Peugeot e-2008 review

While some manufacturers like to separate their electric cars as standalone models, Peugeot prefers to lump all flavours together in one big melting pot. As such, the electric powertrain is simply an option in all three of the 2008's trim levels.

The range kicks off with Active at £36,500. It rolls on 16s and has physical needle dials instead of the driver's screen, but it's not exactly stripped out. There's wireless connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlamps, leather steering wheel, park sensors and auto climate control. Mind you, the electric versions are £10k more than petrol autos.

Allure trim costs from £38,500 and adds 17s, a two-level boot floor, more USBs and better screenery (the driver's is configurable digitally, the centre one has higher resolution). Its safety braking recognises cyclists and pedestrians, which might help your insurance.

Then there’s GT trim for £40,700: it brings 18s, the 3D screen and wireless charge plate, plus sports seats and upholstery.

Oh, and there's also a First Edition on top of that, available only to e-2008 buyers for £41,750. That gets the three-phase charger, smarter upholstery, heated electric driver's seat and a subscription to TomTom live traffic which is otherwise optional. That really is pushing the envelope on price though.

The drive assist pack – with all-speeds adaptive cruise control and lane following, plus blind-spot monitoring – is £300 on Allure and GT.

Three-year PCPs start at about £520 a month with a 10 per cent deposit down up front.

What’s charging gonna cost me?

Depends how much you pay for it! Kidding. Plug in at home and that 51kWh battery will cost about £17 (ish) for a full replenishment based on the average UK tariff. It’ll be less if you sign up for one of those schemes where electricity is cheaper overnight. At a public rapid charging station, you could be looking at double that figure. Or more.

Charging times? On a normal 7.4kW AC supply it's seven and a half hours. You can pay £360 to have a three-phase capacity. But few British homes have three-phase, and it shortens the time by just two and a half hours. Don’t bother.

On a 100kW-plus rapid charger it'll get to 80 per cent from flat in 30 minutes. And you won’t ever arrive at a charger on empty. We hope. But as it's a smallish battery, even on a very common 50kW charger you'll not be lingering that much longer.

The e-2008 has a three-year warranty, extended out to eight-years and 100,000 miles for the battery. After an initial one-year/8,000-mile check-up, servicing is every two years/16,000 miles. You can get fixed-price service plans. It's around £10/month if you do 10,000 miles a year. Which is about half the price of the same plan on a petrol 2008, proving Peugeot has confidence in the simpler maintenance of EVs.