Review - Peugeot E-2008

Billed as a charismatic small SUV package that packs all the French style and design flair we’ve come to love from Peugeot with a new electric powertrain that hides beneath familiar, handsome bodywork.

Just how well does the Peugeot e-2008 perform when put to the test here in Australia, then, and how convincingly does its value proposition stack up against rivals? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Peugeot e-2008 Competition

Starting Price: $59,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Peugeot e-2008 is offered here in Australia in a single variant which is priced at $59,990, not inclusive of on-road costs.

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Peugeot E-2008 (GT) Specifications

What Features Does the Peugeot e-2008 Have?

The Peugeot e-2008 comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloys and receives adaptive LED head and tail lights with LED daytime running lamps and fog lights, a mix of alcantara and leather upholstery, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry & start.

On the tech front, the e-2008 picks up ambient lighting, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, massaging front seats, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, a 10-inch instrument cluster and a 10-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto paired with a six-speaker sound system.

Range Features:

• 18-inch alloys

• Adaptive LED headlights and tail lights

• LED running lamps and fog lights 

• Dual-zone climate control 

• Leather/Alcantara upholstery

• Heated, massaging front seats 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Ambient interior lighting 

• Rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors 

• 10-inch digital instrument cluster 

• 10-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

• Six-speaker sound system

Is the Peugeot e-2008 Comfortable to Drive?

Peugeot’s recipe with the e-2008 is remarkably simple: take its tried and tested platform from the 2008 compact SUV and add a high-tech, silent and more powerful electric motor to make things a more smooth and comfortable affair.

In practice, the move has paid off pretty well, with the e-2008’s electric motor offering smooth acceleration off the mark while offering some agile handling mixed with a comfortable platform for town cruising.

Underneath, the Peugeot e-2008 picks up a single electric motor pushing out 100kW of power and 260Nm of torque, putting it just below the regular 2008, though the immediate power delivery from the e-motors adds to the urgency off the line.

The e-2008 sprints to 100km/h in a claimed 9.0 seconds, which is 0.3 of a second faster than the standard Peugeot 2008.

Once you’re up and moving, the e-2008 is a great little companion for a trip around town, with the added weight mitigated well by the platform that maintains zippy, agile and very urban-friendly driving.

Town driving is made super simple thanks to the e-2008’s pint-sized footprint and the lightweight steering rack that makes it easy to park and navigate tight-quarter car parks while offering healthy weight and feedback as you pick up speed.

The notable absence of one-pedal driving means that it's not quite as intuitive and user-friendly when driving in traffic, whereas most of its key rivals allow you to come to a stop in traffic simply by lifting off the throttle.

The suspension package underneath definitely prefers smooth city streets and becomes a little firm when you hit rougher country roads, making it more of a city-dwelling compact SUV.

All up, though, the ride at highway speeds is decent, with Peugeot’s attention to the e-2008’s sound insulation making for a quiet and soothing drive experience.

How Far Can the Peugeot e-2008 Drive on a Single Charge?

The Peugeot e-2008 is packaged with a 50kWh lithium-ion battery pack offering range figures of 328km on a single charge.

This puts the e-2008 at the lower end of the battery-electric compact SUV spectrum when it comes to range figures.

Peugeot’s 50kWh battery pack can be DC fast-charged up to speeds of 100kW, offering a 0-80 per cent charge in 30 minutes, while an 100kW AC charge takes around five-hours.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Step inside the e-2008 and it takes just a few seconds to realise that Peugeot’s French styling results in an interior layout that makes most, if not all of its rivals feel bland in comparison.

Peugeot have never been fans of following norms in the industry, which means the e-2008 offers a highly unique cockpit complete with a tiny little steering wheel, a curved dash design that stretches out to the doors and some wonderfully-upholstered seats.

The design is sharp, smart and filled with small details that make it feel like a more personally-curated cabin than many of its rivals.

In terms of space in the front of the cabin, tall drivers won’t have much of an issue getting comfortable in the e-2008, with a fully-adjustable steering rack and electronically-adjustable seats.

Practical touches in the front of the e-2008 include a pair of cup holders, a healthy storage area at the base of the dash, added storage inside the folding arm rest and a pair of door bins on either side of the cabin.

Move to the rear and things get a bit more cramped, as per usual with the compact SUV segment which, though the e-2008 offers more second row space than many small SUV packages.

There’s enough legroom for adults in the rear of the e-2008, while headroom isn’t too much of an issue for taller occupants, either, though it can feel a little cramped and dark from the large door pillars.

The second row picks up set of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for forward and rear-facing child seats, while the boot measures in at a very decent 434L, though this comes at the expense of a spare tyre.

Is it Safe?

The Peugeot e-2008 is yet to receive an official ANCAP safety rating, though the standard 2008 compact SUV has been awarded a five-star rating from ANCAP back in 2019.

As standard, the e-2008 comes packaged with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure alerts, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors and traffic sign recognition.

Our Verdict: Is the Peugeot e-2008 Worth it?

The Peugeot e-2008 is an impressive little package that takes everything we’ve come to love about the 2008’s charming styling, modern interior layout and its user-friendly nature and combines it with a decent battery-electric powertrain.

In an increasingly competitive segment, though, Peugeot’s 50kWh battery and limited range figures per charge mean that it struggles to truly excel when compared to its main rivals under the microscope.

Having said that, if you’re living in the city and don’t need to travel huge distances per day, the Peugeot e-2008 is an undeniably charismatic and fun battery-electric compact SUV that will charm your socks off.

If you’re looking to make the switch to a new car, don’t forget to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Eight-year/160,000km warranty for battery pack 

3. Electric motor produces 100kW/260Nm (0-100km in 9.0 seconds) 

4. 50kWh battery pack offers 328km of range on the WLTP test cycle 

5. No official ANCAP safety rating; five-star rating for standard Peugeot 2008