► Three electric-curious CAR readers meet our E-2008
► Can it get its claws into them?
► Read month 1
Not long ago, recruiting CAR readers with EVs wasn’t easy. Now you can’t move for them. Martin Fitz-Gibbons, a journalist, runs a pre-owned Kia e-Niro. Dean Clarke, head of motor sales at finance firm Charles & Dean, has just signed on the line for a Honda e:Ny1. And teacher Emma Hollander has the E-2008 on her shortlist to replace her Ford Ka.
Martin’s first into the hot seat, keen to see how the Peugeot compares with his Kia. Expecting an easy win for the newer E-2008, I’m pleased to see it bag some early points as Martin threads it down a twisty stretch of B-road.
‘Yep, impressive. It turns in nicely, grips well and I can feel what it’s doing. I like the steering; I guess it’s a slightly quicker rack, because of the smaller steering wheel? It’s lighter than my Kia [1548kg versus 1812kg] and it feels it; it’s much more agile and controlled. The e-Niro is soft and squidgy.’
But on straight-line performance Martin’s less convinced: ‘It definitely doesn’t have the shove of my 201bhp Kia.’ The 154bhp Peugeot takes 9.1sec to run 0-62mph, versus 7.5sec for Martin’s punchier e-Niro. ‘The brake pedal also feels really weird. It doesn’t lack power but they’re hard to accurately modulate. They’re squidgy as hell.’
And then we really start to get into it… ‘So, my Kia is more powerful, goes further [both cars average 3.9 miles per kWh but the Kia has a bigger battery; 64kWh gross to the Peugeot’s 54kWh gross/47.7kWh usable], has a properly sized steering wheel [Martin’s struggling to fall for i-Cockpit, with its kart-sized wheel], lets me adjust the level of regen between four levels via flappy paddles and doesn’t have this car’s weird brake pedal…’
Well, yes… But doesn’t the Peugeot look nice!
‘It does, but that doesn’t really matter to me. Battery size, range and space were key. The Kia will do 250 miles on a charge in the summer [the Peugeot’s more like 180 miles], the range indicator is accurate and I don’t even use a wallbox, just a three-pin charger, partly because I want to look after the battery. That’s the other issue with running a smaller battery like the Peugeot’s. You’re likely to fast-charge more regularly and I can charge mine to less than 80 per cent [to preserve the battery’s health] and still have a good amount of range.’
If Martin’s car-buying decisions are made firmly with the head, Emma’s are all about the heart. Her commute is short and home charging wouldn’t be an issue, so an EV would work well. But finding a car that makes her feel good is more important.
‘On first impressions I really like it. I love how light all the controls are and I’m a big fan of the design. The interior’s really funky. Coming from my Ka it feels luxe and I like the compact steering wheel; it makes the car feel smaller and more nimble.’
Emma’s soon into the groove, enjoying the E-2008’s big-car refinement and effortless drive. ‘The power’s smooth and controlled, and I love that because you’re not revving the engine and hurriedly changing gear it all feels so much more serene. It’s so quiet, too, and I like the size. You don’t feel squashed in the back and the boot’s a decent size but it doesn’t feel like a big car to drive. The Peugeot’s definitely going on my shortlist, though my budget might push me more towards petrol power than the electric E-2008, sadly.’
Dean admits money played a big part in his Honda’s eNy:1 purchase. ‘It wasn’t on my shortlist because the reviews weren’t great, but a lot of that was down to the price,’ he explains. ‘Then I found a dealer offering them on a PCP with zero per cent interest, five years’ free servicing and an £11k discount. That made it a £250-per-month car, so our Duster is going. The Dacia is £215 a month but I think we’ll save a lot on fuel.’ Handily, Dean also has a 100,000-mile Merc E350 diesel estate for long-distance duties.
On the move Dean’s quietly impressed. ‘It’s not exciting, nor is the Honda, but that’s not the point. It’s easy to drive and I like the snug driving position and the 3D driver’s display. I know i-Cockpit’s not for everyone but I like it; it adds a bit of interest. I think it looks great and it’s all nicely finished inside.
‘I’m impressed with Peugeot’s return to form. I had a 205 with a 306 GTI engine back in the day, but for a period of time after that they were just awful. Now the brand’s got its act together. I like the chunky design and I like the way it drives, particularly the steering, though the ride is a bit choppy on lumpier roads. I could live with it, though. The massage seats are comfy [our GT-spec test car gets racy Dynamic seats] – a nice mix of comfort and support – and I like that the lane-keep assist and speed-limit warning are subtle; they’re unobtrusive, so I can imagine you’d leave them on.’
The consensus, then? That the E-2008 is a fine car hampered by a high list price. For all its qualities a basic Model 3 or Y from Tesla at £399 per month is hard to ignore, as is the great (and great-value) MG 4 hatch.
Read month 1
Logbook: Peugeot E-2008
Price £40,700 (£42,060 as tested)
Performance 47.7kWh battery, e-motor, 154bhp, 9.1sec 0-62mph, 93mph
Efficiency 4.9 miles per kWh (official), 3.9 miles per kWh (tested)
Range 227-271 miles (official), 183 miles (tested)
Energy cost 7.0p per mile
Miles this month 535
Total miles 1287