The Peugeot e-2008 still looks handsome on the outside, and it's still practical on the inside. But does the new battery give you more useable range?
In the metal
It's no surprise that Peugeot hasn't messed much with the exterior styling of the e-2008. After all, the current 2008 has been one of Europe's biggest sellers since it was launched in 2019, and so clearly the French company wasn't going to change styling that has consistently meshed with the tastes of buyers.
There are a few changes to the exterior, though. The old 'fang' daytime running lights, which had a single blade of LEDs running down the outer edge of the front bumper, has been replaced by a pair of three angled LED lights on each side, meant to look as if the Peugeot lion has clawed the front of the car. The main headlights, sitting above the daytime running 'claws' are also new, and on top-spec GT models they get three individual LED light pods behind the lenses. The grille is also new, and it features the new Peugeot 'shield' style badge at the centre. Basic Active versions get a gloss black grille, while Allure and GT models get body-colour grilles.
At the rear, the LED brake lights are new, with slimmer, more jewel- like elements behind the lenses, and there are new alloy wheel options in 16-, 17- and 18-inch diameters. On the tops of the front wheelarches, there's a new stylised 'E' badge to signify that this is the fully-electric version. In due course, this e-2008 will be joined by updated petrol-powered variants, including one using a new mild-hybrid 136hp version of the familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine.
Inside, again the overall style is familiar, with the multi-layered dashboard managing to look complex without being overly-fussy. Our GT-spec test car came with a broad swathe of carbon-fibre-style material on the fascia, which looks suitably classy. The front seats - a mixture of leather and a tweed-style material in our car - are comfortable and supportive. You can have Alcantara upholstery as an option.
On the dashboard, the digital instruments have been tweaked slightly, with revised graphics and display layouts and they look smart. The small, hexagonal steering wheel still sits low, almost in your lap, which won't suit everyone. In the centre of the dash, there's a revised touchscreen, which gets the new software as seen in the Peugeots 308 and 408, but alas doesn't benefit from their customisable 'e-toggle' short-cut buttons. You do still get shortcut buttons, physical ones, but the air conditioning controls are annoyingly sill on the screen - and they're not an 'always on' section of the screen, either. Still, the ten-inch display is now standard on all models, and for Allure and GT versions, it gets HD tech.
The cabin is fairly practical - there are useful storage areas in the centre console, two cupholders and another storage box under the front seat armrest. The door bins are a touch small, though, as is the glovebox.
In the back seats, legroom is just about sufficient for a tall adult to get comfortable, and headroom is fine. There's not really enough width to get a third passenger in the centre rear seat though, at least not if you want them to be comfortable. That's about par for the course in this sector, admittedly.
Boot space is good, and there's an adjustable floor to help you make the most of it, although you do lose a bit of volume to the bulky charger cable bag if you're lugging that around everywhere.
Driving it
The outgoing Peugeot e-2008 was always just a touch short of range - its official 320km on a full charge often worked out at closer to 250km in the real world, and less even than that if you were pounding up the motorway.
Well, the new e-2008 has a greater battery capacity - 54kWh instead of 50kWh - and although its new 156hp electric motor is more powerful, it's reckoned to be more efficient than before.
Is it? Well, we really need to try the e-2008 in cold and wet Irish winter conditions, and with more motorway mileage, before we can pass a truly definitive verdict, but the omens from our test here seem good. On a mixed route involving fast and curvy mountain roads, and a bit of dual-carriageway driving, the e-2008 seemed at least reasonably efficient. Displaying a full 400km on a 99 per cent battery charge when we started, and driving with the air conditioning going full belt on a scorching hot Spanish day, we finished our test route with 66 per cent battery and a claimed 258km remaining. Or, in other words, about the same real-world range as the old model with only two-thirds battery charge. That's certainly not bad.
Performance is fine, but you need to have selected Sport mode (doing so knocks around 20km off your predicted range, while picking the Eco mode instead boosts it to an indicated 418km on a full charge) to get maximum performance from the electric motor. Up to 260Nm of torque isn't a lot, either way, so you're never going to get the junior hot-hatch sensation that you used to get from the 155hp version of the petrol 2008.
Refinement seems very good, with little road nor wind noise, and the ride quality is fine, even on the larger 18-inch alloy wheels. That's doubtless helped by the fact that the e-2008 isn't especially heavy by electric car standards, at 1,550kg.
The tiny steering wheel makes it seem a little more eager as you first turn into a corner, but after that the e-2008 has pretty lifeless, if competent, reactions. It's sufficiently agile, and surefooted, but not a car you'll particularly relish driving for the heck of it. Then again, neither are almost any of its competitors.
What you get for your money
Peugeot Ireland (part of Gowan Auto) has not announced Irish prices for the new e-2008 yet, but they're likely to be higher than those of the outgoing model - around €37,000 seems likely at the moment. The first cars won't arrive in Ireland until the back end of this year, so it's really a 2024 model for us.
While the finalised specs are still to be confirmed, pan-European specs start with a basic Active model, which gets the new LED 'claw' lights as well as rear parking assistance, automatic air conditioning, electric front and rear windows, electric door mirrors, the ten-inch central touch screen and a USB-C socket at the front.
Allure models, which tend to be the most popular, get 17-inch alloy wheels, digital dials, full smartphone connectivity and four USB sockets (two USB-C up front, one each C and A in the rear).
Top-spec GT versions get full LED front headlights, a high-definition parking camera, keyless access and start, electrically folding mirrors with welcome lighting, a contrast black roof and GT badging scattered about.
Summary
The Peugeot e-2008's battery upgrade seems to have worked. The rest of the updates are useful additions to an already impressive small crossover, one that still looks good and drives nicely. If Peugeot Ireland can bring it in at a reasonable price, it should continue to be a success.
