Peugeot E-2008 review: performance, motor & drive

The Peugeot E-2008 is good, if a tad unremarkable to drive, with light but predictable steering and enough gusto to make it feel punchy from a standstill. The quiet electric powertrain also translates into strong refinement, even on the motorway. The motor does run out of puff at higher speeds, but you never feel like you’re holding up slower-moving traffic.

The ride is pretty good, too. We had concerns about the 18-inch alloys (standard on GT Premium cars) when we first drove the car in Europe, but on UK roads, the wheel and damping combination appears to offer enough cushioning to absorb all but the worst lumps and bumps. You’ll still need to be careful not to hit a pothole mid-corner, as this can unsettle the car enough to have the traction-control light flashing.

Peugeot E-2008 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration

The facelifted Peugeot E-2008 features a more powerful 154bhp electric motor (up from 134bhp); however, it’s actually slightly slower than the outgoing car, hitting the benchmark 0-62mph sprint one-tenth of a second later, despite the new higher-capacity battery actually being roughly 5kg lighter than the old one.

The Peugeot E-2008 boasts various drive modes, including a Sport setting that noticeably sharpens up throttle response and steering weight, but don’t expect to feel like you’re jumping to lightspeed, as you would in a Tesla. At the other end of the spectrum, switching the E-2008 into Eco mode will eke out a few extra miles, but can make the throttle feel a little too unresponsive. The default Normal mode strikes the happy balance you want, and makes the Peugeot a pleasant car to drive.

There are two levels of brake regeneration. The default mode is very subtle and barely any stronger than the engine braking you experience in a petrol or diesel car. You trigger the heavier regeneration mode by tugging the gearlever backwards into its ‘B’ setting and, while there’s some noticeable drag when you lift off the throttle, the system still bleeds in smoothly and is easy to modulate once you're used to it. It’s not really strong enough for the 'one-pedal' driving that's possible in a Nissan Leaf, however.

Handling

As with performance, the Peugeot goes round corners just fine. It’s not going to thrill, but it feels secure and predictable, with enough grip to inspire confidence. The driver's seat is comfortable and visibility is good, so it’s easy to enjoy the relaxed, easygoing progress on offer in this car.

A small steering wheel makes the E-2008 feel darty on a twisty road, but it does come with a big compromise – more on that in the ‘interior’ segment of our review. Nevertheless, even in Sport mode, the steering can feel a little light at times and is too keen to self-centre on the way out of a corner. This is easy to get used to, though, and the Peugeot’s effortlessly quiet demeanour will soon win you round.