Peugeot E-3008 GT review: The big hit from France?

The new STLA-Medium platform is Stellantis' first platform designed for purely electric vehicles. It is now being launched for the first time in the new Peugeot E-3008. Will Stellantis be able to turn things around with this platform? In our two-week tests of the E-2, we tried to answer these and other questions. We also address the question of what exactly is an SUV fastback?

tl;dr: Can the new STLA-Medium platform deliver?

The Peugeot E-3008 impresses with its modern design, high-quality interior and a realistic range of around 400-450 km. Thanks to fast charging with 160 kW, it is suitable for everyday use, even if the voice control still has room for improvement. The infotainment is well done, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work reliably. The glass roof creates an airy feeling of space, and the design stands out positively from the competition. The charging route planning is finally usable, but does not yet offer a charging provider filter. Overall, however, the E-3008 definitely has its strengths to compete against competitors such as the VW ID.5 or Ford Explorer.

Design & workmanship: A real eye-catcher

The Peugeot E-3008 is a mixture of SUV and fastback, which gives it a sporty and elegant silhouette. The new front section with LED matrix headlights and the brand's typical 3-claw daytime running lights is particularly striking. The rear is adorned with a continuous LED strip that underlines the premium claim. Peugeot relies on high-quality materials in the interior, with soft-touch surfaces and a modern dashboard. A special highlight is the large glass sunroof, which is becoming increasingly rare in modern vehicles and creates an airy feeling of space. The new "Panoramic i-Cockpit" integrates a 21-inch display that extends across the center console and combines infotainment and instrument display.

Engine & driving behavior: dynamics meets comfort

In our test, we had the version with a 73 kWh battery and 213 hp front-wheel drive available. The E-3008 accelerates to 8 km/h in under 100 seconds, but remains pleasantly quiet. Thanks to the low center of gravity and finely tuned suspension, the SUV offers stable and comfortable handling on both the highway and winding country roads. The regenerative braking system is well tuned, even if the strongest recuperation level doesn't quite come close to one-pedal driving. On the plus side, paddle shifters behind the steering wheel control the strength of the recuperation, eliminating the need for a B mode.

Range & Charging: A perfect everyday companion?

Peugeot specifies a WLTP range of up to 525 km for this version. In practice, a realistic 370-450 km in mixed operation is feasible. The E-3008 supports 400-volt fast charging with up to 160 kW, which means the 73 kWh battery can be charged from 30 to 20 percent in around 80 minutes. At the home wallbox, it charges at 11 kW, so a full charge takes around 8 hours. What we are missing is manual battery heating so that you can get a good charging curve even in winter without having to drive fast beforehand. The new VW vehicles are currently shining in this area. If you are only a wallbox charger anyway, then this should not make much of a difference. However, the E-3008 is now supposed to preheat the battery when actively planning a charging route and navigating to a fast charging station. This function was completely missing in older Stellantis models.

Infotainment & Equipment: Modern and intuitive

The new i-Cockpit infotainment system is visually appealing and offers intuitive operation. The fast and smooth interface and the extensive setting options are particularly positive. Wireless, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work reliably and without delay. The voice control, on the other hand, could not implement many commands that other voice assistants already master - for example, the steering wheel heating could not be activated via voice command.

The "i-Toggles" on a separate display are particularly practical; they offer individually assignable shortcuts for frequently used functions. In addition, charging route planning has finally become usable. It works quickly and reliably, but does not yet offer a filter for charging providers - a feature that many users would like. For the navigation system, Peugeot continues to rely on the reliable TomTom system, which also works very smoothly on the E-3008.

Furthermore, the matrix LED headlights that you get from the GT trim level onwards work very satisfactorily. It doesn't brighten up again as quickly, but there were no complaints from oncoming traffic. In addition, the light pattern is very good, which it managed well even in rainy weather. It also has cornering lights, although not dynamic ones like the Volkswagen ID. models.

Sound system: Very good FOCAL sound

The optional Focal sound system in the Peugeot E-3008 offers very good sound. With ten speakers, it provides clear, deep sound. The sound quality is tuned to optimally fill the interior of the vehicle and make the driving experience even more intense. For audiophiles, this is a real highlight; I wouldn't compare it to a Bowers & Wilkins. But for me, it is definitely one of the higher quality car audio systems on the market.

Picture: TechnikNews

Price & Recommendation: Does all this justify the high price?

After two weeks with the new E-3008, it can be said that anyone looking for a larger SUV with a sporty design and modern interior is well advised to go with the E-3008. With an entry-level price of around 48.000 euros, it offers an attractive alternative to models such as the Tesla Model Y or VW ID.5. Even if it is not the cheapest car in the segment, it impresses with high-quality workmanship, good range and a successful infotainment system. Peugeot and Stellantis show here that they continue to take electromobility very seriously. The charging speed is the only thing that has bothered us a little in everyday life so far. The new Volkswagen models now offer manual preconditioning for the high-voltage battery. Peugeot still does not have this function, and we did not have the feeling that it was warming the battery if you plan a quick charger into the on-board navigation system.

What do you think of the new Peugeot E-3008? Would it be your next electric car? Write it in the comments!

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