More than a year after the launch of a very contrasting first version, Peugeot is trying to rectify the situation with a new engine for the star of its SUVs, the e-3008. This direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y had therefore struggled to digest its electric transition. Aesthetically successful and particularly well-crafted, it left us wanting more with its road handling, the opposite of the prowess of its thermal ancestor.
While waiting for a long-range version that is really taking its time to arrive on the market (Peugeot is still waiting for the first deliveries of the 98 kWh batteries that ACC must provide), it is another version of its SUV that the Lion is launching on the roads. This one adds a second motor on the rear wheels and increases the power to 325 hp. It should also be noted that this new engine is also coming to the Peugeot e-5008, making it one of the few 7-seater electric SUVs with four-wheel drive.
We had the opportunity to take the wheel of this new version of the electric Peugeot e-3008. Our test on the winding roads of the Black Forest in Germany allowed us to see the SUV's dynamic developments. It appears that Peugeot has come a long way and that the addition of this second engine corrects many of the flaws observed on the first front-wheel drive version. Explanations.
Power to compensate for the weight
In this test of the electric Peugeot e-3008, we will not return to the design and build quality of the Lion SUV. Indeed, this new engine does not bring any stylistic changes and is in no way different from the versions currently on the road. There is a Dual Motor badge on the rear of the car to let the world know that you waited for the (better) new version of the e-3008, but with the addition of new wheels, that's about it from a design perspective.
For a more complete presentation of the Peugeot e-3008, We invite you to reread our first test carried out last summer. It will also be an opportunity to revisit the grievances raised at the time. And because we don't like to dwell on a mixed first impression, we also carried out a second test of Peugeot's family SUV, this time over 1000 km. Here too, reading this journey is highly recommended to understand the developments and progress made on this Dual Motor version.
More dynamic, not sporty
As you will have understood, the biggest problem with the initial version of the e-3008 is its weight. More than 2 tons on the scale and the impression of carrying the kilos of the STLA Medium platform as one carries the misery of the world. Problem: the addition of an additional element, an engine at that, is not really a slimming cure. On the contrary, it's an additional 150 kg added to the SUV's frame, bringing its weight to 2,262 kg. What's the result?
Unsurprisingly, the jump from 210 hp to 325 hp has made our lioness much more ferocious. This is felt from the first turns of the wheel, when the Peugeot SUV shows a sudden change in character. Moreover, 0 to 100 km/h is now achieved in 6 seconds, which places it among the serious performers in its class.
We pick up the pace to convince ourselves, and surprise, the e-3008 has indeed evolved. Despite its 150 kg extra weight, the addition of the second motor and the switch to four-wheel drive are welcome, and the body movements are much better controlled. A small drawback, however, is that while in sport mode the Dual Motor is running at full throttle, in comfort mode the second motor is a little slow to kick in and gives a slight jolt that is noticeable when driving. Those are the first impressions in smooth or relatively dynamic driving.
The switch to sport mode is a little less convincing. As soon as you pick up the pace in the series of bends, you perceive more understeer, you hear the Michelin tires sing, and you can only notice some limitations in terms of agility. Despite its qualities and the work of Peugeot engineers, the e-3008 doesn't work miracles on this point, so don't expect to find the behavior of its distant thermal cousin with this more muscular engine.
And in terms of autonomy?
More horsepower, but no more kWh, that's the recipe for this Dual Motor version which therefore has the same 73 kWh battery as the version we tested a few months ago. Logically, this extra power comes at a cost in terms of range, as Peugeot announces a 30 km reduction in its range. In theory, you'll therefore have to count on 490 km (WLTP), which is of course valid as long as you stay away from a motorway.
Our test didn't allow us to precisely estimate the range of this Dual Motor version, but it seemed quite close to the values we observed during our two previous trips in the e-3008. On average, you need to count on 16 to 17 kWh/100 km on mixed journeys, and a little less in the city.
Test verdict:
Peugeot has managed to correct the situation. This new Dual Motor version of the e-3008 corrects the main flaw of the FWD model. It's even particularly surprising to see how much the addition of a second engine, and some notable tuning changes of course, have allowed us to overcome the limitations of a platform that we thought was locked in place. So of course, you'll have to dig deep into your wallet to enjoy the good version of Peugeot's electric SUV. It starts at 53,990 euros, which, as it stands, makes it quite uncompetitive. While Peugeot had the good idea of adding an engine, it still has to wait to offer a large battery and, unfortunately, the e-3008 in this version falls below the 500 km range mark. However, the gain in driving pleasure is such that we can easily forgive Peugeot's SUV for losing a few kilometers of autonomy on the road.
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