car news car tests

Over 140,000 copies

The new Peugeot 3008 and 5008 have been on the market for a year now. The 3008 is the most popular of the bunch and has now been sold more than 140,000 times, 22% of which is electric (E-3008). The rest are mild hybrids or plug-in hybrids. The larger E-5008 has already crossed the counter some 40,000 times. Until now, you had to make do with front-wheel drive and 210 or 230 horsepower. But now you can get both models with 325 hp, split between two engines: one front, one rear.

325 hp under your right foot

We already know the front electric motor (213 hp) from the front-wheel-drive version, but the rear one is new and adds 212 hp. Together the motors make 325 hp and 509 Nm of torque – enough to catapult the E-3008 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds. The E-5008 takes half a beat longer. The intermediate sprint from 80 to 120 km/h also takes 3.8 seconds. Nice and smooth SUV, in other words.

4WD

That extra engine in the back also means: all-wheel drive. Handy when it’s slippery, or when you dive enthusiastically into a corner. There are four driving modes: Eco (economical), Normal (daily use), Sport (everything on edge) and 4WD (for snow, mud and other slippery conditions). In Sport, 60% of the power goes to the rear, 40% to the front. In 4WD it’s fifty-fifty, and in Eco only the engine on the front axle does the work.

Drives tight, but not a GTI

The chassis has also been tinkered with: tighter damping, stiffer stabilizer bars and sharper steering. Both models steer nicely, even if you’re a little too enthusiastic around corners. But it never becomes a sports car – and fortunately Peugeot doesn’t pretend to. No GTI badge, no GTI pretensions. Just an SUV with more power, grip and a little more dynamics. On bad road surfaces, the suspension is a bit stiff, but it never gets uncomfortable in either model.

How far will you get?

Thanks to a 73 kWh battery, Peugeot says you should get as far as 490 kilometers with the E-3008 (WLTP). The E-5008 kicks it up to 467 kilometers on paper. In practice – with a lot of rain – we got around 380 kilometers. Not bad at all. Fast charging is possible up to 160 kW. From 20 to 80% takes about 30 minutes. Both models are also available with a gigantic 97 kWh battery pack, but in that case not available as a Dual Motor. Too bad, because that battery pack makes both cars true mile-eaters. The E-3008 with large battery pack gets as far as 701 kilometers.

Plenty of space?

With 544 to 1,619 liters of luggage space, the E-3008 is nice and roomy. The load floor is flat, the lift threshold low, and there is an electric tailgate. The E-5008 has even more space and an optional third row of seats. Small children can sit there just fine; teenagers and adults have no business there.

Modern interior

Inside, you get a cockpit that looks very futuristic. It’s like a modern work of art, just look closely at the pictures below. A floating panoramic screen, fine materials, good workmanship. It’s (almost) all right. A minus: the infotainment system sometimes thinks a little too long, and for the temperature setting you always have to go through a menu. One physical button would have made up for a lot. Nevertheless: the high seating position, quiet cabin and clear layout make this an excellent workplace.

E-3008 Launch Edition: all the trimmings

Peugeot kicks off the Dual Motor party with a richly equipped Launch Edition, with black roof, Pixel LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, Alcantara upholstery, AGR comfort seats, a 360-degree camera, panoramic roof ánd a range of driving assistance systems, it’s all on this introductory version. That’s why it’s not cheap. The E-3008 325 Dual Motor Launch Edition costs 56,515 euros. For the E-5008, you pay 59,515 euros. Yes, it’s serious money. But you also get a serious car in return – full of nice stuff, space and 325 hp.

Conclusion: the sporty family friend

The E-3008 and E-5008 Dual Motor are fast, spacious and richly equipped. They offer grip, comfort and enough punch to make even a boring commute a little fun. Do you necessarily need them in the Netherlands? No, unless you live on the Vaalserberg or drive to the Alps every year in winter with clammy hands. But if you like extra grip and power, then these two models just may be on your shortlist. In the video below, we tell you more: