There is a healthy amount of choice for those in the market for a fully-electric seven-seater, and based on my observations, an equally healthy appetite for such family-movers. That’s despite the premium some brands are asking for their electric seven-seaters. The brilliant, yet pricey Kia EV9, or the six-figure Volvo EX90, are some examples. Work your way further down to the €60-70k range and you have the Mercedes-Benz EQB and VW ID. Buzz.
So I’m sure those in wings will welcome Peugeot coming to market at just over €50k for its E-5008. Peugeot has been in the seven-seater business for a while now, with its 5008 a regular site on Irish roads. Now in its third generation, the 5008 is available in both hybrid and all-electric versions with both sharing the same starting price of €50,995 (after grant). A shrewd move from the brand.
Built on the advanced STLA Medium platform from Stellantis, the E-5008 has a 73kWh battery and a 210hp motor with a quoted range of just over 500km – which proved easy to match. Public fast charging times were also up to scratch. A 98kWh, 668km long range variant should be available soon.
All 5008 models include seven seats as standard, with easy access to the last row of seats thanks to a sliding and tilting second row with reclining backrests. The second row seats slide and tilt in a 60/40 configuration, however they also feature a 40/20/40 folding backrest. The third row is snug and is best suited to kids, or very short journeys for adults. This is probably where the E-5008 comes up short against its more premium rivals. There is an abundance of leg and head room in the second row, however.
A caveat to any seven-seater is the balancing act between boot space and passenger capacity. When all seven seats are in use, the E-5008 gives you a 438-litre boot which is akin to a small hatchback. Drop the third-row however, and you are left with well over 900-litres. There is no ‘frunk’ under the E-5008’s bonnet, which is a bit of a let down if you want somewhere other than the boot to store a charging cable.
The E-5008 is available in well-appointed Allure and GT trims. I tested the latter which is competitively priced at €54,495. This came with a ‘Black Diamond’ roof and Alcantara upholstery featuring stylish ‘Iced Clay’ stitching (optional). Additional equipment over the Allure trim offers 20-inch alloy wheels (optional) for electric versions, Pixel LED headlights, 3D LED rear lights, a ‘Handsfree’ smart electric tailgate, heated seats and a heated steering wheel. The GT trim also adds rear window blinds and interior ambient lighting for a touch of luxury.
Up front and standard across the range is the 21-inch Peugeot Panoramic i-Cockpit, which is a raised head-up display and large central touchscreen integrated into a single curved panoramic screen. Below the screen is a configurable virtual i-Toggle display, which can be used to set up to 10 shortcuts. All versions of the E-5008 come with Peugeot’s i-Connect Advanced infotainment system, offering complete connectivity thanks to 3D connected navigation with over-the-air map updates, in addition to wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and natural voice recognition.
The Peugeot E-5008 is an attractive car and indeed an attractive proposition for those looking for an electric (or even hybrid) seven-seat family car, without breaking the bank.
