Peugeot E-3008 Review

The smaller and more important of the two arrives first, and shows Peugeot is taking the electric car market more seriously than it ever has done. Unlike the earlier (and recently updated) E-208 and E-2008, the E-3008 uses a brand new platform under its svelte body that has been better designed for electric power. 

Peugeot’s parent company, Stellantis, has also been hard at work at developing its battery technology, and the E-3008 is the first in a wave of forthcoming models to get the firm’s new battery packs. The E-3008 initially arrives with a 73kWh useable battery that promises up to 326 miles on a full charge, while Peugeot will follow this up in late 2024/early 2025 with an even larger 98kWh useable battery pack with a claimed 435-mile range.

While this is the first battery-powered 3008, there have been two petrol and diesel powered models before it. The first was an oddly egg-shaped thing, but the second one, introduced in 2016, gave Peugeot huge impetus. That car arguably created Peugeot’s current slightly upmarket image thanks to its bold styling, premium feeling interior, and plenty of standard technology. 

This new one evolves this and features Peugeot’s latest design for the front-end with slimmer headlights, distinctive ‘three-claw’ day-running lights and the Peugeot badge sitting large and proud in the grille. The biggest change is with the roofline as Peugeot has opted for a more swooping design – if you want more headroom and practicality, the E-5008 with its squarer design should fit the bill. 

The interior, meanwhile, features plenty of fabric-covered surfaces and feels very plush compared to a Volkswagen ID.4, while top-spec GT cars add snazzy multi-colour ambient lighting. The E-3008 debuts Peugeot’s new ‘Panoramic i-Cockpit’ consisting of a massive 21-inch screen sitting atop the dashboard and a smaller screen for widgets and shortcuts. It looks great but the functionality is a little complex – systems found in the Renault Scenic and Skoda Enyaq are easier to use. As for space, back seat passengers will find leg and headroom a little tight, and the boot measures 588 litres with the seats up and 1,663 litres with them down. 

If you’re expecting a fun driving experience like Peugeots of old then you’ll be disappointed. While we found our UK test car to be more comfortable on the road compared to the French cars we first drove in Spain, the ride is still firmer and more fidgety than a Skoda Enyaq’s. We’ve only driven the small battery single motor car so far in the UK, and while the handling is neat and tidy and there’s hardly any body roll, the E-3008’s heavy weight (it weighs over 2.1 tonnes) blunts performance slightly –  a Renault Scenic feels more sprightly and agile. The steering also feels very disconnected from the wheels. 

Verdict

What the E-3008 lacks dynamically, it makes up for in being hushed and quiet to drive – characteristics that will be appreciated more by families, no doubt. It’s a smartly designed electric SUV that feels very plush and upmarket inside, it’s just a shame that it’s slightly dull to drive and isn’t a cheap proposition. The E-3008 is priced towards the upper end of the family SUV segment and we’re not sure it totally justifies its price tag, so buyers looking for a great all-rounder might be best looking off elsewhere. 

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