By FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL, MOTORING REPORTER
The Peugeot 3008 has been something of a sales hit, especially in its native France.
The compact crossover has managed to appeal to a broad range of buyers after a 'light' premium family car with a price tag that doesn't make you baulk. Well, depending on the version that is.
Peugeot has sold almost 190,000 of the latest 3008s, thanks to its range of engines; you can get a plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid and full EV models.
The full EV is the one we drove in the Black Forest, specifically the new Dual Motor version which Peugeot promising 'best in its class electric performance'.
But for extra power and torque, and improved driving dynamics, is it really worth shelling out a fair chunk extra money for a Dual Motor version of a Peugeot SUV EV?
Freda Lewis-Stempel took the Dual Motor GT on a test drive in the German mountains to see if the Peugeot premium family wagon can compete with rivals.
For extra power and torque, and improved driving dynamics, is it really worth shelling out a fair chunk extra money for a Dual Motor version of a Peugeot's top selling 3008 SUV EV?
First off, the e-3008 Dual Motor is the most powerful Peugeot on sale today, coming with 325hp.
The all-wheel drive car comes two e-motors, one per axle which deliver 213hp plus 112hp.
Peugeot says 'this next level performance' makes it 'best in its electric class'.
There's a new additional 4WD driving mode as well, although we aren't that sure it's really needed. But when it is, it will be automatically activated.
You're nestled into the e-3008 because the cockpit wraps around you, with the curved dash and high centre column really tucking you up. The 21-inch HD panoramic curved 'floating' display is definitely premium
Driving the e-3008 around Germany and Switzerland in the summer, played up the premiumness of the EV's interior.
This is an area where you feel the price of the e-3008 is more justified.
The Launch Edition comes fully equipped as standard with a panoramic opening sunroof which makes the minimal, grey-black and quite high-tech looking interior look extra fresh, smart and glossy.
You're nestled into the e-3008 as the cockpit wraps around you, with the curved dash and high centre column really tucking you up.
With a mix between cloth and metallic, with plenty of stitching and patterned ambient lighting it's like being in a slick showroom.
I don't love the small steering wheel - a Peugeot classic - but it isn't as annoying as it is in smaller models as you do have a clear line to the digital dials.
The panoramic roof eats into the already limited headroom and taller adults will find legroom is cramped
But the 588-litre boot is sizeably bigger than the Ford Explorer's 470 litres and the Kia EV3's 460 litres
The main calling is the new, 21-inch HD panoramic curved 'floating' display which of course comes with wireless Mirrorscreen (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and shortcuts and icons to make it easier to navigate while driving.
The interior's drawback is that it isn't very spacious.
The panoramic roof eats into the already limited headroom and taller adults will find legroom is cramped. But the 588-litre boot is bigger than the Ford Explorer's 470 litres and the Kia EV3's 460 litres.
The Dual Motor can get you from 0-62mph in 6.4 second which is perfectly sprightly but not going to finish the 100m first
The Dual Motor can get you from 0-62mph in 6.4 second which is perfectly sprightly. It's not the Usain Bolt of cars but it won't be finishing the heat dead last either.
The power kicks in a bit later as well, so don't feel the need to shove your foot down - it'll pick up.
Overall it handled the winding mountain roads of the Black Forest with minimal body roll and good traction and the steering was nicely weighted.
Silent and stealthy: The e-3008 shone because there was barely a whispher of road noise coming in
The brakes though are like putting your foot through mousse though, they really are not good
On the motorway, the e-3008 shone because there was barely a whisper of road noise coming in, and the car glided over the surface car far better, unsurprisingly, than it handed some of the bumpier back roads of Germany despite the new springs and shock absorbs.
The brakes though are like putting your foot through mousse - they really are not good.
In terms of range, the e-3008 Dual Motor can do around 304 miles on a single charge, and top up from 20 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. It's fine but it's not overly impressive - not for long family getaways.
You can also tow up to 1,350kg which is more helpful.
But the Dual Motor model is even more - £56,290. You're in the kind of price bracket you'd expect for Audi or Mercedes
Price - how much do you have to part with for a e-3008?
Think Peugeot and you'll imagine a car that comes with an affordable price tag.
But the e-3008 isn't that car. Peugeot has positioned this car as premium and therefore it comes with a price tag to match.
The electric 3008 starts at £46,060, but the top-spec GT costs £49,440. Opt for the bigger 98kWh battery band you're looking at £52,290.
But the Dual Motor model is even more - £56,290. You're in the kind of price bracket you'd expect for Audi or Mercedes, not the car maker that once gave us the 205. So, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people think: 'do I need to be putting this kind of money aside for a EV of this stature?'
Why buy the Dual Motor when the Long Range offers you so many more miles on a single charge? The 210hp Long Range which can thrash out 435 miles and costs sround £52k, but the Dual Motor can only do just over 300 miles on a charge
The e-3008 Dual Motor is the top version of the 3008 electric offering, and so it performs this way.
However, that price tag really will make you think twice. It isn't memorable enough to make you want to put down over £50k for it, and nor does it have the prestige.
There are three 3008 EVs to choose from: Standard Range, Long Range and Dual Motor.
It makes you think: if you can get the 210hp Long Range which can thrash out 435 miles and costs around £52k, then isn't this a better buy for the majority of families than the Dual Motor?
And then put the e-3008 up against the Tesla Model Y: Tesla has just brought out the Model Y Standard which costs from £41,990, and has 314 miles of range.
Even if you hate Elon Musk you can still see that a Tesla Model Y Premium with 387 miles of range, a 0-to-60mph time of 5.4 seconds and an on the road price of £49,990 seems more appealing than the e-3008.
The e-3008 is lovely to be in, and it's great to see Peugeot really upping the stakes for external and internal design, but that alone isn't enough to justify the price we feel.
