Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
There are quite a few cheaper EVs on the market if you're not bothered about passenger space or battery range. You could have a look at the Fiat 500, the Honda E, the Mini Electric or the Mazda MX-30 instead, or the MG ZS EV offers more space for less buck. The Kia e-Niro 39kWh and Volkswagen ID.3 Pro Performance cost around the same as the entry-level e-2008, while the e-Niro Long Range is a fair bit more. Don't forget that you get a government grant that reduces the list price, so when comparing prices do check whether that's been factored in or not.
If you’re a company car driver looking to lower your benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bill then an EV is a no-brainer – if it works with your lifestyle. You'll pay next to no BIK for at least the next couple of years compared with a petrol or diesel car. Even a plug-in hybrid will cost you more in tax, but they don't have the range issues to worry about.
The entry-level e-2008 isn’t brimming with kit, but you do get 16in alloy wheels, climate control, automatic lights and wipers and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. We’d suggest stepping up to Allure trim, which adds bigger 17in alloy wheels, privacy glass, and also the passenger seat height adjustment and rear-view camera we mentioned before. We’d also see why you might be tempted by GT trim. It’s not ridiculously expensive and really starts to pile on the kit, with faux-leather/ cloth seats, ambient lighting, heated front seats and the bigger infotainment screen, full LED headlights and front parking sensors that have already been covered.
Euro NCAP awarded the e-2008 five stars overall but said the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense is safer for adults and children – there are notable concerns about chest injuries for a child in a side impact. Ultimately, the MX-30 is one of the safest cars in the class, though. All e-2008s have automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane assist; Allure trim upgrades the AEB to look out for pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars; and GT trim adds blind spot monitoring.
Peugeot didn’t do very well in the 2020 What Car? Reliability Survey. It placed 25th out of the 31 manufacturers tested, which was above Renault, Tesla, Nissan and Vauxhall, but behind Volkswagen and Citroën. And it was miles behind Mazda, BMW, Honda and Kia. The e-2008 comes with a three-year/ unlimited mileage warranty, with the battery covered separately for eight years or 100,000 miles. Kia’s warranty is a lot longer.
