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The automotive industry is not having an easy time. When it comes to the question of the mobility of the future, reading in a glass ball or in a coffee grounds doesn't help either. One thing is certain, it will develop differently from region to region and be difficult to calculate. In the case of cars, the combustion engine will survive longer on the flat land than in the congested city. Electric cars will initially prevail in houses with garages rather than in flats due to the still lacking charging infrastructure. A challenge for manufacturers who were used to knowing what their customers want. The sale of the new, second generation Peugeot City SUV 2008, which is also available in a fully electric version, will probably be determined by petrol and diesel engines for the time being. The French rely on the drives side by side and have opted for an independent platform for the E version. With plenty of healthy optimism, Peugeot expects that from 2020 ten percent of sales in 2008 will be accounted for by the new fully electric version of the crossover, which will be available in April.
Free choice between electric drive, gasoline or diesel
Externally, the E version, which builds on the new CMP platform from PSA together with the classic drive forms of 2008, does not want to differ except for a few small special features. If you look over the letter "e" on the front fender, the lettering e-2008 on the tailgate and a shimmering blue / green lion emblem in the grille. The French treat the emission-free drive like a normal engine variant, for which customers are free to choose according to their life situation - and of course their wallet.
Battery version after promotion cheaper than the diesel
There are a total of five engines to choose from for the Peugeot 2008, which is only available with front-wheel drive: three 1,2-liter three-cylinder petrol engines with 100 to 155 hp, a 1,5-liter four-cylinder diesel with 130 hp and the fully electric 2008 with a 136 hp electric motor that does that French city SUV should drive up to 320 km (according to WLTP). The prices of the gasoline are between 21.500 euros and 33.900 euros. The diesel costs 29.950 euros. For the e-2008 you have to put 35.250 euros on the table - before deducting the planned grants, which should amount to 6.000 euros.
New design language ensures more dynamism
In addition to a competitive entry price, Peugeot I seinem SUV in the small car segment the new design language in the weighing pan. The bonnet connects directly to the vertically positioned radiator, which looks particularly flat thanks to the rear-facing windscreen. The high and rising belt line, in combination with the wheels up to 18 inches in size, ensures a dynamic appearance even when stationary. As with the 208, there are visual borrowings in the animal kingdom: the vertical daytime running lights have a saber-toothed appearance, glossy black cover with LED taillights that (should) remind of claws.
Class-above-average loading volume
With a length of 4,30 meters, the 2008, which is being built for the European market in Vigo, Spain and is supposed to prevail against a Mazda CX-30, a BMW X1, an Audi Q2 or a VW T-Roc, surpasses its predecessor an impressive 14 centimeters. The wheelbase also extends by almost eleven centimeters to 2,65 meters, which is particularly beneficial for the knees and headroom of the rear passengers and all luggage. 434 liters instead of the previous 350 liters are above the class average, with the rear seats folded down the volume even increases to 1.467 liters.
New 3D instrument cluster should shorten response times
Of course, the 2008 also has the small, sporty steering wheel that lies so well in your hands, but sits so low that you can only look over it and have eye contact with the new 3-D instrument cluster. This works, even if as a normal person you have to lift your seat to find a suitable seating position in front of the "i-Cockpit". For the first time in the SUV segment, Peugeot, like the 208 in the three-dimensional display, has important information moved one level closer to the driver's eye according to its urgency. So he should be able to react about half a second faster.
Peugeout stays with buttons
Under the touchscreen in the middle of the fittings - depending on the equipment line in HD and up to 25 centimeters in size - the keys for the most important functions such as navigation or telephone are lined up vertically, somewhat reminiscent of the keys on a saxophone and with narrow fingers are easy to use. For the energy supply of the driver's and smartphones Passengers have up to four USB ports available, two at the rear and two at the front, one of which has the particularly fast, but still rather rare Type-C port, which you then have to use an adapter for. Optionally, an inductive charging station helps, which is protected from prying eyes by a flap. Made exemplary, Peugeot!
Four equipment lines can be crossed with the three engine variants
Depending on the drive version selected, the driver can choose between three driving modes: Eco for the bargain hunters, normal for everyday driving and sport for more ambitious driving. The switching work is done either by an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. Peugeot offers the new 2008 in four equipment lines: Active, Allure, GT-Line and GT. All versions can be combined with the three engine variants. On our test drive over hilly country roads in Provence, the 131 hp three-cylinder with its maximum torque of 230 Nm copes well with the small lion SUV. The chassis is tight, not uncomfortable, the steering gives direct feedback. The sprint from zero to 100 km / h lasts 8,9 seconds, the top - which remains purely theoretical today - is reached at 198 km / h.
The braking behavior of the electric motor can be preset
Depending on the drive mode, a torque of up to 260 Nm is available for the electric motor from the stand. How the drivetrain works is explained in 3D in the instrument cluster. Different settings for braking behavior can be selected using a shift lever. In enhanced mode, deceleration can only be directed via the "gas" pedal. Nevertheless, despite all recuperation and economical driving, the moment of charging inevitably comes for this electric car as well: the Peugeot e-2008 sucks up to 24 hours at a simple household socket, the three-phase charging on a wall box takes between 11 and 5 hours depending on the kilowatt. On a quick charging station with 100 kW the 2008 is 30 percent charged again in 80 minutes. Fears of range can be minimized with the Free2Move service from Peugeot: with a charging pass you get access to more than 115.000 charging stations in Europe, to which the navigation system leads. You just have to bring time.