Peugeot E-5008 first drive | Electric power to suit the whole family

Peugeot is leading the charge in launching new models based on the Stellantis STLA Medium platform. It started with the 3008, which was the first car to use the new underpinnings, and that was followed by the seven-seat 5008.

The two cars are closely related with familiar styling, interiors and powertrains.

Headline stats are impressive. The E-5008 promises up to 410 miles of driving range and starts at less than £50,000. It’s among the cheapest electric seven-seaters on sale.

And when we say seven-seater, the E-5008 really can carry seven adults. While the rearmost row is a little tight, it's more capacious than a lot of cars in the segment and access to those back seats is pretty easy.

There’s a decent boot space, too. With all rows in use there’s still more than 300-litres of space and that grows considerably when the back seats are folded, flat, into the floor.

While the E-5008’s credentials look very appealing on paper, there are a few factors to consider.

Firstly, the 410-mile range figure applies to Long Range models, fitted with a 98kWh battery. The ‘regular’ E-5008 uses a 73kWh battery and has a WLTP range of 311 miles.

Big batteries add weight, and weight affects efficiency. During our testing, in cold weather, the E-5008 was only managing 2.5mi/kWh, which is barely enough to scrape 200 miles from the smaller battery and only around 250 miles from the larger unit. EV Database suggests 230 miles and 300 miles, respectively.

Another issue with the car’s weight is performance. Now we’re not suggesting that a seven-seat family SUV needs to be particularly quick, but there’s a lethargic feel to the car. The single motor provides 210PS to the front wheels, or 230PS if you have the larger battery. In both 0-62mph takes a shade under 10 seconds, but in the real world it feels slower.

DC fast charging is supported at up to 160kW, enabling a 10% - 80% charge in 36 minutes. The E-5008 also features an 11kW AC charger and will take around 12 hours to fully charge using a home wallbox.

Life on board is very pleasant. The E-5008 is a spacious SUV and offers high levels of comfort. We were impressed by how quiet the car is, even at higher speeds. Those up front are separated by a large centre console, which has been raised up to serve as a central armrest. The dashboard and door panels create a wraparound effect, while all the controls are angled towards the driver.

Ergonomically, the E-5008 isn’t the most user-friendly SUV. It uses Peugeot’s i-cockpit architecture, which incorporates a small oval steering wheel that is positioned beneath the instrument cluster. As a result, you always feel like you’re sitting too high in the car, with the steering wheel sitting in your lap.

The infotainment system is combined with the instruments in a large panoramic display. These provide crisp, high-resolution graphics and can be customised to suit individual preferences.

Certain functions, like heated seats, are not particularly easy to find, as there are only a few physical switches on the dash for key functions like the hazard lights and window defroster.

To simplify operation, there’s a separate screen which has shortcut keys to the functions you use the most.

Peugeot offers the E-5008 in two trim grades: Allure and GT. The entry-level car is priced from £48,650 and comes with a reasonable spec that includes LED headlights, keyless entry, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, electric folding door mirrors and three-zone climate control.

The GT version costs from £52,030 and adds adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an electric tailgate, front parking sensors and adaptive headlights.

A number of features are only available as options, including 360-degree cameras, blind spot monitoring and electrically adjustable seats. A heat pump is also on the options list, costing £700.

If you want the bigger battery then it’s about £2,900 more, on either trim level.

Running costs are particularly attractive for company car users. Most seven-seat SUVs that compete with the E-5008 are powered by engines rather than electric motors. With a 2% benefit-in-kind (BiK) rate, drivers could pay as little as £16 per month for an E-5008.

The car’s closest rivals include the Mercedes EQB, which is both more expensive and more cramped, and the Kia EV9. While the latter is larger and more spacious, it does cost £15,000 more.

It leaves the E-5008, for now, in a very strong position for those that want an electric car with seven-seat practicality at an affordable price.