If I was asked to sum up in one word how I felt driving the Peugeot E3008, I would say ‘cosy.’ There was something warm and welcoming about the interior; the grey material used on the dash really brightens up the interior and you get a wrap-around effect that gives the driver especially, a cosy comfortable feeling.
We had Danish visitors at Christmas and Hygge is a Danish word which means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with family. A perfect description for the time spent with my son, his Danish-born wife and our grandchildren in the Peugeot E3008.
Peugeot launched its 3008 in April 2009 as the successor to the Peugeot 4007 and Peugeot 4008, and it fills a gap in Peugeot’s model line up between the 308, with which it shares its platform, and the 5008, its larger counterpart. This SUV coupe is the third generation of the car.
I drove the fully electric version, but the new 3008 will also be available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains.
Peugeot are now part of the Stellantis group, who also distribute Opel, Citroen, Fiat and Jeep brands in Ireland. The new 3008 is a very important car as it’s the first model to use the STLA Medium electric platform. That platform will be used on several new cars coming from the Stellantis group in the coming years.
If you are a ‘tyre-kicker’ you will quickly realise that the 20-inch alloys in the GT version don’t always match when parked. Strange but true, but I think that quirky touch adds to the overall classy look to the car. At the front you get a very attractive grille and the GT version I drove had pixilated LED lights.
In that cosy cabin, Peugeot has dispensed with their ‘piano style’ controls on dash, which is dominated by a panoramic 21-inch infotainment screen. You still get some controls on the curved area that separates the driver from his/her front seat passenger. The hexagonal small steering wheel is really cute and there are plenty of cubby holes to store drinks, phones etc.
There is room in the back seat for three adults, but if you have only two back-seat passengers they can avail of the fold-down arm rest. In the boot, the space is decent, officially 520 litres. Over the years Peugeot were one of the few manufacturers that always provided a spare wheel, but very few EV cars now have a spare wheel and it’s the same in the E3008.
All that luxury means the 3008 is not cheap with prices for the EV starting at €44,930, while the GT version I drove will cost you €49,795. Road tax is €120. The mild hybrid 1.2-litre version starts from €43,995.
Officially the range is 527km, but you probably won’t get that in winter time in Ireland. Most new electric cars coming on to the market now have a longer range and Peugeot will soon have a 3008 where the range will be up to 700km and a four-wheel-drive version is also on the way.
My test car came in Cumulus grey colour, which is a popular colour with Peugeot. It’s probably okay in winter time, but I would prefer a brighter colour in the summer. But of course when it comes to colour, it’s every man and woman for themselves.
Externally the car looks great. Normally I would encourage people to take a test drive, but if you don’t have time for a drive, drop into your local Peugeot garage and sit into a 3008. I think you will love the Hygge/Cosy effect of the cabin.
