LONG known for rugged and reliable motor cars, French manufacturer Peugeot has joined the ranks of EV manufacturers with the release of the E-2008 GT in Australia.
A new addition to the existing 2008 range of SUVs, the all-electric version is the first of what is likely to be an extensive range of EVs for Peugeot, across all of its model ranges.
Before anyone asks, this is not a debate about the rights, wrongs or otherwise of EVs, but it is an honest appraisal of Peugeot's first time making an Electric Vehicle.
So, with that out of the way, let's drive it!
Now you see-e it...
Peugeot says the e-2008's e-CMP platform was specifically designed for EV use, and offers 'exceptional performance, advanced technology, and a sleek design'.
Externally, there are only a few visual cues to the electrified nature of the e-2008, including a discreet 'e' badge, the conversion of the fuel filler to a charging port, and the deletion of the exhaust system, including the rear under bumper outlet.
This can be a bit of a mixed blessing, while it means the EV can blend in with its more traditionally-powered brethren, it also removes the 'look at me' factor car companies generally like to apply to new models.
Overall, it looks pretty much like any other 2008 Pug, and that is not a bad thing, as they are a good looking, well-proportioned, SUV with European design cues helping it stand out from the crowd of predominantly Asian mid-sized SUVs that make up the majority of the Australian carpark.
I am a fan of the high belt line, it makes the roof line look lower and flatter, without any internal penalty for head or shoulder room, and there is another bonus in the reduced glass area, which helps cool the interior.
Externally, and this is shared with the rest of the 2008 range, I do like the 'lion's claw' and 'fang' - that's what Peugeot calls them! - headlights and LED DRLs, they add another touch of individuality, and make a nice counterpoint to the 'hawk eyes' and other bird-style frontal designs.
Not surprisingly, given Peugeot's lengthy manufacturing history, plus their experience in building durable vehicles for the harsh African market, which won them many friends in Australia as well, the 2008 enjoys high levels of build quality, inside and out.
Panel gaps have fine tolerances, we could not find any squeaks or rattles, everything fitted together with a 'just so' finish, while the interior fit out made use of quality materials, all of which give the feel of providing a lengthy service life.
The Inside Story
Peugeot calls the driving position an 'i-Cockpit', with a central touchscreen taking care of everything from audio and navigation, including Apple CarPlay, as well as the majority of vehicle settings, accessed, somewhat appropriately, through the row of 'piano keys' below the air-conditioning outlets.
The system takes a little while to adapt to, but after three or four days of use, I found myself comfortable with operating the different functions, and honestly, in an era where driver distraction is identified as a crash risk, setting the car up before you drive off makes good sense.
A car detailer friend is not a fan of the use of high gloss black finishes, of the type found in the e-2008, as they show up even the slightest of smudges and fingerprints, but when you see it in all of its highly-polished glory framing the centre console, it is easy to see why manufacturers love to use it.
Making full use of the move to 'drive by wire' technology, the e-2008 uses toggle switches for the gear selector, drive mode and park brake, reducing them to flip switches for instant activation.
Although the e-2008 is designed for a left-hand drive market, Peugeot has done a good job of making a right hand drive version, with only minor 'tells' that the dash layout has been reversed to meet Australian needs.
For those who like fun in their funky, the e-2008 has a neat little party trick, with a choice of eight selectable colours for the interior ambient lighting, I enjoyed the soft orange glow, not only did it look good, but I found it reduced eye strain at night.
The quilted seat facings use plenty of Acantara, as well as leather trims and some fancy green stitching, which actually looks right at home, while I would prefer an extra couple of centimetres across the hips, the seats are comfortable and supportive.
One frustration was the fixed height seatbelt mount on the B-Pillar, despite being reasonably tall, 186cm if you must know, I found myself making full use of the electrically adjustable driver's seat to raise the base by more than 5cm, in a bid to not have the sash cutting into my neck.
I do wonder how smaller drivers cope, I didn't have one I could thrust into the seat unfortunately, all my spares are 190cm or taller, but I found the whole driving ergonomics suffered, as I raised the seat, the gorgeously compact steering wheel was then sitting in my lap, restricting the movement of the wheel.
The other issue was if I raised the wheel to the top of its height adjustment, it was obstructing my view of the dash and instrument panel, compounding the problem.
While I understand cars are built for global markets, they need to accommodate drivers of all sizes and shapes, and that is quite a challenge for designers, this does feel like a letdown.
This is offset by the standard Heads-Up Display (HUD) projecting core information such as road speed, posted speed limit and navigation updates into the driver's eyeline, removing the need to look down at the instrument cluster during normal driving.
It is still frustrating to not be able to find a properly comfortable driving position, especially to not have an adjustable seatbelt anchor, an item found in many of its competitors.
