annoyingly, it doesn't come with a standard cable to plug into a three-pin domestic socket, nor does it have any proper cable storage in the boot or cabin. However, it does charge quickly.

Plug into a 100kW public rapid chargerand it'll gain about 100 miles of range in around 20 minutes, while a 50kW charger will do the same in roughly 40 minutes. Not to be sniffed at.

Peugeot streamlined its trim line-upfor 2022, removing the entry-level Active and Allure specs and instead offering a choice ofActive Premium, Allure Premium, GT and GT Premium.

Every e-208 gets a seven-inch central touchscreen, with GT and GT Premium models boasting a larger 10-inch display, You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, several USB charging sockets in the front and back, and in all but the entry-level model there's wireless phone charging and a configurable driver's readout with ‘3D' graphics.

GT models also add 17-inch diamond-cut, two-tone alloy wheels, LED headlights with a distinctive daytime running-light signature, plusa diamond black roof with gloss black wheel arch extensions, and a dark chrome chequered radiator grille with gloss black edge trim.

Space in the e-208 is exactly the same as in the ‘normal' 208, so there's plenty of room in the back for two average-sized adults or three kids to get comfortable. The boot can swallow a handy 311 litres of luggage or 1,106-with the 60:40 split rear seats folded down.

So far, so good. But, is it as good to drive as its siblings? The simple answer is yes. Remarkably so. Firstly, there's lots of adjustment in the steering column and in the driver's seat so drivers of most shapes and sizes should be able to find a comfortably driving position.

Like its siblings, the e-208 is confidence-inspiring and fun in most situations, including around town or on a decent country road.

Though the 0-62mph time is nothing exceptional, the instant, linear acceleration from the electric powertrain makes it feel so much punchier, especially in Sport mode, which sharpens up the throttle response and weights up the steering. It's a real grin-inducing experience.

In Normal or Eco modes, the steering is light but precise and ideal for nipping around town, and the light regenerative brakingis subtle and doesn't intrude on progress. The ride quality is excellent, as is the handling, which is helped by the battery resulting in a low centre of gravity.

Naturally, there's a host of standard driver aids on the e-208, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and traffic-sign recognition.

And, if you're worried about electric power, well, the battery is covered for eight years/100,000 miles, and will be replaced or refurbished if it loses more than 30% of its as-new performance within that duration.

£31,475

136hp, electric engine driving front wheels via an automatic gearbox

93mph

8.1seconds

225mpg

28

0g/km

1%

3yrs/60,000miles