We tested the Peugeot e-2008: the well-designed, practical electric SUV made in Spain

If Stellantis boasts of something, it's its Vigo factory, and it's not for less. Vigo represents a third of Peugeot's sales in Spain, it is the plant that produces the most and the  100% electric Peugeot e-2008 B-SUV   also comes from here.

With up to 345 km of WLTP-approved autonomy and 136 hp, this SUV is the solution for everyday mobility. We were able to test it in a contact and here are our impressions.

Stellantis Vigo as Peugeot engine

2,300 cars a day leave the Vigo factory  , most of them by ship. The others (only 22% and 3% respectively) leave by truck and train. It is the factory that produces the most in Spain - almost half a million units and 10 different models in 2021 - ahead of Martorell or Figueruelas.

The Galician factory provides direct employment to 6,400 workers, to which must be added more than 30,000 people who work in component and service companies, and is the engine of 125 auxiliary companies located in Galicia and northern Portugal. .

It is undoubtedly a key player for the lion brand to achieve its goal of achieving a sales mix focused on 100% electric vehicles by 2030, at least in the EU.

But before a model like the e-2008 hits the production lines, extensive research and development work had to be carried out at  the Galician Center for Automotive Technology  (CTAG).

A big unknown but essential when it comes to moving forward with new models: here more than 900 people carry out tests and validations in state-of-the-art facilities, product and process development or the electronic.

During our visit to CTAG, we were able to see how, for example, body temperature is measured in a passenger compartment -and its loss- thanks to an advanced dummy, how unwanted noise produced by the vibrations of the vehicle itself is detected , or how they stress test the batteries of future electric cars.

The ingredients of the Peugeot e-2008

The  e-2008  shares the  Stellantis group's e-CMP  platform with the rest of the electric models that were part of the former PSA group, such as the DS 3 E-Tense, the Peugeot e-208 or the Opel Corsa-e .

In terms of size, we can say that it is a compact SUV: it is only 8 cm less than a SEAT Ateca.

With the grille as a distinctive element, the SUV is the same as the other versions of 2008, with 18-inch wheels.

Inside we find the hallmark of the i-Cockpit: a neat dashboard, a small steering wheel in the low position and a digital dashboard with 3D effect.

In the center of the dash is a 10-inch infotainment system touchscreen that includes  MirrorScreen, MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto  .

The  Peugeot e-2008 is equipped with a  100 kW (136 hp) electric motor and a battery with a capacity of 50 kW (46 kW useful) which adds 356 kg of weight to the SUV.

It is offered in six trim levels: Active, Active Pack, Allure Pack and GT Sports Car.

It therefore competes with rivals such as the  Hyundai Kona  and the  Kia e-Niro , the    DS 3 Crossback E-Tense  or the  MG ZS EV .

At the wheel of the Peugeot e-2008

A very attractive exterior design is joined by a very successful premium-looking interior, at least in its GT finish. The materials are pleasant to the touch -with the exception of certain rigid parts such as the glove box-, with details such as compartments for storing objects at hand and the LED strips that adorn the doors and the dashboard. edge.

Added to this are the topstitching in anise green tones and the aviation style buttons at the bottom.

For its part, the  trunk with its 405 liters of capacity  (30 less than the gasoline engine) is very spacious and also has an accessible loading mouth. 

Once behind the wheel, two things are noticeable: firstly, if you're not used to Peugeot's i-Cockpit, you should go to the low position of the compact steering wheel.

Indeed, if you want to adjust it so that it is higher (this does not allow it to be raised much more), it ends up covering part of the 3D dashboard. Even so, it's not hard to get used to the command post,  as happened to us with the 308 SW .

The second thing that squeaks, and with less solution, is the accessibility to the air conditioning controls, because to raise or lower the intensity, the orientation or the temperature you have to go too far in the submenus and touch the screen too much, despite the buttons.

Once on the road, we note that it is a very comfortable car, with enough roominess in its five seats - the middle one, as usually happens, is insufficient - well soundproofed, with good damping and nimble in town.

The travel of the brake pedal seems a little long, forcing in some cases to use the B mode of the gear lever to obtain greater braking intensity.

As for autonomy, our route - around 40 km the first day and another 40 the second with stops - did not allow us to establish a realistic average. This SUV homologates from 307 to 345 (on paper up to 475 in the city), but in  a more thorough test carried out by Motorpasión  in 2021 we were able to get an idea.

Our test showed an  average of 19.9 kWh/100 km  , between urban and motorway journeys, including motorway sections. Of course, on purely urban journeys, consumption fell to 14.7 kWh/100 km.

With some mixed routes, our  average test autonomy was 232 km  (taking into account the useful capacity of the battery, remember, 46.2 kWh). However, by extrapolating the average consumption in urban areas to the available autonomy, we arrive at a significant 314 km. Very close to the approved average.

The charging time is 16 hours in a reinforced 3.2 kW household socket or 7 hours 45 minutes in a single-phase 7.4 kW charging station. For its part, it lasts 5 hours in three-phase 11kW with the 11 kW on-board charger option or 30 minutes in a 100 kW charger.

The e-2008 starts at 32,650 euros  and ends at 42,050 euros with the GT Pack finish, top of the range.