There’s a common view in the motoring world that cars are becoming increasingly similar, with some believing that there will be little to no differences at all.
Fingers can certainly be pointed to Peugeot, who are a part of Stellantis, the fourth largest manufacturer of cars in the world with 16 different brands to their name.
However, whilst companies owning brands means we have less in the way of unique products, the cars we do get are the product of even more designers, meaning the buyer should get the best of the best.
This certainly seems to be the case for the Peugeot 2008 as, whilst it uses the same platform as many other cars such as the DS3 Crossback and Vauxhall Corsa, it features a variety of powertrains including a fully electric version.
From the outside, there is little difference between a petrol or an electric Peugeot 2008, with the biggest difference being the blue “e” badge on the tailgate.
I think that nearly everything in the current Peugeot range is a good looker, with the 2008 in particular wearing all of its boxy styling cues well.
Whilst elements such as the fang-shaped daytime running lights and retro, Coke-bottled window line won’t be to everyone’s taste, I particularly liked the flat bonnet that made the front of the car visible from the driver’s seat.
Inside, I found the Peugeot e2008 a little fussier than some of its competitors, thanks in part to a very detailed dashboard and centre console layout.
With that said, I was very pleased to see plenty of physical buttons, including a row of “piano keys” underneath the 10-inch touchscreen to control components like the heated screens and central locking.
The touchscreen itself was responsive and very intuitive, however only a rear parking camera is available which, whilst incredibly useful, was somewhat pixelated.
What’s more, it was fairly spacious for the compact crossover segment, with ample head and legroom to fit all 6ft 2 of me comfortably.
The Allure Premium version I test drove featured the outgoing 50kWh battery pack that offers a practical, if not class-leading, range of up to 206 miles per charge.
However, performance is fairly brisk, with the non-GT e-2008 accelerating from 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 93mph.
However, above all else, I found that the Peugeot e-2008 is an incredibly easy car to drive, thanks in particular to it’s well-weighted steering and pleasant ride quality.
However, prices for the electric version are substantially higher, with the e-2008 range starting at £36,350, over £12,000 more than a basic petrol model.
In conclusion, the Peugeot e-2008 is possibly one of the easiest cars to drive on the market today, even by EV standards.
It may not be the most advanced or performance-focused electric car on the market, but it offers good looks and plenty of standard equipment, making it a good choice for a first-time EV buyer.