A hot hatch but not as we know it: 2026 Peugeot e-208 GTi returns in electrified form, but will performance give this BYD Dolphin, MG4, or Fiat 500 Abarth rival the edge?

Peugeot has revealed the new E-208 GTi as the nameplate’s return to hot hatch glory.

The E-208 GTi is designed to be a return-to-form for the nameplate, boasting 210kW/345Nm allowing a 0-100km/h sprint time in 5.7 seconds.

It has a much more aggressive stance on the road, and is much more than just an E-208 with slightly more power, sitting 30mm lower and with a 56mm wider track at the front (27mm wider at the rear). 

Its appearance is also significantly overhauled with a much more aggressive front bumper featuring a lower spoiler, flared fender arches to accommodate the additional width, and an aerodynamic diffuser on the rear bumper. In addition, it scores a set of bespoke 18-inch wheels, which hark back to the original 205 GTi. These are clad in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Inside, there are also specific front seats with integrated headrests and bright red highlights for the floor mats and seat belts. The steering wheel is trimmed in perforated leather and alcantara highlights.

Peugeot claims the French built, GTi-specific electric motor offers “the highest performance of all models in the B [city car] segment.” and has the highest power-to-weight ratio. The motor is also paired to a limited slip front differential in order to enhance handling.

It features 355mm brake discs in the front with four piston calipers to enhance stopping power.

On the range front, the E-208 GTi is equipped with a 54kWh NMC battery from China’s CATL, with a “specific cooling system adapted to high performance” offering a 350km driving range according to the more accurate WLTP standard.

It can charge in four hours, 40 minutes from a 7.4kW wall box, or 30 minutes on a DC charger capable of outputting 100kW. Unlike some rivals, the E-208 also offers vehicle-to-load discharging.

Should it become available in Australia, the E-208 GTi would only have one direct rival in the form of the Abarth 500e ($58,900 before on-roads) although would offer significantly higher performance.

Peugeot has taken something of a hammering in Australia in the first half of 2025, down 38.6 per cent in a rapidly changing market full of new options. The brand is no doubt hoping its new range of hybrid SUVs will help bolster its offering.

However, its hybrid pivot came at the cost of its EVs, at least in the short term, with the brand reversing course on the E-208 and the facelifted version of the E-2008 which were both set to arrive this year. The original E-2008 which was originally imported in small volumes struggled to compete with rivals on price.

Its French arch-rival, Renault, is not faring much better in 2025, down 17.5 per cent (although is managing nearly four times the volume), and segment-rival Skoda is also on a major down-turn, suffering a 30.1 per cent loss year-on-year.