Tesla Model 3 or Peugeot e-308, which is the best purchase option under 40,000 euros? In this article we are going to confront these two electric cars to determine which model is most recommended to buy this year 2024.
If you are looking for a new electric car for less than 40,000 euros, even before applying the possible discounts of the MOVES III Plan, there are two models that you should take into account. On the one hand, a classic like the Tesla Model 3. On the other, a somewhat different alternative, the new Peugeot e-308.
To help you make the best purchasing decision possible, today we are going to pit these two models against each other to determine which is best. We will analyze aspects such as the dimensions, the trunk, the engines, the battery and its approved autonomy, the standard equipment and the prices. At the end, we will present the strong points of each model.
Dimensions
If we start with the exterior measurements, the Tesla Model 3 has a body that reaches 4,720 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width and 1,440 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,875 mm.
Its rival in this technical comparison is the Peugeot e-308, which is available in a compact version measuring 4,365 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and 1,465 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,675 mm. There is also a family variant, the e-308 SW, which increases its length to 4,635 mm and lowers its height to 1,440 mm. The distance between axles, in this case, is greater, 2,730 mm.
Trunk
The trunk is an important section when choosing one model or another, regardless of its propulsion system. In the case of the Tesla, the trunk holds up to 425 liters only in the cargo compartment behind the rear seats, to which another 90 liters must be added in the front trunk.
For its part, Peugeot has not shared the exact cargo capacity figure of the electric 308, but the plug-in hybrid model offers 360 liters of capacity, while with the family body this figure rises to 550 liters. In the case of the electric version, the volumetric capacity of the trunk could be slightly lower due to the size of the battery.
Engines
The Model 3 engine offering includes two different options. The first has a motor on the rear axle with 208 kW (283 HP) of power, while the second option, the Model 3 Great Autonomy, ups the ante with two electric motors, four-wheel drive and a combined power of 366 kW (498 HP).
On a mechanical level, the e-308 is only available with a single propulsion system, which is made up of an electric motor with 115 kW (156 HP) of power located in the front position, so it offers front-wheel drive.
Battery and autonomy
There are two battery options in the Tesla. On the one hand, a 60 kWh lithium-ion unit that allows the entry-level model to approve up to 513 kilometers of autonomy per charge. On the other hand, the 75 kWh unit is reserved for the Long Range model, raising the ante to 629 kilometers of range.
In the case of the Peugeot, the lithium-ion battery has an energy capacity of 54 kWh, which allows it to approve up to 419 kilometers of autonomy in the compact version, while the e-308 SW loses some range and settles for 409 approved kilometers.
Standard equipment
As far as standard equipment is concerned, in the Model 3 we find a 15.4-inch central touch screen for the multimedia system and a second 8-inch screen for rear seat passengers, a sound system with 17 speakers and a wireless charging point for smartphones, among others.
The standard equipment of the Peugeot e-308 (Allure finish) includes LED headlights, digital climate control, central touch screen for the multimedia system, digital instrument panel, sports front seats, electric parking brake and alloy wheels, among others.
Prices
And when it comes to prices, the Tesla Model 3 is available in Spain from 39,990 euros. If the aid from the MOVES III Plan is applied to this price, including a vehicle for scrapping, we are talking about a starting price of 32,990 euros.
Finally, the Peugeot e-308 is available in the Spanish market with a starting price of 39,450 euros in the five-door version. When applying MOVES III aid (including scrap) this figure is reduced to 32,450 euros.
Conclusion
As you have seen, the differences between these two electric cars are significant, especially in the exterior dimensions section, where the Tesla Model 3 is between 85 and 355 mm longer than the Peugeot e-308. It also has 145-200 mm more wheelbase, while the width and height is very similar.
We cannot directly compare the trunk capacity of the Tesla with that of the Peugeot, since we do not know the cargo capacity figures of the electric 308.
However, on a mechanical level, the Tesla offers more options to choose from, the possibility of having four-wheel drive and higher power levels. The same happens with the batteries, having more energy capacity in the Model 3 and, consequently, approving greater autonomy between charges.
Although the standard equipment seems quite good in both models, the prices are almost on par, with a difference of just over 400 euros in favor of the Peugeot e-308.