Customer interest high for Peugeot e-2008 BEV

PEUGEOT’S first fully electric car to go on sale in Australia, the e-2008 small SUV, is claimed to have the longest standard equipment list offered anywhere globally on the model, helping to justify its price tag of $59,990 plus on-road costs.

Replacing the petrol-powered $51,188 +ORC GT Sport variant at the top of the 2008 line-up, the battery electric version’s outputs of 100kW and 260Nm are 14kW down but 20Nm up on the GT Sports’ punchy 1.2-litre turbo unit – with an extra 261kg of weight to shift.

Asked why Australians would pay $60K for a small electric SUV with relatively short 328km (WLTP) battery range and average 100kW DC rapid charging capability, Peugeot Australia managing director Kate Gillis told GoAuto the e-2008’s quality, European cachet, and styling, as well as Peugeot’s heritage, “tick a lot of boxes” for potential buyers.

However, for the same money, those looking for a small European battery electric vehicle (BEV) could look at the identically priced Born from Spanish newcomer Cupra that has an official range figure 183km greater than the Peugeot and its 32kWh-bigger 82kWh battery pack can accept 70kW more from a DC rapid charger.

The rear-wheel drive Cupra’s more powerful 170kW/310Nm electric motor is claimed to deliver a seven-second 0-100km/h sprint time whereas the front-drive Peugeot is estimated to do the same in around 8.5s – similar to the petrol GT Sport it replaces.

On the other hand, the only available options on the comprehensively equipped e-2008 are metallic ($690) or premium ($1050) paint whereas Cupra asks $2900 for an Interior Package upgrade to match some of the Peugeot’s standard features such as massage function for the driver’s seat.

Battery electric versions of the Kia Niro with which the e-2008 shares a segment and front-drive layout do make the Peugeot look good value though, as in entry S trim the Niro is sparsely appointed by comparison and costlier at $66,590 +ORC, offset by sprightlier performance and superior 460km battery range.

Until the facelifted Tesla Model 3 arrives in Australia – or the brand does one of its regular price changes – a base variant of the ubiquitous electric sedan undercuts Peugeot by a couple of grand for a bigger car with more range and performance.

Despite strong competition, Ms Gillis told GoAuto that expressions of interest for the e-2008 had been higher than anticipated, even though the version launching here is about to be superseded overseas by a facelifted model that was revealed in May.

“There's a lot of interest and pleasing interest as well; one thing that we have noticed is that we have customers who want to test drive both (petrol and electric variants),” she said.

“They love the look and feel of the 2008 but they're not too sure in terms of what drivetrains so they experience both and then make their decision.”

Ms Gillis also confirmed that Peugeot Australia had secured adequate supply of the e-2008 to meet local demand.

“We've been able to secure what we believe is the right amount for the market and get us into a good position so that we can have a really good story when the facelift comes out in the future,” she said.

“Supply for us is adequate based on the demand that we currently have and with making sure that we're meeting the demand moving forward.”

At 1548kg, the e-2008 is a significant 324kg heavier than the far less powerful – and lesser equipped – petrol variants, which start at $38,945 for the Allure and $43,397 for the GT.

The Peugeot e-2008 pairs a three-dimensional digital instrument panel with a 10.0-inch central infotainment touchscreen across which native navigation, energy flow/usage and wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity are accessed, all feeding audio through six speakers.

Along with eight-colour ambient lighting, the interior features a combination of Alcantara and leather upholstery with green contrast stitching. Both front seats are heated, and the driver's side has electric adjustment with massage function. An opening glass panoramic sunroof is also standard.

Peugeot has fitted the e-2008 with both a 5kW resistive heater and heat pump air-conditioning system that together are claimed to “guarantee a level of comfort equivalent to the internal combustion versions”.

Boot space also remains unaltered from the petrol versions at 434 litres with the 60:40 rear bench in place or 1467 litres with it folded, although the petrol 2008’s space-saver spare tyre is replaced with a puncture repair kit.

Safety tech includes full LED adaptive headlights, auto emergency braking with low light pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision warning, post-collision braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning with unmarked road edge detection, driver attention alert and traffic sign recognition with speed limit recommendation.

At low speeds, a sound is emitted to alert pedestrians to the otherwise silent approach of the e-2008.

Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, front and rear parking sensors, a 180-degree parking camera, 360-degree surround-view monitor, electric parking brake, and keyless entry with push-button start are also included.

Complementing the e-2008’s specific body-coloured chequered front ‘grille’ with contrasting black insets and unique rear bumper – as well as colour-flipping lion emblem and e badges – are 18-inch Evissa Onyx Black 10-spoke alloy wheels.

Peugeot claims the e-2008’s battery can be charged from empty to 80 per cent capacity in as little as 30 minutes using a 100kW DC fast charger. A three-phase 11kW charger is supplied as standard, which would take around five hours to take the battery from empty to full, or a single-phase 7kW wallbox would take seven-and-a-half hours to do the same.

Three drive modes, including Eco and Sport, are paired with two selectable levels of regenerative braking intensity.

Peugeot Australia supplies the e-2009 with a five-year / unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km, paintwork is guaranteed for three years and corrosion for 12 years.

Capped-price servicing comes in at $1522 over five years with intervals at 12 months or 25,000km while a pre-paid servicing plan costs $600 for three years or $1000 for five years.

Peugeot has sold 1649 vehicles in Australia to the end of August this year across its range of nine models, an uptick of 14.8 per cent. Much of the brand’s heavy lifting is done by its 3008 medium SUV, along with the Expert and Partner vans.

By comparison, Spanish upstart Cupra has sold 2109 units here in the same timeframe with four models and no commercial vehicles, while Polestar’s one-model battery electric offering has achieved 29 more deliveries than Peugeot year to date.

With the battery electric e-Partner to be joined by the e-Expert and the e-208 light hatch also incoming, local Peugeot sales could continue their recent turnaround as the brand rolls out electrified models to meet booming Australian demand.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) are proliferating elsewhere in the range, including sedan and wagon variants of the 508 medium passenger car, 308 small hatch already on sale and a PHEV-only 408 fastback crossover currently attracting expressions of interest.

2023 Peugeot 2008 pricing*

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.