The new Peugeot E‑3008 promises up to 435 miles of range

Yes, range anxiety should be a thing of the past in the new E-3008, thanks to a maximum of 435 miles of range in the new long-range model. You won’t get any less than 326 miles of range from any new E-3008, either from the entry-level Standard Range, or 320 Dual Motor.

Of course, those won't be the 'real world' figures and indeed, there’s some WLTP certification to be completed but these are the numbers Peugeot is confident it’ll be able to give. With its introduction, Peugeot reckons it’s the French brand offering the widest range of mainstream electric vehicles on the market.

2024 Peugeot E-3008 – a ‘fastback SUV’

So what about that design? Well, it’s the next development of what we first saw on the radical 408 and attractive 308 and 208 facelift. There are much slimmer lights with the triple ‘claw’ day-running LED light signatures at the front now escaping from the headlamps themselves. A signature look carrying on from the 408 is how the body colour staggers into the ‘grille’ area, with a giant Lion-clad Peugeot badge bang in the middle.

Round the side we see radical wheels similar to those of the 408 as well as the double arch contouring and sharp sculpture at the ankle line, before the roof slopes down in what Peugeot calls a ‘fastback SUV design’ to the rear end. The tapering ‘coupe’ window is very modern art deco, with the whole sloping appearance taking a bit of inspiration from the original Quartz concept. We also see those claws in the new rear lights, with the slant a signature of the GT model. For the avoidance of doubt, that tapering rump has no effect on boot space with the 520-litre figure matching that of the outgoing car. Peugeot also reckons it’s still one of the most compact cars in its class.

Inside the new Peugeot E-3008 – curved 21-inch i-Cockpit

Much has been made of the coming infotainment revolution in Peugeot land and indeed, the latest i-Cockpit is here – panoramic screen and all – to make the cabins of the rest of the Peugeot range look a little last-gen. Packing all the infotainment and driver information in the E-3008 is a floating, curved 21-inch HD panoramic screen, working in tandem with a head-up display. In many other markets this will be an option, but in the UK all E-3008s will get it as standard. The graphics are really crisp and the UI is smooth and the fact it's all one screen, rather than two within a single housing, is impressive. We don't see any of the Germans managing this just yet. On the flip side, it's not overbearing either. It's just the right size to not totally dominate the aesthetic of the cockpit. We kind of wish it was an OLED, mind.

Also new is the steering wheel which is still compact and uncircular in shape, but features touch-sensitive controls. We’ll reserve judgement until we try them while driving, as sitting in the car at its reveal doesn’t show much in terms of how you multitask with them. But the buttons are large and do have a physical feel like they’re on a rocker. So it’s better than some we’ve seen already. Not such a bad thing is a new development of the i-Toggles, Peugeot’s fully customisable touch panel that you can choose the buttons for. In our experience, this actually works quite well, so we’re intrigued to see how this advances the idea.

The rest of the cabin is very French, without being fussy. Art Deco without being gratuitous. Spacious and airy, without feeling like a van. Premium, without feeling too Germanic. The materials are modern, and contemporary, with a quality feel and there's decent mood lighting all around. All in, like the 408, it’s a perfectly pleasant place in which to find yourself.

STLA – a new platform for a new era

If the look and the interior are Peugeot but with the game moved on a bit, this STLA platform is a revelation in terms of offering that golden range number. The batteries are 73kWh (usable) and 98kWh (usable), which is where the E-3008 gets all that range from. What it doesn’t have is an 800-volt architecture, so charging is a little slower than more premium EVs, at 160kW maximum. In terms of managing range year-round, heat pumps will be an option on all E-3008s.

On the flip side, being ‘only’ 400 volts will likely make the E-3008 cheaper. The other side effect of big batteries is of course weight. The E-3008 regardless of battery size or whether you have it in Allure or GT trim, will weigh over two tonnes at the kerb.

Happily, there’s power enough to shift it along. The standard range E-3008 has 210PS (157kW), while the Dual Motor has 320PS (240kW). The Long Range with 230PS (170kW) might have more power than the Standard Range but is a bit slower to 62mph. Performance figures in the Dual Motor should be all you’d ever need, getting to 62mph in 6.4 seconds, with the Standard and Long Range cars managing it in 8.7 and 8.9 seconds respectively.

In terms of price, there’s no word yet. Big batteries imply a sturdy expense, though and we’re told this is an ‘indirect’ successor to the car it replaces. Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson also introduced it as a 'flagship'. Does this all imply a hike in price? Maybe. Could the looks, buffed range and hiked interior tech and quality warrant it? Quite possibly. The new E-3008 goes on sale in February 2024.