Peugeot 2008 & e-2008 Review

Motorists today face a perplexing dilemma: Should they stick with the familiarity of an internal combustion engine, or embrace the silent hum of electric propulsion?

The push towards electric vehicles (EVs) is relentless, driven by government policies and car manufacturers pledging to go all-electric within the next few decades.

This brings me to two cars I have been reviewing: the Peugeot 2008 and its electric sibling, the e-2008. These are essentially the same car but with two different propulsion methods.

Choosing between the Peugeot 2008 GT and the e2008 is a bit like standing in front of a lavish buffet.

On one side, you've got the succulent roast beef (the 2008 GT) – reliable, hearty, and something you know will leave you satisfied. On the other side, there's a colourful quinoa salad (the e2008) – trendy, eco-friendly and good for your health.

As you reach for the tongs, you're torn.

Do you go for the familiar comfort of the roast beef, or do you take the plunge with the quinoa salad, hoping it lives up to the hype?

Decisions, decisions.

What are the Peugeot 2008 & e-2008 like to drive?

The Peugeot 2008 GT, with its 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, offers 96kW of power and 230Nm of torque. It's mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a driving experience that's both nimble and responsive.

The 2008 GT is comfortable on long journeys and equally at home zipping through city streets. It handles corners with confidence and offers a smooth ride that doesn't jar over bumps and potholes.

In contrast, the e-2008, powered by a 100kW electric motor and a 50kWh battery, delivers a smooth but less exhilarating drive. The electric motor provides 260Nm of instant torque, making city driving a breeze. However, it feels somewhat slower and less responsive than the petrol variant, a sensation that's not commonly observed in electric cars.

While there is no one-pedal driving, the Peugeot e-2008 does allow you to adjust the regenerative braking to be quite aggressive. This helps in recapturing energy, though it won't bring the car to a complete stop.

The suspension here feels more tuned for comfort, soaking up road imperfections effortlessly, making it a pleasant cruiser for daily commutes.

What are the Peugeot 2008 & e-2008 like inside?

Step inside, and you'll be greeted by Peugeot's signature i-Cockpit.

Both variants boast a sleek and modern interior, but the GT's petrol version adds a touch of sportiness with its perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel and stainless steel door sill plates.

The seats, while manually adjustable in the base model, come wrapped in Nappa leather on the 2008 GT we reviewed. If you're driving the vehicle, you will also get electric adjustments and a massaging function.

The infotainment system features a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver's display is a digital 3D cluster, providing all the essential information at a glance.

In the second row, as you can imagine in a vehicle this size, legroom is adequate without being ample. Kids and shorter passengers will be okay on shorter trips, but larger adults will want to call shotgun.

The back seats are designed with a slight recline to enhance comfort, and there's enough headroom to accommodate most passengers, too. Apart from a pair of USB-C ports, there isn't too much else happening in the back row.

How safe are the Peugeot 2008 & e-2008?

Both the 2008 GT and e2008 come with a five-star ANCAP rating, based on Euro NCAP testing conducted in 2019.

Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist and driver attention monitoring.

The GT variants add low-light pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high-beam, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control is exclusive to the GT Sport.

Major safety systems and technology included:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Lane-keep assist
• Driver attention monitoring
• Traffic sign recognition
• Front, front-side, and curtain airbags
• Reversing camera
• Low-light pedestrian and cyclist detection (GT variants)
• Automatic high-beam (GT variants)
• Blind-spot monitoring (GT variants)
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go (GT Sport)

How big is the boot in the Peugeot 2008 & e-2008?

The Peugeot 2008 offers a decent 434 litres of boot space, expanding to 1467 litres with the rear seats folded.

This is a healthy amount for your weekly grocery run, a couple of large suitcases, or even an impromptu IKEA trip. The boot space is the same in the e2008, so no compromises there.

Comparisons with key competitors:

• Mazda CX-30 (Petrol): Offers 317 litres with the seats up and 430 litres with them down, which is noticeably smaller than the 2008.
• Volkswagen T-Roc (Petrol): Provides 445 litres, closely matching the Peugeot 2008 but not exceeding it significantly.
• Hyundai Kona Electric: Features 332 litres, which falls short of the Peugeot 2008's capacity.
• Nissan Leaf (Electric): Comes in at 405 litres, which is respectable but still doesn't quite match the Peugeot's capacity.

Peugeot 2008 & e-2008 review: The verdict

While both the 2008 GT and e2008 present compelling cases as small petrol and electric SUVs, the petrol variant edges out as the better all-rounder in my opinion.

It feels quicker, more responsive, and with a driveaway price of $43,053 in NSW for the Allure and $47,990 for the higher spec GT we've reviewed here, it's significantly cheaper than the $65,243 you'd shell out for the Peugeot e-2008.

The driving experience, combined with the savings at purchase, make the 2008 GT the clear winner in this sibling rivalry. For those who value driving excitement and practicality, the petrol 2008 GT is the way to go.

With that being said, during May Peugeot offered a massive $25,000 discount on the e-2008 and exhausted its stock - so right now petrol is the only way to go anyway.