The world of compact electric cars is competitive as it ever was with almost every prominent manufacturer coming out with its own iteration. Peugeot has quite a few EVs in its current arsenal, but the e-208 is arguably the most popular one as it combines affordability with decent battery size, good charging speeds, and an overall well-equipped package.
VW is also investing huge sums of money in its ID. EV range and the most popular ID. VW model is the smallest ID.3. In this article, we are going to compare the Peugeot e-208 vs VW ID.3 and tell you which one of these two is the better car. We will compare them in a real-world scenario and will give you a broad assessment of how these two stack against each other.
The Peugeot e-208 came out about 2-3 years ago and seems to be selling really well in Europe. This is partly due to how affordable it is compared to most EVs out there and because its weight, size, and equipment are perfect for those who want an A-to-B city transport device that does pollute or cost much money to run.
The VW ID.3 is comparably a larger and more expensive car and is better when it comes to multiple passengers and longer-distance journeys. Choosing between these two requires you to gather all the relevant information about each and understand what it means to own an EV in general.
Peugeot e-208 – The Smallest Peugeot EV
With a starting price of £31,345 in the UK, €35,350 in Germany, and €32,250 in the Netherlands, the Peugeot e-208 is situated at the EV entry point which makes it extremely competitive. It is also equipped with a usable 45kWh battery with a real-world range of between 125 miles and 265 miles depending on how you drive the car and the temperature outside.
With 139hp and permanent front-wheel-drive, the e-208 can do the 0-60mph sprint in around 8 seconds which sure is enough for its size. It is available in either 2-door or 5-door configurations depending on what you need. The design of the e-208 is really futuristic and well thought-out both inside and out.
Charging the e-208 from 10% to 80% using a fast 150kW DC charger takes around 25 minutes while slow AC 7.4kW charging takes a little over 7 hours. The driving experience is rather dynamic and agile which makes the e-208 great for navigating tight city centers and the parking ordeal is also really easy.
We can’t talk about the long-term reliability of the e-208 as it is still a fairly fresh car, but we can say that it seems to be doing okay for now.
VW ID.3 – The Entry-Level VW ID. Model
The VW ID.3 comes in three different battery configurations starting from the smallest 45kWh battery, a 58kWh battery, and the top-spec 77kWh battery. The former is going to cost you around €37,990 while the latter can go as high as €56,500. The 58kWh model is likely the most popular one and it costs €43,995 in Germany, €39,990 in the Netherlands, and £36,990 in the UK.
The 45kWh ID.3 offers between 120 and 250 miles of range, the 58kWh model offers between 155 miles and 320 miles while the top-spec 77kWh model offers between 200 and 410 miles of range. The 45kWh model offers a single motor with 150hp, it can recharge from 10% to 80% using a fast 118kW DC charger in 28 minutes while slow 7.2kW AC charging takes 7 and a half hours.
The 58kWh model comes with a single electric motor pushing out 201hp, DC fast charging is capped at 124kW and takes 31 minutes while slow AC 11kW charging takes 6 hours and 15 minutes. The top-spec 77kWh model also offers 201hp, but charges at a maximum of 133kW DC fast charging that takes 33 minutes/slow AC 11kW takes 8 hours and 15 minutes.
All in all, the ID.3 range is much more widespread and there is plenty to choose from. The design is really futuristic, even more so than the e-208. The interior is often referred to as a bit too plastic, but the overall functionality and design are up to the task. The space on offer and its reliability both seem to be doing well.
Conclusion – The VW ID.3 Is A Better Car
The Volkswagen ID.3 is a much better car as it offers more powertrain options with more power, range, and better charging times. The design is rather subjective, but the ID.3 looks more EV-like which is something many EV owners want from a car.
The VW is also much more spacious, better equipped, more comfortable, and more advanced. This is rather understandable as the ID.3 is a more expensive car. The fact of the matter is that the ID.3 is not a direct competitor to the e-208 as it is housed in a higher market segment compared to the e-208.
FAQ Section
Which Volkswagen ID. Model Is The Best?
Even though the ID.3 does offer good value and is the best-sold ID. car VW offers, its bigger brother, the ID.4 is likely the best ID. model VW currently offers. First of all, the ID.4 isn’t much more expensive than the ID.3 while being bigger, much better looking, better equipped, offering more power, more trims, and a better range situation.
The charging rate and charging speeds are the same which is no bad thing as the current charging speeds both of these offer are more than adequate.
Is Volkswagen Making Good EVs?
Volkswagen is making some of the most competitive EVs on the market which is rather understandable as the ID. VW range is selling well. The VW ID.3 and the ID.4 are by far the best-selling ID. models as they truly do offer a really well-rounded package.
VW is going to offer the new EV Passat replacement called the ID.7 which is going to propel VW to even greater heights in the EV segment.
Is Volkswagen Better Than Tesla?
Volkswagen is not only able to compete with, but it actually beats Tesla in Europe while US sales are still tipping in favor of Tesla. We can say that both of these brands are at the forefront of the EV revolution, but Tesla is still the king over all.
