SEVEN INTO EIGHT (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Peugeot's E-5008 offers seven proper seats to customers wanting a mid-sized electric SUV. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 38

Peugeot's E-5008 offers a pretty unique proposition to those in search of a relatively affordable seven-seat EV. This, the first 5008 to be fully battery-powered, also offers a versatile, sophisticated cabin. It ought to find a ready market.

Backgroundword count: 164

You might reasonably think that finding a gap in the volume part of the over-crowded SUV market would be almost impossible. Not so. That one rather obvious opportunity still exists is highlighted by this car, the Peugeot E-5008. What other mid-sized model that isn't a converted van can offer you a full-EV drivetrain and seven proper seats for under £60,000? With that kind of unique selling point, you'd think this car might have a ready market. This is the third generation design in the 5008 model line, but the first to be offered with the option of the full-electric drivetrain that's created the E-5008 variant we look at here. This third generation 5008 (like its two predecessors) is essentially just a stretched version of the 3008 (or in this case the E-3008). Which means that in MK3 form, this electrified 5008 is based on the latest, more sophisticated Stellantis Group STLA platform (which also underpins the latest Vauxhall Grandland). Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 329

A family-sized seven-seat SUV isn't meant to be thrown about. But it should be capable of safe, high speed handling, should circumstances demand that. If you want us to get right to it, that's what's been delivered here. Don't expect to particularly enjoy the back doubles on your way home from the school run. But if necessary, the 5008 will get you through them surprisingly quickly if your kids have made you late for your first appointment of the day. At the wheel, the unusual driving position of the 'i-Cockpit' design takes some getting used to, but does encourage wrist-flick direction changes from the little tiller. In terms of EV powertrain, all you really need here is the 210hp 73kWh single motor E-5008 model that most customers will choose - the version we tried. It's not particularly fast for an EV, making 62mph in 9.7 seconds, but there's plenty of pulling power that makes the performance quite enough for family duties and eager enough for a 2.2-tonne family car. EV range is up to 339 miles. If you want to go further, there's a Long Range Single Motor model available with 231hp and a larger 97kWh battery that can take you up to 414 miles. At the top of the line-up is the '320 Dual Motor AWD' model, which produces 315hp from its twin motors and also uses the larger 97kWh battery pack. Driving range with that variant is quoted at 310 miles. On all E-5008s, there are three stages of selectable regenerative braking (Low, Moderate and Enhanced) and three main driving modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport', with an extra '4WD' setting available on the dual motor model. Peugeot claims the underfloor battery pack gives the car greater stiffness than its combustion predecessor, which should help handling. A multi-link rear axle bolted to this MK3 5008's new STLA Medium platform features on the E-5008 and ought to help clump all that weight over speed humps and poor surfaces.

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