Peugeot e-208 156 Phase 2 vs Renault Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 : which one is faster?

The launch: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the e-208 156 Phase 2 hits 100 km/h in 8.12 s versus 10.10 s for the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145. The instant torque of 260 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the e-208 156 Phase 2 leads by 1.98 s and sits roughly 20 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the e-208 156 Phase 2 is doing 119 km/h against 110 km/h for the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145. The gap is 1.01 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the e-208 156 Phase 2 crosses the line in 16.14 s versus 17.52 s. The 1.38 s gap represents roughly 51 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The e-208 156 Phase 2 maxes out at 150 km/h while the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 keeps accelerating towards 180 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 1.49 s from 1.38 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the e-208 156 Phase 2 finishes in 30.57 s versus 31.23 s, with just 0.66 s to spare. The Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 fails to fully close the launch gap.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the e-208 156 Phase 2 is capped at 150 km/h, the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 at 180 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit — it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 15.82 seconds. The 1.98 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.