► Peugeot’s electric e-2008 has been facelifted
► A modest range increase and sharp new looks
► Largely the same driving experience
The Peugeot e-2008 has established itself as a bit of a poster child for the electrically-powered small SUV generation. The firm says that it accounts for 20% of 2008 sales, and looking at the number we see bimbling around, we’d not argue with that. It’s been facelifted for 2023 to keep things fresh.
The original car went on sale in 2019, and found itself up against very few rivals. The Hyundai Kona Electric was its most notable rival, but beyond that, if you wanted your family to blaze an EV trail you were looking at picking up a Nissan Leaf – and that offered none of the SUV glitter that the e-2008 and its Korean rival offered.
Hyundai and Peugeot have been joined by the Vauxhall (with the Mokka) for offering their mainstream B-segment SUVs in electric and ICE forms… for now. But the opposition for the e-2008 is mounting, with younger rivals including Kia Niro EV, BYD Atto 3 and cheaper MG ZS EV vying for your monthly payments. So, this facelift for the smart-looking e-2008 is very well timed.
Changes for the 2023 Peugeot e-2008 are mainly limited to a mildly updated version of the e-CMP platform shared with the DS 3 and Jeep Avenger. You get a 54kWh battery pack (up from 50kWh), which helps extend its modest range from 214 to 251 miles. As the original car delivered around 180 miles in real world driving, expect this one to take you a more reliable 200 miles.
It’s also slightly more powerful than before, but don’t get too excited – as it’s far from sporty. More obvious is the updated styling – which is more aggressive up front with a deeper grille and slimmer headlamps. It’s hardly a homogeous look overall with random feature lines and a staggered belt line, but at least it can’t be accused of being boring.
Inside, there are new trims and materials to give it a classier feel, while there’s a larger 10.0-inch central touchscreen with an updated infotainment. It’s more user-friendly and offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the board, but the ridiculous row of toggle keys beneath it and an over-reliance on touchscreen functions make it as unsatisfying to use as ever.
What’s it like to drive?
The e-2008 uses a 54kWh (50kWh usable) battery pack and a 154bhp motor drviving the front wheels for a 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds. As for range, Peugeot says the e-2008 can manage up to 251 miles according to WLTP tests and is ready for 100kW rapid charging, with an 80% charge completed in half an hour in a best-case scenario.
With 154bhp don’t expect Ludicrous performance – not that you need it. Sure, there’s ample mid-range torque that’s not interrupted by a gearbox juggling cogs, but the surge of acceleration is rounded and smooth. It’s a case of ‘that’s nice’, rather than ‘oh my’ when the throttle is floored.
Press the transmission’s ‘B’ button and you get more regenerative braking, but it’s not quite the one-pedal driving experience you’ll find in rival EVs, especially the ageing Nissan Leaf.
There are three drive modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco tones down the air-con and shoves some digital cotton wool behind the throttle to soften any inputs, while Sport unleashes all of the performance. The latter mode seems largely excessive here – this isn’t a car to take on a track day.
Peugeot’s tiny i-Cockpit wheel feels mismatched with a family SUV, especially as it can encourage drivers to drive with more verve than then e-2008 is capable of delivering. It’s excessively light and it feels like there’s layer of snot between your hands and the road surface. This might be fine around town, but get out on a fast A-road and it feels out of its depth, rolling, pitching and diving like a yacht in a storm.
It’s comfortable, though. Even on its largest 18-inch wheels it offers pillow soft compliance – more like a Citroen than a Peugeot. Speaking of which, if you’re after comfort, and have no intention of driving with verve, the e-2008 just about passes muster. The e-C4 does the silent motorway cruise so much better, though.
We spent a good four hours in the e-2008 and a quick calculation over the course of the quickish journey is that it will just about squeak 200 miles on a fair weather journey. The most sympathetic drivers might get near to the WLTP figure, but you’ll be holding up traffic in the process.
Annoyingly, the range predictor is as frustrating as ever, starting every journey with the WLTP claimed figure and not a number calculated from previous drives.
What’s it like inside?
The e-2008’s interior is dominated by the love-it-or-hate-it Peugeot i-cockpit. So, you get a small, low-set steering wheel, and high-set instruments above them. This limits the driving position somewhat as many drivers won’t get comfortable or see the instruments clearly. Try before you buy is our advice.
That aside, it’s a well-trimmed interior, with an agreeable collection of materials that feel and look good. The front seats are also uncommonly comfortable, so high marks there. Also the rear is roomy with excellent headroom, complementing the large boot. It’s just a shame the design lacks any cohesion.
Peugeot e-2008: verdict
If you’re after the most range for your money, the 54kWh e-2008’s marginal improvements over the old model probably won’t impress you that much. And that’s where the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV come in with their larger 64kWh battery packs and longer legs. The long range MG ZS EV comes with an even larger 72kWh battery, but it doesn’t translate into the range advantage we’d hoped for.
On the road, the Peugeot e-2008’s over-light steering, silly driving position, vague handling and roly-poly cornering are a serious disappointment – Peugeot can do so much better than this. Yes, it offers a soft ride, but the lack of body control is too high price to pay for it. If you want comfort, the slightly less roomy Citroen e-C4 does this job so much better.
That aside, the e-2008 is a striking looking choice with a tightly-assembled, high-quality interior, that’s reasonably spacious and has a boot that’s the same size as its petrol-powered cousins. But these talents aren’t enough to have us recommend one over one of its Korean rivals – let alone the cheaper Chinese alternatives.
Check out our Peugeot reviews