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Peugeot e-5008

Going on vacation with the whole family can be quite a challenge. Crying and fighting children in the back, bickering over who’s turn it is to use the iPad and endless bickering over music choices. The last thing you’re waiting for then is range anxiety and having to stop every two hours for a long charging break the highway. For large families who want to make the switch to electric driving but don’t feel like the hassle, the new Peugeot e-5008 might be a good choice. The spacious SUV accommodates seven people and has an impressive range of no less than 660 kilometers.

No little boy

The e-5008 is on parent company Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform, as is its smaller brother, the e-3008. With an extended wheelbase of 2.90 meters and an overall length of 4.79 meters, it is no small boy. Luggage space is generous: 916 liters when the third row of seats is not in use. If you do use that third row of seats, you still keep 348 liters. If you fold down both the second and third rows of seats, you even have an impressive 2,232 liters of cargo space.

Three rows of seats

In the very back there is more than enough room for small children and teenagers. Adults can hold out for a while, too. With USB ports and cup holders within easy reach, kids have everything they need for a long road trip. Handy: under the third row of seats is an additional storage space of about 80 liters. Ideal for storing all those vacation goodies you don’t need right away. Valuables can also be stored there well, because no thief knows how to find this space. So laptops, iPads and watches store here during a beach day.

Something for everyone

The range of the new Peugeot e-5008 is varied: there are two trims – the Allure and the GT – and three option packages. Those who want to drive on gasoline can opt for a 100 kW (136 hp) mild-hybrid version with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and an electric motor.

We would rather opt for the 143 kW (195 hp) strong plug-in hybrid. Not only does this one have more power, but thanks to a 21 kWh battery, it can drive up to 80 kilometers fully electric. So you cover all your daily mileage emiselessly and economically, and let the gasoline engine do the work only on long trips.

Electric Peugeot 5008

Fans of electric driving can choose from three electric drive variants, with 157 kW (213 hp), 170 kW (231 hp) or 237 kW (322 hp). So the latter is the muscle car of the e-5008 family and, thanks to two electric motors, has all-wheel drive. We drive the 157 kW (213 hp) strong version. Maybe the version you want. It has in the bottom 73 kWh of battery cells, good for 502 WLTP miles. During our first test drive, the Frenchman proved to be quite efficient. Even on the highway, consumption dips below 20 Wh/km. We are not surprised, because the e-3008 – which uses the same powertrains – is not an energy guzzler either.

Long breath

That version that gets 660 kilometers far? That’s the Electric 230 Long Range. With a 96 kWh battery and a 170 kW (231 hp) strong electric motor, this combination is good for over 600 kilometers on paper. In practice, you can count on about 450 to 600 kilometers, depending on your right foot, the weather and numerous other conditions. But even if all the conditions are against you and you’re like Max Verstappen hanging full on the gas pedal all day, you can still put in hours of miles before the fun runs out.

load

When it comes to fast charging, the e-5008 excels a little less. It can handle up to 160 kW of charging power. You need about half an hour to charge to 80 percent. That’s certainly not bad, but there are competitors that gobble up power even faster on a fast charger. But on the other hand: you must have a strong bladder if you are not ready for a half-hour break after driving 500 to 600 kilometers. At a home charger or public street charging station, the Frenchman can handle up to 11 kW. Charging from 20 to 80 percent then takes about 4.5 hours. A heat pump is an option, so the range is a bit lower in winter than in summer. Thanks to our mild climate, this is quite tolerable.

Panoramic i-Cockpit

Irreverently, the e-5008 is actually an e-3008 with a different butt. Therefore, the interior of the new e-5008, like the exterior, shares many similarities with the E-3008. The interior feels as homey and stylish as in the e-3008, with lots of soft materials that feel nice and look chic. A large, curved 21-inch screen, which appears to float above the dashboard thanks to its rear mounting, attracts all the attention. It is part of the so-called Peugeot Panoramic i-Cockpit.

This includes the so-called i-Toggles, an additional screen above the center console with digital buttons that allow you to quickly navigate to certain menus in the infotainment system. Cleverly devised, because it works very well. We don’t even miss physical buttons. The steering wheel sits quite low, as in all modern Peugeot models. For new Peugeot drivers, this will take some getting used to. But thanks to this layout, you have an extra good view of the screen and the road.

How does it drive?

The 5008 is not a typical French SUV. It is not a soft sofa on wheels. Comfort is adequate, but it does not offer the “floating above the asphalt” feeling. Instead, it is nice and stable on the road and even feels fairly nimble for a large, heavy SUV. The steering is fairly direct and responsive, and the good handling provides confidence when cornering. The suspension is firm enough for some sporty steering, but also dampens uneven road surfaces enough to remain comfortable.

There are several driving modes, such as Normal, Eco and Sport. In Eco mode, software pinches off the electric motor for more efficient energy consumption. In Sport mode, the 5008 really comes alive and you have full power at your disposal. The 157 kW (213 hp) strong electric motor of the version we are driving provides a 0-100 sprint in 9.7 seconds and the top speed is 170 km/h. Lightweight? Not exactly, as the base version already weighs 2,218 kilograms.

Conclusion

The Peugeot e-5008 combines space, technology and driving pleasure, making it a strong player in the electric SUV segment, in which few seven-seaters still operate. It is ideal for large families who also want to travel long distances without hassle. Even the small battery offers an impressive range at 500 kilometers. Maybe that’s also the version to have, because why lug around the extra weight of the big battery if you only drive further than 500 kilometers in a day twice a year? Four or five quick charges and you’ll be in the south of France in no time.

In addition, the new e-5008 is a practical car, but also very stylish, with an interior featuring high-quality materials and the impressive panoramic screen. Also not unimportant: the warranty terms. As long as you send the e-5008 to an authorized Peugeot dealer every two years for its servicing, you get 8 years or up to 160,000 kilometers warranty on the whole car. See, that gives real confidence. Prices will be announced by Peugeot this summer. At the end of the year, the e-5008 will be at the dealer.