► Peugeot’s electric 5008 SUV driven
► Seven-seat family EV looks distinctive
► Long range model claims more than 400 miles
Peugeot’s EV line up continues to grow by the minute. At the time of writing there are now nine pure battery electric vehicles its consumer range, starting with the compact e-208 and ending with this, the new e-5008.
It’s another electric SUV and bears more than a passing resemblance to the slightly smaller e-3008 – only here its STLA Medium platform has been stretched to house up to seven passengers. Add some Gaelic flair and a range of up to 415 miles (in the longest-range model), and it should tug on both the heart and the mind.
So, is it any good? We drove it on some challenging – and some less challenging roads – around the Cotswolds to find out. We also drove the mild hybrid, and you can read our review of that at a later date.
At a glance
Pros: Interior is unique, huge range, comfortable ride
Cons: Back row is cramped, tech could be more intuitive
What’s new?
The new e-5008 is a larger car than its predecessor; at 4790mm it’s 150mm longer than before, with 60mm of that going into the wheelbase. It’s 50mm wider and 40mm higher too, with the overall aims being more space and better accessibility for passengers. We’ll get more into that later.
Outside it’s stylish for a people mover; squinty headlights sit above a geometrically excited grille, while three ‘talon’ DRLs are scratched either side. Spin around and you’ll find a similar concept in the rear lights – and a roofline that hasn’t been swept or fastbacked.
What are the specs?
Peugeot’s flagship SUV 5008 will be released in electric (e-5008) as well as mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid form. The BEV offering will consist for three models: first up is the base model with a 73kWh battery, 207bhp and a 310-mile range. That’s the one we drove for this review.
After that there’s a 227bhp, 98kWh model with an impressive 415-mile range, though that’s coming later this year. The range will eventually be capped by a 316bhp, dual motor model with a 73kWh battery and 310-mile range. That’ll be out in Q1 of 2025.
Charging time for the two 73kWh models is competitive; 20 per cent to 80 per cent will take just 30 minutes if using a 100kW-160kW charger. The battery is also covered by an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty, for 70% of original capacity.
As for performance specs? Don’t expect too much, as it is a seven-seater after all. Still, the e-5008 will get from 0 to 62mph in 9.7 seconds, and give up at 106mph. Like all EVs, that doesn’t consider its decent progress to 30mph.
How does it drive?
Jumping onboard and driving the e-5008 is a discombobulating experience. Inside it feels spacious and bright, but its quick, compact steering wheel makes it feel as though you’re driving something much smaller.
The straight-line speed is every bit as modest as the spec sheets suggest, though it’s more than enough for in town. Faster country roads are fun too, thanks to the small responsive wheel and relatively low amount of body roll. A dab of the brakes here, an adjustment of the wheel there, a touch on the power – and the e-5008 can thread its way through the B-roads swiftly enough for a car this size.
As we found during some photography, it’s got a good turning circle, too.
The brakes are less impressive; easy and comfortable, though unresponsive high on the pedal. It’s what you’d expect for a car of this size in this sector, though. Aside from the pedal, you can also use paddles behind the wheel to determine the amount of regenerative braking you want. We found the middle setting to feel the most natural.
Ultimately though, this is a car designed for comfort, and it succeeds in particularly French fashion. The ride, while naturally more fidgety and stiffer than the mild hybrid car (it’s 600kg heavier after all), is still serene. Some bumps do make it to the cabin, but most are soaked up. All in all, driving the e-5008 can be a peaceful, quiet experience.
What about the interior?
Jump aboard the e-5008 and the first thing you notice is the high, commanding driving position – quickly followed by the Peugeot’s vast infotainment screen. 21-inches in length, Peugeot’s i-Cockpit is a floating swathe of tech that sits above the tiny wheel. The middle is reserved for the usual navigation and media stuff, while the portion above the wheel takes the place of traditional cockpit dials.
It’s a cool piece of tech that looks more premium than you’d expect, and it’s complemented by ambient lighting and an equally impressive panel below that acts as a ‘dock’ for shortcuts. It’s all customisable, and although the bezel around it is thick, it makes the e-5008 feel like a premium place to be.
We had a prod of the Peugeot’s software and found it to be slick, if not a bit visually busy. Things can be swiped to and fro, and while it could be easy to understand after a while, it’s a bit daunting to begin with.
The Peugeot comes with all the usual driving aids including lane-keeping, AEB, and traffic sign recognition. Top end GT models like the one we drove also get adaptive cruise.
Tech aside, the cabin wraps around you with interesting design and fabric that wouldn’t be out of place on a high-end sofa. Peugeot’s designers were aiming for high-end lounge – and when combined with the huge glasshouse and optional panoramic sunroof, we think they’ve hit their marks. We particularly like other bits of design like the hidden wireless phone charger and storage space. It’s been built to a price, but it’s not something you immediately notice.
Hop aboard the second row of seats and you’ll find the 5008’s extra length at work. There’s lots of space here, but it’s combined with some neat solutions too: for example, deep grooves on the rear of the front seats provide extra space for knees. As a result, I was able to comfortably sit behind myself, without my knees pushing on the seat in front. I didn’t even pull my seat all the way back to do this, either.
Go one row back though, and things are a little more cramped. The second-row seats are quite clunky to move, and once they’re up they reveal smaller seats at the back. They are more for smaller members of the family, with far less leg room on offer. With the mini seats up, boot space is 348-litres. That’ll extend to a much more useful 916 litres with them down.
Before you buy
The e-5008 storms upmarket compared to its processor. The base EV in Allure spec starts at £48,550 – around £11,000 more expensive than the mild hybrid, and exactly £5000 more than the plug-in. That rises to £52,350 for the top of the range GT spec we drove.
GT gets you more as standard, such as the ambient lighting in the interior, arm rests on the second row, Alcantara, and other trinkets such as the handsfree boot.
Outside of its own line-up, the e-5008 has relatively little competition in its class. The only other seven-seaters EVs on the market are the £65,025 Kia EV9 and the vastly more expensive Volvo EX90, which retails at £96,255. It’s fair to say the Peugeot has the lower end of the market to itself, then.
Verdict: Peugeot e-5008
On paper, the Peugeot e-5008 is a slow, electric SUV simply designed to get people from A to B, but in reality, it’s a well-designed car that’s full of character and space in equal measure. Inside, it gives you something to touch, prod and look at, and outside Peugeot’s styling has matured to create something that’s interesting to look at despite its size.
But it does the basics right too; legroom is impressive, the range – even in the basic model we drove – is competitive. What’s more, the ride is as quiet and as cosseted as you’d expect.
The only real competition for the e-5008 comes from its ICE and electrified siblings, because at this price it’s cheaper than most other cars in the seven-seat arena.
Specs are for a Peugeot e-5008 GT 210