The Peugeot e-3008 is now also available as a more powerful all-wheel drive thanks to a second electric motor. Does this turn the crossover into an off-road vehicle, or do the higher performance figures deliver more dynamics?
The third generation of the Peugeot 3008, presented last year, is now available with all-wheel drive in addition to front-wheel drive. At least the electric e-3008; the hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants only have the front wheels responsible for delivering drive forces. The all-wheel drive is fully named e-3008 325 Dual Motor. The name already reveals that a second electric motor has been added. This is located between the rear wheels and provides drive there. The arrival of that extra motor also immediately makes the 4×4 the most powerful version, with a system power of 325 hp.
A second electric motor (between the rear wheels) turns the e-3008 into an all-wheel drive.
How can you recognize the 4×4?
On the outside, the all-wheel drive only distinguishes itself from the other variants by the fact that Dual Motor is written on the tailgate. We also see no differences with the other 3008s in the interior. We have little to criticize about the finish and the materials used. The quirky dashboard design takes some getting used to but ultimately poses little obstacle to simple operation.
You can only recognize the all-wheel drive on the outside by the text Dual Motor at the bottom right of the tailgate.
Is the Peugeot e-3008 a spacious car?
With the e-3008 325 Dual Motor, Peugeot is still aiming at two-person households or at most families with small children. Understandably, as an adult you have little to look for in the back seat under the sloping roof. It is just a little more than a 2+2. The only practical difference with the front-wheel drive is the content of the luggage space, which is 50 liters less in the all-wheel drive: 470 liters. This is the direct result of the placement of the electric motor between the rear wheels. Fortunately, there is still room left under the height-adjustable trunk floor to store, for example, the charging cable, which is nice because the e-3008 does not have a frunk.
As an adult, you have nothing to look for in the back seat; the roof is quite low.
What is the performance of the Peugeot e-3008 325 Dual Motor?
With front-wheel drive only, the e-3008 is for sale with a 73-kWh battery pack and an electric motor peaking at 213 hp (the e-3008 210) and as a Long Range variant with a 96.9-kWh battery pack and a 231 hp motor (the e-3008 230). The Dual Motor is a direct derivative of the basic version; it is only available with the 73-kWh battery and has the 213 hp motor in the front. The rear motor is good for 112 hp and brings the system power to 325 hp. It makes the e-3008 nice and smooth and vibrant. However, it does increase consumption, leaving you with a maximum range of 490 kilometers according to the specifications.
The large battery pack of the e-3008 Long Range is not available on the 4WD.
What does a second motor deliver?
The arrival of the second electric motor brings an extra driving mode: 4WD. In this position, the front and rear axles are each allocated 50 percent of the power, so the front motor is somewhat restrained. This is to suppress excessive spinning of the front wheels on rotten surfaces. Incidentally, in this position, the electronics allow slightly more wheelspin than in the other driving modes so that you can still get out of your feet in a controlled manner off-road. Furthermore, the Dual Motor has hill-descent control, the off-road cruise control that ensures that you come down in a controlled manner on loose surfaces without having to brake. The other driving modes are Eco, where only the front wheels are driven for lower consumption and the rear motor spins loosely; Normal, where the front wheels are leading in terms of drive but where the rear wheels can be automatically switched on if necessary, with a maximum system power of 312 hp. In Sport mode, there is a more progressive reaction to the accelerator pedal and both motors can fully participate. Just like in 4WD mode, there is permanent all-wheel drive, only now in a distribution of almost 60 percent front and 40 percent rear.
The arrival of the second motor also brings a 4WD mode. That does not make the e-3008 Dual Motor an off-road vehicle. It is more in its element on the asphalt.
What is the benefit of all-wheel drive in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, where extreme snow days rarely occur and the roads are usually neatly paved, the added value of all-wheel drive seems limited. If you want extra hp, a slightly larger electric motor is a simpler and, above all, cheaper solution. On the other hand, with all-wheel drive, the front wheels do not have to bear the brunt of everything but are somewhat relieved. This contributes to a little more peace in the steering. In addition, an active distribution of the driving forces over the front and rear wheels has a stabilizing effect. This quickly becomes apparent during our acquaintance with the Dual Motor over a route with many bends. Where a front-wheel drive naturally seeks out the outside of a quickly taken bend, that tendency to understeer is suppressed in the 4×4, long before driving turns into sliding. The Peugeot follows the imposed route nicely neutrally. Only when forcing hard on wet asphalt do we see the warning light of the electronic stabilization system light up once, otherwise the car does not flinch.
Thanks to all-wheel drive, the 3008 feels more stable.
How does the e-3008 drive with 4WD?
Like the other electric variants, the all-wheel drive also has McPherson struts at the front and a multi-link construction at the rear, the basic recipe for stable road handling. However, the 4×4 has tighter springs, ditto shock absorbers and stabilizer bars to cope with the extra weight (+ 154 kg) and the higher power. Despite the presence of the Sport mode, the chassis tuning is not aimed at dynamics: the emphasis is on comfort, just like the steering. In the sport mode, the power steering is turned back a notch, but the steering itself does not become more sensitive; it remains somewhat distant. In all driving modes, you only get to know to a limited extent what is happening between the tires and the road surface. We do not directly associate that with sport, but it does contribute to the necessary peace, especially on longer distances.
The chassis of the 4×4 Peugeot is nice and comfortable.
Do you get value for your money?
Initially, the e-3008 325 Dual Motor is only available as a Launch Edition. This is based on the GT version and is also equipped with, among other things, 20-inch light-alloy wheels, a glass roof, seats with extra functionality and extra assistance systems. Peugeot asks €56,515 for this. That is quite hefty when you consider that you can already get all-wheel drive versions of, for example, the Tesla Model Y or XPeng G6 for less money, cars with much more mature electrical capacities and, above all, a more spacious interior.