Peugeot e-2008 2023 Review

How much does the Peugeot e-2008 cost?

The 2023 Peugeot e-2008 will set Australian buyers back $59,990 plus on-road costs, or $65,455 drive-away.

That near-$60,000 list price commands a $16,593 premium over the combustion-engined 2008 GT that’s priced from $43,397 plus on-road costs. The previous ICE flagship, the GT Sport (from $51,188) is no longer being imported, while the range still kicks off with the entry-level Allure (from $38,945).

Peugeot Australia originally indicated the e-2008 would be limited in allocation, however company officials have told carsales they have enough supply to match demand this month.

That may be because a facelifted version of the e-2008 has already landed in Europe, offering enhanced battery power, fresh styling and an additional 61km in claimed range.

Peugeot Australia says its strategy was always to launch with the pre-facelift model. It plans to introduce the updated version “sometime in 2024”.

As Australia slowly adapts to electric vehicles, rivalling options to the e-2008 are still relatively thin on the ground.

There’s a new Hyundai Kona Electric fast approaching, while the related Kia Niro EV is available from $66,590 plus on-road costs.

At the entry level of the market there’s the BYD Atto 3 (from $48,011 plus ORCs) and MG ZS EV (from $47,337 drive-away), while at the other end of the scale, our reigning carsales Car of the Year, the Kia EV6, is another potential rival with prices beginning at $72,590 plus ORCs.

What equipment comes with the Peugeot e-2008?

The 2023 Peugeot e-2008 is like a croissant with the lot where equipment and specification is concerned.

Based on the GT trim level, standard equipment highlights include 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start and proximity locking , heated front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat with massage function, gloss-black trim, adaptive LED headlights and ‘triple claw’ rear LED tail-lights.

The $60K-plus purchase price doesn’t get you a powered tailgate, however.

There are six different paint colours available. The standard Orange Fusion hue is a no-cost option, while metallic paint adds $690 and premium paint $1050.

The Peugeot e-2008 is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia. A separate eight-year/160,000km fixture covers the e-2008’s battery.

A five-year service plan for the e-2008 will set buyers back $1000, according to Peugeot Australia – almost half the price of an internal-combustion 2008.

What’s more, servicing is set at generous 12-month/25,000km intervals.

How safe is the Peugeot e-2008?

The 2023 Peugeot e-2008 is loaded to gills with safety equipment, including six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision warning, multi-collision braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, traffic sign recognition, driver attention alert, lane departure warning and blind spot detection.

Additionally, there’s an acoustic vehicle alerting system that generates sound at low speeds for pedestrian safety.

The Peugeot e-2008 doesn’t carry an official ANCAP safety rating, however the regular 2008 was awarded a five-star score back in 2019. Note that the testing protocols back then were much less stringent than they are today.

What technology does the Peugeot e-2008 feature?

Assuming pride of place inside the 2023 Peugeot e-2008 interior is a 10.0-inch centre touch-screen display, accompanied by a bank of piano keys and hard-wired switchgear underneath it.

The screen features DAB+ digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and satellite navigation, and is mated to a separate 10-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display.

Curiously, the e-2008 misses out on wireless phone charging but covers most other bases where technology is concerned.

What powers the Peugeot e-2008?

The 2023 Peugeot e-2008 is powered by a 100kW/260Nm electric motor fed by a 50kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a modest set-up considering many EV batteries are now approaching 100kWh in capacity.

In terms of recharging, the e-2008’s battery can purportedly be fast-charged from 0-80 per cent in around 30 minutes when using DC power. Maximum charging capacity is rated at 100kW, which is down against segment leaders.

Hook it up to an 11kW AC wallbox and Peugeot says it will charge from empty to 100 per cent in about five hours, or 7.5h when charged at 7.4kW.

Based on Peugeot’s specific e-CMP platform, the e-2008 rides on a pseudo MacPherson strut front suspension configuration and a deformable cross member arrangement at the rear.

Whereas regular ICE versions of the 2008 list a 1200kg braked towing capacity, Peugeot says the e-2008 isn’t compatible with towing.

How far can the Peugeot e-2008 go on a charge?

The car-maker claims the 2023 Peugeot e-2008 will travel 328km on a single charge using the WLTP method.

We found that claim to be largely achievable based on our very short preliminary drive, with a predicted range of 322km upon setting off, and roughly 250km of range remaining after a circa 70km drive loop.

It is worth noting the facelifted version of the e-2008 launched in Europe offers an increased battery capacity of 54kWh plus a superior 115kW of power, combining to yield both an increase in performance and a better 406km effective range.

What is the Peugeot e-2008 like to drive?

