Peugeot e-2008 EV finally locked in for Australia as release date, price confirmed

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After more than a year considering which of its fully-electric models to bring to Australia, French marque Peugeot has announced that it will make the e-2008 electric small SUV available from the third quarter of 2023.

In confirming what Peugeot says will be a “limited initial allocation” arriving between July and September 2023, the e-2008 spearheads electric French motoring in Australia – though the brand’s electric E-Partner van will arrive first. Preorders for the e-2008 have now opened.

The price of the Peugeot e-2008 in Australia will be $59,990 before on-road costs, making it the equal of the new, German-made Cupra Born on cost terms but not on range, with the Cupra’s 511 km playing the e-2008’s WLTP test range of 328 km.

However, the reasonably sharp price does see the e-2008 undercut base-model versions the popular Tesla Model 3 sedan (and Model Y SUV), plus the Polestar 2 – but it’s dearer than a BYD Atto 3 or the new MG4.

Like its petrol-powered 2008 sibling, the 2023 e-2008 is a tidily-styled small SUV with five seats and front-wheel drive. The e-2008 uses a 46.3 kWh battery (usable size) with a WLTP range claim of 328 km. That indicates efficiency of 14.1kWh/100km.

The e-2008 is capable of being charged at speeds of up to 100kW, with a 10-80 percent charging session time of 26 minutes, which would restore range from 32 km to 262 km. Household AC charging is capped at 7.4kW, replenishing the battery in 7.5 hours.

For the electric version, which has only subtle styling differentiation from the petrol models, a single motor is mounted on the front axle providing a power output of 100kW (134 horsepower) and 260Nm of torque.

Those outputs are 4kW/30Nm higher than the petrol 2008, which makes 96kW/230Nm in Australia in two guises: the $38,945 Allure trim, and the $43,397 GT variant. A previous higher-powered 2008 GT Sport model was discontinued for 2008.

The petrol versions weigh less than 1300 kg and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 9.3 sec – but while the e-2008 is about 300 kg heavier, its instant electric torque slashes the sprint from rest to triple digits to 8.5 sec.

Standard equipment for the e-2008 includes:

• 18-inch ‘Evissa’ alloy wheels in onyx black
• Horizontal slat grille with body-coloured inserts
• Dual-chrome LED headlights
• Triple-claw LED rear lights
• E badges on the front quarter and tailgate
• Black alcantara/vinyl upholstery
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Proximity entry, push-button start

An opening panoramic sunroof is $1990, while a household three-pin charging cable costs $1325. In terms of paint colours, orange fusion is the no-cost option. Artense grey and Nera black attract a $690 up-charge, while vertigo blue, elixir red and pearl white are designated as premium paints at $1050.

Additional Australian specifications will be announced prior to the Q3 2023 release date, Peugeot says.