Peugeot e-3008 (2023 - )

Peugeot’s e-3008 has changed again.

Previously a crossover, the new e-3008 is now a ‘fastback SUV’ with stylish coupe features. It is the latest example of Peugeot ripping the combustion engine out and replacing it with an electric motor.

Those who want something in between can choose the standard 3008 – a mild hybrid with a 1.2-litre engine - and a plug-in version is coming in a few months.

For now, though, the all-electric version will suffice, although the current front-wheel-drive model will be joined later by long-range and all-wheel-drive variants.

The e-3008 is the first car to use the brand-new STLA Medium platform from parent company Stellantis, optimising the car’s hidden space to accommodate more batteries, resulting in greater range.

Just two trim levels are offered, with the entry-level Allure getting 19-inch alloys, a spectacular 21-inch curved panoramic screen that encompasses both the digital instrument display and the infotainment touchscreen, and a built-in SatNav.

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice control are also included, while another small touchscreen displays customisable shortcut buttons so you can more easily select your favourite features.

There is also a wireless smartphone charger, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, and grey fabric upholstery.

In addition, there’s a GT trim, which gets 20-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, eight-colour ambient lighting, heated front seats and steering wheel, a powered tailgate, and Alcantara upholstery.

The e-3008 is only available currently with a 73kWh battery, with the electric motor producing 210PS, although a larger 98kWh battery will be arriving in the coming months.

In recent years, styling has become a signature for Peugeot, with many of its newer cars having peculiar yet stylish looks.

That is no different for the new e-3008, which has a shapely front end, claw-like LED light bars, and a grille panel with a mesh pattern built into it.

While the sides are more modest, the back features a sharp, vertical drop in the bodywork. It also has more LED lights and a black panel connecting the left and right taillights.

The rear bumper opens up towards the bottom, accommodating the number plate.

Inside, the interior is equally striking, with a very high centre console bathed in grey fabric on our Allure test car, which also covers the dashboard and the doors.

On the doors, the upholstery bulges out, enveloping you and providing a cockpit-like feel, complimented by the i-Cockpit 21-inch wraparound curved display.

The left-hand side of the display houses the infotainment touchscreen, which is a giant step forward for Peugeot. It offers a nice layout, clear graphics, and a reasonably responsive interface, while the GT version complements it with a head-up display.

The i-Toggle touchscreen is a smaller display that sits in the centre of the dashboard. It offers a choice of shortcuts to quickly access the menus in the infotainment system.

We would recommend having one of these buttons for the climate control, as there are no physical buttons available to adjust the temperature. You can ask the voice control, though, which usually works well.

You can also send routes to the car's SatNav system from your phone if you wish. The navigation will take into account any required charging stops along the way and even claim to know whether charging points are available.

Another now familiar feature of Peugeot is its steering wheel, which features a fattened airbag box, a flat bottom, and a flat top. It is on the small side and designed to be held in the driver's lap.

The gear and driving mode selectors are on toggle switches.

The e-3008 is a heavy car weighing over 2.1 tonnes.

As a result, the first variant to be launched goes from zero to 62mph in 8.8 seconds, which isn’t particularly quick, although future versions will cut around 30% off that time by increasing the power by a similar percentage.

A burst of torque from the electric motor, delivered instantaneously once you deploy the accelerator, masks its somewhat leisurely pace.

In terms of throwing it around a bend, you simply can’t, although to say the handling is sub-par would be harsh.

It is a heavy and big-ish SUV, after all, so it actually exceeded our expectations. The low centre of gravity (thanks to its new platform) kept the vehicle in check, helped by plenty of grip from the tyres.

If you take things too quickly, you'll soon know about it, but the e-3008 is certainly capable of being chucked around a bend a bit faster than we’d expected.

It could be more enjoyable to drive, though. The steering lacks feedback and fails to weigh up in the bends, and even though selecting the Sports mode offers a weightier wheel, it feels very artificial.

Nevertheless, body lean is relatively well controlled for a car of this size, but to say it generates excitement would be an exaggeration.

Admittedly, the semi-decent handling has been achieved by dialling back the ride comfort somewhat, so it’s rather firm and prone to feeling unsettled when crashing through potholes and pockmarked roads.

The regenerative braking can be tweaked by pulling paddles behind the steering wheel. But it’s not strong enough to bring the car to a stop on its own, so it’s not quite capable of offering one-pedal driving.

There is plenty of space inside the e-3008, although the harsh reality is that many of its foes offer more.

Nevertheless, unless you’re very wide, you shouldn't find the interior cramped at all. If you are, the raised centre console and bulging door upholstery may make you feel a little confined.

There is a lot of headroom and legroom, though, and it didn’t take us long to get used to holding the steering wheel in our lap, as is intended on newer Peugeots. It is worth testing this out for yourself.

One criticism of the low steering wheel design was that it obscured the infotainment screen, so it’s now positioned higher up, although this can obscure your view of the road if you’re vertically challenged.

There is also a decent amount of space in the back, but many rivals can match it in terms of accommodating capacity.

Although the e-3008 is marketed as a fastback, hinting at its coupe-like credentials, the slope in the roofline begins quite far back, so there's little compromise on headroom for rear-seat passengers.

You will find USB ports and cupholders in the front and rear. The boot space measures 548 litres (588 litres in the GT) and expands to 1,574 litres (1,663 litres in the GT) by folding the e-3008's rear seats in a 40/20/40 configuration.

The available space is also very accessible, with underfloor storage, an adjustable boot floor, and no load lip.

Running an electric car is still fairly cheap despite the surging cost of electricity over the last couple of years.

You will still save money compared with running a combustion-engined car, especially if you're a longer-distance driver.

The e-3008's 73kWh battery has a claimed range of 326 miles (although expect closer to the 250-mile mark in practice), while a future version will extend this to 435 miles thanks to a larger 98kWh battery.

At the Peugeot e-3008's maximum charging speed of 160kW, a 20-80% charge takes around half an hour, while using a 7kW home wall box, you'll manage a 20-100% charge in about eight hours.

Road tax is free for the best part of another year, but the Government intends to start charging electric vehicles to use the road from April 2025.

Acquiring an e-3008 as a company car is the best way to save on tax, thanks to the low Benefit-in-Kind band that all-electric cars appear in.

Servicing is only required once every two years (or every 16,000 miles, whichever comes first), and as long as it is done at a Peugeot main dealer (or a Peugeot-approved workshop), the warranty extends up to eight years or 100,000 miles.

That is generous, given that Peugeot doesn't have the best reputation for reliability. But, in fairness, it has been getting better in recent years.

The new Peugeot e-3008 is a big step forward from the old version.

It has striking, personality-laden looks, a nice interior, a respectable range, and a reasonably impressive charging speed.

However, while the handling is decent, it's not hugely fun to drive, and the ride is firm. 

Although it's pretty spacious and practical, many of its rivals are superior in these departments - and for less money.

That is the problem with the e-3008: it's expensive, and the entry-level model is priced higher than some of its competitors, including the Tesla Model Y.

However, the Peugeot e-3008 is a competent, desirable car if you can look past that.