To be frank, the 2023 Peugeot e-2008 doesn’t deliver the most memorable drive experience.

Our short circa-70km drive route this month reveals Peugeot’s first dedicated electric SUV in Australia offers a quiet and serene cabin environment on billiard-table-smooth roads, together with pillowy passage over gentle undulations.

Equally, the drivetrain offers relatively easy transitions to around-town speeds, while the steering is light and accurate in its action.

There are no major complaints around outward vision or ease of placement through tighter spaces either.

But that’s about where the plaudits for the e-2008 end on-road. Put simply, the 2008 EV simply doesn’t cut the mustard from a dynamic standpoint, afflicted by poor body control and excessive roll partly due to its slabby 1.6-tonne kerb weight.

The electric drivetrain is also blunted by weight, struggling for motivation when brisk overtaking moves are required and offering languid progress out of slower corners.

Additionally, the brake pedal action is long and inconsistent – a simple yet annoying gripe that takes us back to EVs from 10 years ago. What’s more, a lack of regenerative braking paddles means the e-2008 lacks the on-the-go braking adjustment of its contemporaries (fitted only with a solitary ‘B’ mode, which is quite aggressive).

The combined result of these features on pockmarked surfaces commensurate with much of Australia’s road network is a ride that feels inherently busy, with thudding and occasional jolting over obstacles combined with a tendency for the rear to skip through mid-corner bumps.

From a handling perspective, the cabin never quite settles through faster corners either. It lacks control and feels disjointed from the driver’s seat, features certainly not in keeping with the e-2008’s $60K sticker price.

Compared with the delightful three-cylinder thrum and inherent lightness of the regular petrol-powered 2008, the e-2008 feels comparatively heavy and lacks the signature French flair that Peugeot has become renowned for.

Peugeot is certainly not alone with this transition to electric technology, but in our minds the EV doesn’t match the petrol-powered 2008 from a handling standpoint, or in other areas such as ease of use.

And despite the reputation of EVs to be instant from an accelerative point of view, the 2008 pairing is more or less lineball with their respective 0-100km/h times (9.3sec for the ICE version, 9.0sec for the EV).

What is the Peugeot e-2008 like inside?

There’s better news with the 2023 Peugeot e-2008’s interior, which offers a pleasant upmarket vibe headlined by premium materials and swish displays.

The Spanish-built e-2008 offers a cabin that feels well put together, with no squeaks or rattles on our test car, plus smart presentation, ample seat adjustment and outward vision.

A bank of hard-wired buttons and switchgear beneath the centre touch-screen is appreciated, offering relatively easy climate control adjustment on the move and no requirement to needlessly dig through touch-screen sub-menus.

The rest of the infotainment is heavily screen-biased in its operation.

Elsewhere, the e-2008 persists with Peugeot’s much-vaunted i-Cockpit display, which in effect combines a tiny, low-set steering wheel and high-set instrumentation.

It sounds nice in theory but the reality is the ergonomics just don’t feel right to your correspondent; the wheel inadvertently obstructs some of the instrumentation and can never be positioned high enough to really cultivate that ‘in-the-car’ feeling.

Rather, you often feel like you’re sitting on top of it, with the steering wheel in your lap.

The e-2008 is middle of the road where storage is concerned, offering up roomy door pockets and ample cup holders, but lacking in odds and ends storage (read: somewhere to put your wallet and house keys).

This isn’t an EV that feels liberated by its flat floor structure and oodles of space; rather, the e-2008 persists with an ICE-derived transmission tunnel and interior layout.

As such, the second row offers moderate room for little ones or a couple of adults on short journeys, with separate power outlets but no rear air vents. ISOFIX attachment points on the outbound pews combine with three top-tether strap points for child restraints.

At the rear resides a 434-litre boot space, which extends to 1467L with the 60/40-split folding rear seats stowed.

Unlike the regular Peugeot 2008, which is fitted with a space-saver spare tyre, the e-2008 has a tyre inflation kit (on account of batteries fitted underneath).

Should I buy a Peugeot e-2008?

It depends how badly you want to own a French electric SUV.

In our minds, there are better options out there for budding EV enthusiasts than the 2023 Peugeot e-2008, especially at $65,000 once on-road costs are considered.

Moreover, the regular petrol-powered Peugeot 2008 is a more rounded package, with additional range (albeit laced with CO2 tailpipe emissions), lighter dynamics and a much cheaper purchase price.

The progression to electric vehicles is happening in front of us. With the e-2008, there are quite a few wrinkles that need ironing out.

2023 Peugeot e-2008 at a glance:
Price: $59,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 100kW/260Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 50kWh lithium-ion
Range: 328km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 16.1kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not rated

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