Electric Peugeot e-2008 on sale in Australia

This new entrant from a mainstream manufacturer is big on style but has a lot of catching up to do if it is to rival the pace-setting Tesla.

2023 Peugeot e-2008.

Peugeot is about to launch its first electric car in Australia.

Having dabbled with plug-in hybrid versions of models such as the 308, the brand is going all-in with a battery-powered alternative to the likes of Tesla.

Peugeot’s e-2008 is on the way to Australia.

The Peugeot e-2008 is an electric version of the 2008 compact SUV, which means it’s closer in nature to a Hyundai Kona Electric or Mazda MX-30 EV.

The model ditches turbo petrol power in favour of an electric motor.

The electric Peugeot is based on the petrol-powered 2008 GT.

The unit sends 100kW and 260Nm to the front tyres, which should translate to adequate rather than impressive acceleration for a car of this size.

A 50kWh battery is on the modest size for a new EV in 2023, returning 328 kilometres of range.

That’s well less than the 500 plus kilometres promised by the new Cupra Born electric car for similar money.

The car has Peugeot’s compact steering wheel and highset driver instruments.

Able to take on 100kW of energy at fast charging sites, the Peugeot needs half an hour to charge to 80 per cent of its maximum range.

Priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs (about $63,000 drive-away), the Peugeot costs about $16,000 more than petrol-powered cousins – a relatively slender premium for an electric car.

A compact infotainment screen has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It has a modern cabin with driver assistance features and smartphone mirroring, alongside the gloss black exterior styling elements of the Peugeot 2008 GT compact SUV.

Even so, Peugeot does not expect to sell the car in significant numbers. Kate Gillis, managing director for Peugeot in Australia, says the first batch of cars will be a limited allocation.

“The e-2008 is going to be an important and eagerly anticipated addition to the local range as we continue on our electrification journey,” she said.

2023 Peugeot e-2008.

“The impending arrival will signify our first fully electric passenger vehicle on sale in Australia and provides us with the opportunity to further expand on the success of the premium 2008 SUV range.

“We are confident the e-2008 will provide discerning customers with a design-focused electric SUV and it is with great excitement that pre-orders are opening today.”