mReview: 2022 Peugeot e-2008 - French Quirkiness In Controlled Doses

You probably have preconceived notions of cars at the tail end of the Category "A" COE bracket. You'd be right…for the most part. I said "most", because the e-2008 is very much an exception.

It may very well be the most affordable European electric car on sale in Singapore today (and by a not-insignificant margin), but it certainly doesn’t look or feel like its price tag. It oozes quality and a certain air of French flair, creating this cohesive user experience that actually puts some cars costing significantly more to shame.

The e-2008 is very much proof that budget-oriented vehicles can be pleasant spaces to be in, and civilised cars to live with.

Sharp Aesthetics

What I really like about the e-2008 is that it doesn’t make its eco-credentials known to onlookers. Save for some very subtle EV-specific trim and badging, and the obvious lack of a tailpipe, the car is virtually indistinguishable from its petrol-powered counterpart.But that isn't a bad thing. These new Peugeots have a sharp and modern design language, allowing it to have genuine road presence despite its smaller stature. Creases and sharp lines add some welcomed definition in the side profile of the vehicle, and the signature tiger claw lights upfront really help to give the car a subtle tinge of aggression.

Round the back, the premium touches continue, with gloss black trim connecting the two rear light clusters. This area of the car has been further emphasised courtesy of additional folds in the metalwork, which really helps to draw attention to this area of the vehicle.

And The Thoughtful Touches Continue Inside

This is where the e-2008 really shines. There’s nothing that really gives away where this car sits in the Stellantis food chain. The car is feature-packed, and has a thoughtfully laid out and designed cabin that, again, really shames certain cars from other manufacturers at a similar price point.You don’t just get a digital instrument cluster - it’s the French, and they will do anything they can to add some additional pizzazz into their interiors. In this case, the e-2008 comes with their new i-Cockpit 3D, which uses holographic technology to display mission-critical information. Though in all fairness, it does seem a bit like a gimmick that you’d probably not miss if it wasn’t fitted to the car in the first place.Most of the controls in the cabin are handled by two rows of switches in the centre console. You’ll find fighter plane-esque toggle switches, which are then supplemented by a bank of capacitive touch buttons. There’s a nice tactility to the former, and the latter, despite being recessed touch-sensitive buttons, actually works well.

These allow you to have rapid access to functions that you’d access regularly, and is a much better way of allowing you to change cabin and drive parameters on the fly, instead of burying these options in a sub-menu on a screen.Cabin optimisations go far beyond just the ease of use for the driver. Built on a platform that had provisions for electric drive from day one, the e-2008 has a cabin that is actually far more spacious than a lot of other cars in its class. Leg and headroom, even in the rear, is good unless you are significantly above average on a stature-front. Perceived space, courtesy of a moonroof, is also excellent - ample natural lighting really makes the rear much less claustrophobic.

If there’s one major complaint, it’d be that rear airflow could be better. On longer journeys, passengers did feedback that they’d prefer if there were vents in the back for improved air circulation.

The Drive

You’ll find 130 electric instantaneous horsepowers under the bonnet. This definitely isn’t enough to propel you at the horizon or off the line with any EV haste. Still, that isn’t to say that the car is slow - it is capable of keeping up with, and out accelerating most commuter ICE cars off the line at the traffic lights.I’m not a fan of the driving position or the feedback (lack thereof) from the steering wheel. In all fairness though, the steering rack is well set up, allowing for accurate inputs and a responsive front end. And this isn’t at the detriment of the turning circle, which is impressively compact, making low-speed manoeuvres around town a doddle.

One big complaint that I do have is with the car’s range. Sure, if you hypermile and have a god-like level of anticipating the behaviour of the traffic around you, you’d be able to achieve a range of about 300 kilometres. But if you opt to drive like a normal person, only keeping the car in ‘B’ mode for maximum regeneration, you’d really only do about 270 kilometres before you’ll need to charge the car again.

But Should You Buy One?

It is by far the most competent Cat ‘A’ buy all things considered. If you have a deskbound job, this car really is a no-brainer. The creature comforts and quality that you’re getting at this price point just cannot be matched by other vehicles in its class.It’s a real shame that the car doesn’t have more range though. That is perhaps the biggest bugbear for those that actually need to use their cars during their line of work. If you have a deskbound job, this is a fantastic buy if you are looking for a more left-field mainstream EV.

But if you really want more range, local Peugeot dealer Vantage actually carries other reasonably-priced EVs from other marques that can better suit your needs.

Photo Credit: ACube Creative (@weareacube)

Read More: mReview: 2021 Peugeot 2008 GT - Quirky and Bold

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