If you want an electric SUV, there are loads of choice, but if you want one with seven seats, then there isn’t, which is why the new Peugeot e-5008 has got a pretty big opportunity to be the best electric 7-seater that you can buy. But is it? let’s find out.
So, the 5008 first arrived back in 2009, and really, the first-generation model was an MPV. By the time the second-generation car got here in 2017, everyone wanted an SUV, so it had a pretty radical makeover to become much more of an SUV. That second-generation 5008 was really a brilliant car—it was comfortable, practical, and frugal. This, now, is the third-generation 5008, and you can have it as this fully electric e5008, or you can have a mild hybrid and a plug-in hybrid as well.
The BIG changes
So how is this different from the old 5008? Well, you can see it’s got a different look, hasn’t it? At this front end, you’ve got Peugeot’s new light signature, there’s a new grille, and you’ve also got new 19-inch and 20-inch alloys. Things are very different underneath as well because this is built on a new platform, which it shares with the e308, and those two cars are very closely related indeed. The platform is very important for Stellantis, and it’s going to be seen under lots of future products from manufacturers like Jeep, Vauxhall, Citroen, and many more as well.
Now in terms of dimensions, this is bigger than before. It’s not as big as the Kia EV9, which is an even bigger electric SUV. Really, for now, the main rival this will be compared to when it comes to electric SUV 7-seaters is the Kia EV9 because, really, there aren’t many others. But even though this isn’t as big as the EV9, it’s still bigger than the old 5008, which itself was a very big and very practical car.
Boot space
The boot is bigger than it was before, and you can see even with seven seats in place, you can still fit a dog in the back here. There’s 348 litres of storage on offer with all seven seats in place, which is more than what you get in the boot of a Vauxhall Corsa. However, the space on top doesn’t seem particularly special, though it’s still useful to have. What’s clever about this boot is that you can put the boot floor in a vertical position to reveal all this underfloor storage, which even goes very handily under the seats. There’s a spot where you can keep the charging cables and a dedicated space for the parcel shelf, all of which is very handy indeed.
It’s very easy to hop between the two different positions, and you can, of course, lower this third row to make the boot even bigger. Putting these seats down is a simple process—just pull on these tags—but if the middle row is as far back as it will go and as reclined as the backrest can go, then it’s tricky to push down the third row. You can push the middle row forward to make it easier. Then you have 916 litres of storage, which is bigger than the previous 5008. Unfortunately, there isn’t any front storage under the bonnet.
Seven-seat practicality
Now let’s focus on the seven-seat capability of the e-5008. How easy is it to get into the third row? Access is pretty impressive. The door is nice and big and opens wide. It’s not like a Nissan Qashqai, which can open at a 90-degree angle, but it still gives you a wide space to get inside easily. You also get a lever on top of the seat back that, when pulled, tilts the seat forward, and it’s easy to slide it as well, which gives a big open space.
Once inside, the space is impressive. It’s bigger than the previous 5008. I’m 177 cm tall, and sitting in this position with the middle seat ahead of me, I’ve got legroom to spare, and I could bring the middle row further back. The headroom offers a little clearance, and though it doesn’t feel amazingly spacious, it’s certainly comfortable enough for a long journey. This has genuine seven-seat usability, though it’s not quite as spacious as the Kia EV9, which is more accommodating for taller adults, but the e5008 costs less than the EV9.
Middle row space
Now, about the middle row: I’m sitting as far back as these seats will go. You can slide them forward to create more boot space or give more space to the people behind. Behind my driving position, I’m still comfortable. Headroom is decent, even with the sunroof, and you can slide the seats in a 60/40 configuration. Each rear seat can recline individually, with seven stages to choose from. You’ve got a nice flat floor, decent-sized windows, and even in the third row, there’s enough glass to let in some light.
One difference from the old 5008 is that it had ISOFIX mounts on all three middle seats. Now, there are only ISOFIX points on the outer two, because the outer seats are bigger, while the middle one is smaller. Peugeot was happy to do this because most buyers didn’t need ISOFIX on all three seats. So, overall, legroom is very good, headroom is good even with the sunroof, and this is a practical 7-seat SUV.
Interior
Upfront, if this looks familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen the interior of the new e308. That car and this one are virtually identical upfront. The only real difference is that the e-5008 has ambient interior lighting in the back, which the e-308 doesn’t have. The e308 has a classy interior, and the e-5008 shares a lot of those good qualities. You’ve got a nice driving position, good visibility, and a lot of screens—there’s a big 21-inch digital driver display and touchscreen infotainment system.
It’s nice having controls that are easy to reach, though they are all touchscreen, which is a shame because physical controls would be easier. The system itself is a bit sluggish, with lots of menus and submenus, so it’s not the most intuitive layout. Also, climate controls are on the touchscreen, which is less ideal, but it’s still slightly better than the EV9 where the steering wheel can block the screen.
Build quality and storage
In terms of quality, like the e308, the e5008 is good. The plastics on the dash are dressed up nicely, with soft-touch materials, and it all feels solid. Storage is also good—under the armrest, you’ve got a decent cubby hole for your keys or wallet, two modestly sized cupholders, an extra storage compartment with two USB ports, wireless phone charging, and decent-sized door bins. So overall, upfront, this is good.
Trim levels
You’ll get this interior with most versions of the e5008. In the UK, there are two trim levels: the entry-level Allure, which gets 19-inch alloys, keyless entry and start, and a reversing camera; and the range-topping GT trim, which adds 20-inch alloys, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and adaptive LED headlights. There are six paint colours to choose from and a few different packs, though nothing in the packs seems essential.
Every electric Peugeot now comes with a new warranty of up to 8 years or 100,000 miles, though to get the full warranty, you have to service the car every two years at an approved Peugeot dealer.
Battery options
The e-5008 offers three battery options. The entry-level Electric 210 Single Motor has a 73 kWh battery with an official range of 311 miles. The Electric 230 Long Range gets a bigger 98 kWh battery with a range of 410 miles, and the Electric 320 Dual Motor AWD also has a 73 kWh battery with a 311-mile range. These ranges are impressive compared to rivals, especially the 410 miles from the long-range model.
Performance
On the test drive in Sweden, we drove the entry-level version. It doesn’t feel particularly quick, but it’s punchy enough and smooth in its acceleration. The brakes, however, are a bit frustrating, as there’s a lot of travel before anything happens, and then they can be quite grabby. You can adjust the levels of regenerative braking, and the paddles on the steering wheel help with this. The ride is firm, especially at low speeds, but on the motorway, the e-5008 feels planted, stable, and relatively quiet, which is great for long journeys.
For twisty roads, though, this isn’t a thrilling drive. Being a heavy electric SUV, it has body lean, and the steering doesn’t give much feedback. But for school runs or long motorway trips, it’s fine.
Pricing
The Peugeot e-5008 is a rare electric 7-seat SUV that stands out from the crowd. It may not be as spacious or comfortable as the Kia EV9, but it’s expected to cost thousands less. At nearly £50,000 for the entry-level version, it’s not a bargain, and if you don’t need seven seats, there are five-seat electric SUVs, like the Skoda Enyaq, that are more rounded and cheaper more than two meters of room.
