Should you buy one?

The e-2008 is a pleasant enough small electric SUV, which suffers from few compromises in terms of practicality in its transition to battery power. However, despite being such a strong seller across Europe, it’s far from being the best option for your money.

It’s beaten by the Kia Niro EV overall, the MG ZS EV in terms of value and the Citroen e-C4 for comfort and refinement. Its range although improved, is unimpressive for the money, while the driving position only works for some of us, leaving the rest to struggle seeing the instruments or grappling with a wheel in their lap. And speaking of steering wheels, it’s tiny and totally unsuited to a family SUV. Drive it with the verve that wheel encourages you to, and it’ll roll, pitch and generally feel uncontrolled.

The e-2008 works as a first electric car for buyers looking to make the jump. It doesn’t feel intimidating, and it doesn’t suffer the fate of some electric cars that look and feel a bit too futuristic for the sake of being futuristic. Save for some ‘e’ badges dotted about the place, the Peugeot is like any other 2008 that happens to be electric.

What we like

The interior is an interesting space to be in, with a selection of nice trims and materials. It may not have the win on standard equipment next to its closest rivals, but the Peugeot’s interior feels more modern and of higher quality. It also has a more comfortable ride than the Hyundai Kona Electric, BYD Atto 3 and – cheaper – MG ZS EV, and a good deal more space in the rear, too.

What we don’t like

The steering is too light and lacking in feel, and overall body control is lacking. It heels over in bends, bounces around on undulations, and generally feels out of its depth on challenging roads out of town. Performance is hardly sparkling, either, and it feels no swifter than the outgoing e-2008.

We also have an issue with the way the range is indicated on the dashboard, which is calculated from the best possible mileage instead of being based on recent driving. That results in an inconsistent reading which is difficult to rely on until you get used to driving one.