Drive with us: Peugeot E-2008 Review

Join us as we take a closer look at the Peugeot E-2008, the electric SUV that proves style and substance can coexist at an accessible price point

The Peugeot E-2008 is the fully electric version of the popular 2008 model — and it brings serious style to the compact electric SUV class.

Competing with the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia EV3, its striking design stands out in a class that can feel a little anonymous.

Since we drove it, the E-2008 has received a facelift, bringing a bigger 54kWh battery, a more powerful 154bhp motor and a claimed range of up to 251 miles (WLTP Comb).

Over 700,000 have been produced since 2019, making it the best-selling small SUV in Europe in 2021. Not bad for a car that often flies under the radar.

But can French flair and an accessible price tag still compete when Chinese rivals are arriving with similar tech and style for less money? Let's find out.

What we drove:

Model: Peugeot E-2008 GT Line

Fuel type: Electric

Battery: 50kWh

Power: 100kW (136PS)

Range: Up to 206 miles (WLTP Comb)

Colour: Vertigo Blue

Specifications correct at the time of publication

Or watch our video review over on YouTube:

French flair

Make no mistake — the Peugeot E-2008 is one dashing machine.

From the front, it looks almost vicious.

The wide grille, striking LED headlights and fang-like strips that run beneath them give it an athletic, aggressive character that few rivals in this class can match. Park it next to a Nissan Qashqai or a Renault Captur and the E-2008 has something they simply can't replicate — genuine personality.

We drove the Vertigo Blue with black roof and wing mirrors, and the contrast was brilliant. It enhanced the sporty character of the car without even trying too hard.

Compact SUV proportions mean it's not a big, imposing presence on the road. The roof slopes quite low and there's a neatness to the overall silhouette that suits it well.

The 2023 facelift pushed the design further still.

A new grille with vertical inserts and extra trim on its outer edges gives the updated model a wider, more purposeful look.

The triple-claw LED light signature (repeated front and rear) is a bold design choice that makes it instantly recognisable. And "Peugeot" is now spelled out across the bootlid, a detail that divides opinion but certainly makes a statement.

A cabin with ambition

Step inside and the E-2008's ambition is immediately clear. This is a cabin that wants to be different — and it largely succeeds.

Carbon effect trim sweeps around you throughout, contrasted by lime green stitching that adds a welcome pop of colour.

Gloss black finishes feature heavily in high-touch areas, which looks classy but does attract fingerprints.

The panoramic sunroof on GT Premium models floods the cabin with light, turning a noticeably dark space into something genuinely airy.

At the heart of it all is Peugeot's 3D Digital i-Cockpit.

It's beautifully crisp and modern, displaying a great amount of information in a way that feels genuinely futuristic. The small steering wheel is central to this — the idea being that you look over it rather than through it, keeping the instruments in clear view.

It's a bold design choice that divides opinion, and getting the steering wheel into exactly the right position can take some time. For some it works perfectly, for others it never quite clicks.

The seats are comfortable with good lumbar and leg support, not class-leading but certainly competitive.

In the back, the battery hasn't eaten into the space. With 405 litres with the rear seats up and 1400 litres with the seats down; it's plenty big enough.. 

The 10-inch touchscreen is responsive enough, but fiddly to use on the move. There's no traditional home button, which means jumping between menus becomes more of a chore than it should be.

The piano-style keys below the screen look fantastic and have a satisfying click, but they're angled in a way that makes them difficult to read at a glance. And on more than one occasion, the touchscreen and Start/Stop button felt just a touch out of reach from a natural driving position.

The 2023 facelift addressed these weaknesses head on.

A completely revised 10-inch infotainment system brought a cleaner menu structure, customisable widgets and significantly improved responsiveness. It's still not perfect — physical climate controls are still absent — but it's a meaningful step forward.

Electric and eager

Put your foot down and the E-2008 delivers that instant hit of torque you'd expect from an EV — satisfying and immediate.

It's at its best around town.

Agile, composed and near-silent, the compact proportions work in its favour and make it genuinely enjoyable to drive. The near-silent experience is one of the real highlights of going electric, and the E-2008 delivers this in spades.

There are three driving modes on offer: Eco, Normal and Sport.

Ride comfort is good throughout, soaking up bumps well and keeping body lean in check.

It's not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to braking though — the pedal feel can be inconsistent and regenerative braking is on the mild side.

Since we drove this car, the 2023 facelift brought a new 154bhp motor with a sharper throttle response in Sport mode, making it a more polished driving experience overall.

Plug in and go

The E-2008 we drove came with a 50kWh battery and a claimed range of up to 206 miles (WLTP Comb).

Plug it into a 100kW rapid charger and you'll go from 0-80% in just 30 minutes. At home via a 7kW wallbox, a full charge takes around 7.5 hours — perfect if you top up overnight.

The 2023 facelift pushed things forward even further.

The updated 54kWh battery brings the claimed range up to 251 miles (WLTP Comb), a significant improvement that is perfectly adequate for a week of driving.

Charging speed remains the same at 100kW, and an optional 11kW on-board charger is now available, bringing home charging times down further.

What's good, and what's not

Like everything, the Peugeot E-2008 isn't without its flaws:

The good bits:

• Striking, distinctive design — stands out in a class that can feel anonymous
• Agile and enjoyable around town
• Comfortable ride — soaks up bumps well
• i-Cockpit is beautifully crisp and genuinely futuristic
• Carbon effect trim and lime green stitching give the cabin real personality
• 2023 facelift brought bigger battery, more power and 251 miles WLTP Comb range

The not-so-good bits:

• Small steering wheel divides opinion — driving position can be tricky to get right
• Touchscreen fiddly on the move — no traditional home button
• Cabin runs dark without the panoramic roof
• Rear headroom and legroom is limited — not great for taller passengers
• Only a three-year warranty — Kia offers seven years

What's the verdict?

The Peugeot E-2008 is a genuinely characterful compact electric SUV. The design is striking, the driving experience is refined and the cabin has a personality that few rivals in this class can match.

It's not perfect — the fiddly infotainment, inconsistent brake pedal and limited rear space are real niggles. But as an overall package, it makes a great option to lease.

And the 2023 facelift addressed the biggest weaknesses, pushing range up to 251 miles (WLTP Comb) and bringing a significantly improved infotainment system – Peugeot are listening and improving their offerings.

That’s exactly what we like to hear.

Top 5 reasons to consider the Peugeot E-2008:

1. Striking design that stands out in an increasingly anonymous class
2. Near-silent, refined driving experience — exactly what you want from an EV
3. 100kW rapid charging — 0-80% in just 30 minutes
4. 2023 facelift pushed range up to 251 miles (WLTP Comb)
5. Zero tailpipe emissions — ideal for low emission zones and company car drivers

Would we recommend leasing a Peugeot E-2008?

Absolutely. The Peugeot E-2008 is ideal for urban drivers who want a compact EV with genuine personality rather than just blending into the crowd.