Peugeot E-3008 in the first test drive

With the electric-only SUV E-3008, Peugeot wants to achieve a range of more than 700 km. That comes at a price. Nothing works for less than 50,000 euros.

For the new Peugeot it is similar to the saying of the famous Bavarian comedian Karl Valentin: “I wanted to love, but I didn’t dare to love and you can see the desire from the outside.” Electric SUV. We will return to what is allowed and not believed later. Rarely does a Peugeot stand on the road as gracefully as the E-3008. At the front is a confident front end with Star Wars slats in body color, at the back is a crisp rear end and a striking wing spoiler on the roof. Makes a strong impression, E-3008. Even more so in the GT version, because then the daytime running lights of the three claws shine with matrix lights. As a nice contrast, Peugeot offers the panel in “Glossy Black” which is brilliantly shiny. You can also tell in the interior that the E-3008 wants to impress. A 21-inch (approx. 53 cm) composite display floats on the dashboard. At night, this “floating effect” is further enhanced by the ambient light, which is reflected by the aluminum strip.

Getting in and sitting comfortably: Peugeot E-3008 in practical review

High marks for the design – but how does the E-3008 fare in a practical test? When backing in, a normal-sized car has to turn a little to get into the back. Put your foot in, put weight on your supporting leg, tilt your head, arch your back, pull your supporting leg. It seems inappropriate, and it is. Basically, the car should provide enough space with a length of 4.54 meters and a wheelbase of 2.74 meters – but the space in the back rows is limited. With 520 to 1,480 liters, the trunk offers plenty of space to compete with the company’s E-308 power station wagon. It is interesting to think that you can adjust the false floor at an angle with just one move. Helps to prevent loads from falling on corners – really practical.

The same can be said about the operation of the computer on board. The design is logical and the system is very fast. For the functionality you need frequently, there is a rail that you can customize. For example, to remove that annoying assistant duo EUthe controllers in Brussels have ever invented: a speed warning system, starting at 1 km/h, or an electronic lane keeping function. Otherwise, everything an electric car needs is included – including digital charge management for long journeys. And don’t forget: The E-3008 audio system also works with ChatGPT artificial intelligence.

From 210 to 320 hp – that’s the power of the electric lion

So far the E-3008 is putting down good stats. But how powerful is an electric car when it comes to the nitty-gritty? About range, and therefore usage and charging speed. Two battery sizes can be accommodated in the chassis. 73 or 98 kWh for a range from 527 km to more than 700 km. When it comes to the engine, the customer can choose between a variant with front-wheel drive, 210 hp with a small battery or with 230 hp with a large battery. Then there is an all-wheel drive model, it has a second engine on the rear axle and 320 hp. To do this, you have to do without a large battery and about 50 liters of trunk volume.

We had a low level of performance in the test: the 2.1-ton SUV drives well enough, but interestingly it’s almost a little short. This also applies to the chassis, which has a hard time fighting itself and struggles to keep the extra pounds from being spread around. The steering reacts very easily in normal mode and very heavy in the sport position. A little tweaking might help. And the comfort of the suspension is also possible to find its fans among sports drivers, it is very close to the limit. These are all lofty criticisms – countered by a bold, progressive design that promises something more. This is where Valentine comes into play again. He wanted to, but he didn’t dare. But what has yet to be. For example with an all-wheel drive model. There is nothing to complain about the turning circle: E-3008 does not turn the proverbial beer bed, but at 10.5 meters it is already very far ahead.