The Lion purrs
The 2008 platform has been around for a couple of years, both here and overseas, as an ICE vehicle, giving Peugeot plenty of time to refine the ride, steering and handling into a well-balanced car capable of puttering around town, or hustling through the countryside.
The steering wheel is one of the best factory units I have ever used, and every time one enters our garage, the conversation is how to transplant it into our race car.
Small diameter, thickly padded, and flat faces top and bottom, it is a driver's delight, your hands slot into the cutouts above the cross bar, allowing for perfect control with total comfort.
The transition to full EV, as distinct from a hybrid petrol- or diesel-electric, is well-handled, with no sudden vices appearing in the ride or handling despite the additional weight of the batteries, although this is countered by removing the petrol engine and transmission.
If anything, the move to EV has boosted the driving dynamic, by shifting the majority of the weight to the underfloor of the car and lowering the centre of gravity.
The big advantage here is in cornering, which has always been a bit of a specialty for Peugeot anyway, even if they haven't always been the most powerful car on the road, they have long been one of the best for ride and handling.
As an SUV, rather than a full-on hot hatch or wagon, the e-2008 does have the penalty of a higher ride height, but the EV configuration works well to balance the two competing aspects and deliver a reasonable compromise.
Despite only rating at 100kW, thanks to the 'insta-torque' nature of electric motors, the e-2008 races from 0-60km/h and 0-100km/h quicker than most 2-litre ICE SUVs with comparable outputs, the initial kick is a real surprise, followed by a couple of seconds of burrowing into the front bucket seats.
While there is no arguing with the speed of departure, the mild power figures prevent excessive torque steer, probably not a bad thing for an EV neophyte who may not quite be expecting so much 'oomph' when they first take off.
Peugeot's trophy cabinet is bigger than most people's homes, and includes wins in touring cars, rallying and sports cars, right up to multiple victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the biggest and hardest torture test of them all, the Dakar off-road rally.
The upshot of that is a playbook for virtually every driving scenario you can think of, which means the e-2008 rides, handles and steers way better than you would think possible for a medium-size SUV.
It brings that distinctly European flexibility to the table, combining the ability to absorb poor quality roads, taking punches like a prize fighter, with a settled and fuss-free ride, which can tackle twisting roads without breaking a sweat.
That is not to say this is a Rolls-Royce, whispering along as though it is riding on air, far from it, and that is part of the attraction, you are not separated from the outside world, merely shielded from the worst of its shortcomings.
There will be those who question its handling abilities because it doesn't set a class record at the Nurburgring, but there is a big difference between being a top-flight racer and a real world car.
This is where the e-2008 shines, it is a real world car, no, it won't corner at 160km/h into a downhill left-hander, but that is not what it is designed for, it is a genuine cross-country tourer, and coping with changing conditions without throwing itself into the scenery.
Where it does shine is braking, again, thanks to regenerative braking, the e-2008 can wash off speed way better than a similar ICE car, using a combination of traditional four-wheel disc brakes and energy capture as magnets in the electric motor translate kinetic energy, or speed, into electrical energy, giving the batteries a handy top-up at the same time.
Peugeot has added a 'B' mode to the drive selector, which engages the regenerative braking as soon as the driver releases the throttle, allowing for energy capture while coasting, as well as adding to the overall braking force.
The e-2008's Achille's Heel is the driving range, with a test maximum of 328 kilometres, which, to be honest, is just not enough for Australia.
Add to this a slower charge rate than many of its competitors, and the Peugeot falls short of the mark.
While this should improve with each new iteration, battery technology and efficiency gains are being made almost monthly as manufacturers come to grips with real world demands, at the moment it leaves the e-2008 struggling.
The Last Word
There is a lot to like about the e-2008, and for a first go at building a full EV, Peugeot have done a good job, with seamless integration of the technology, this does not feel like a gutted ICE car that has found an electric motor shoehorned into the available space.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what Peugeot has done, and while all cars are a compromise, this approach brings a bunch of issues, which leaves it trailing the opposition, and which should be dealt with when the next version arrives.
Design an EV from the ground up, and all the little compromises that come from modifying an existing design disappear, and suddenly the overall package takes a big leap forward.
Looking at the positives, the user experience is nearly identical between the ICE and EV versions, which means someone who is converting to EV will feel at home and comfortable with the controls and switches and the general layout of the car.
And even if you aren't familiar with the 2008, a quick sprint up over Mt Tamborine would change a few minds, but would it be enough to seal the deal, that is the big question.
The downside is nearly halving the car's range, and the extra time needed to recharge when out on the road puts it well behind the 8-ball for Australia in the current iteration, and that is a shame, because it is a good car.
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