Claws Out: The Peugeot E-5008 Wants to Win Your Garage and Your Heart

The Peugeot 5008 began life in 2009 as a practical people mover, but at some point, it decided to swap its sensible shoes for high heels and a flashier wardrobe, transforming into a gleaming SUV. It was as if a dull family man had woken up overnight as a hip barista in a trendy city district.

With the arrival of its third generation, the 5008 is making an even bolder leap: the engine's rumble is replaced by an electric hum, and the whiff of diesel gives way to elegant silence. The new E-5008 steps onto the stage as a seven-seat electric urban SUV—a breed about as rare as cheese-free fondue in the Swiss Alps or election promises delivered by centrists. In other words, practically nonexistent.

Peugeot is well aware of this and hopes the E-5008 will carve out a unique niche in the market. Sure, competitors exist, but most are either absurdly expensive—think Volvo EX90 and Kia EV9—or resemble electric vans with a range as short as an Estonian summer. The E-5008, however, promises style, space, and driving range that will not leave you stranded in the cold on the darkest February night.

All this is backed by Peugeot’s strategic ambition to lead Europe’s electrification push. The E-5008 rides on Stellantis’ new STLA Medium platform, designed for both hybrid and electric powertrains. The same foundation is shared with the smaller e-3008, but the E-5008 stands as the true flagship for families: 4.79 meters long, 1.89 meters wide, and with a huge 2.90-meter wheelbase—enough to accommodate all the kids, pets, and even the in-laws (if absolutely necessary).

Practicality was a key focus. Instead of following the coupe-SUV trend, with rooflines dropping as steeply as the stock market in a crisis, the E-5008 keeps its roof flat. The result is a boot that holds more than just a few bags of potatoes, and headroom where even a hat stays firmly on. Yet, the E-5008 remains as French as a flaky croissant at breakfast or a midday glass of chilled Chablis.

The exterior’s standout feature is the new frameless grille, seamlessly blending into the body. The real eye-catchers, however, are the three claw-shaped LED daytime lights—a new Peugeot signature. Where there was once a single modest "fang," now the front boasts a parade of claws.

The GT version adds another trick: Pixel LED matrix headlights, which allow full beams without dazzling oncoming drivers. Once reserved for German premium brands, this luxury now graces the French marque.

In profile, the E-5008 is unmistakably classic, with enough headroom even for those relegated to the third row. A high beltline and muscular shoulders give it a powerful, almost tank-like stance, while clever lines create a sense of motion even at a standstill.

Peugeot’s designers ditched outdated chrome details in favor of trendy dark finishes such as "Meteor Grey" and "Orbital Black." The result is a clean, elegant look with nothing shiny to distract the eye.

Wheels up to 20 inches follow Peugeot’s latest style seen on the 408 and 3008, sporting technical designs and a shield-shaped center cap. Aerodynamics received special attention, making this large SUV more streamlined than you might expect.

At the rear, the triple-claw theme continues with striking and instantly recognizable taillights. The brand name sits boldly at the center, like an artist’s signature on a painting. Details such as hidden parking sensors and discreet cameras highlight the designers’ meticulousness.

Step inside, and the E-5008’s interior feels inspired—part spaceship cockpit, part cozy lounge. The first thing you notice is Peugeot’s new Panoramic i-Cockpit: a vast 21-inch curved display sweeping across the dash like a sci-fi control panel. The small, sporty steering wheel remains a Peugeot hallmark, but thanks to the new screen layout, even taller drivers no longer have to crane their necks to see their speed.

Materials are impressive: soft plastics, fabric-wrapped surfaces, and door panels that feel borrowed from pricier German cars. Add in the GT model’s multi-color LED ambient lighting, and the atmosphere is more stylish cocktail bar than family hauler. If you love neon-lit cyberpunk films, you’ll love this cabin.

Even the seats deserve praise—supportive, comfortable, and set just high enough to make you feel like the king of the road. Visibility is excellent, and the GT’s adaptive LED headlights make night driving easy, like using night-vision goggles.

Among the updates are Peugeot’s i-Toggle buttons, which you can program for quick access to your favorite functions, such as your route home or radio station. The only catch: every button is touch-sensitive, so you’ll hit the wrong one at least three times while driving. The climate controls are also entirely on the touchscreen, which is particularly annoying if you’re using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in full-screen mode—then all climate info disappears. The digital age has its charms and its drawbacks.

As a cherry on top, the E-5008 comes with integrated ChatGPT—yes, you can chat with your car. On long, dull journeys, the car can recite poems or tell the kids fairy tales. Who needs radio when your car can lecture like a professor?

Practicality is further ensured by an abundance of storage spaces, cupholders, and places for all sorts of gadgets. The only thing missing is the popular EV "frunk" (front trunk). But who really wants to stash something as mundane as a charging cable under the hood of such a refined machine?

Clearly, the E-5008 is not a Nürburgring record-breaker or a drifting hero for Tokyo nights. This is a car that moves with considered calm. The first impression behind the wheel: "Wow, such a big car, but it drives like a small one!" The signature small steering wheel feels like a gaming controller—light, quick, and with typically numb electric feedback. The weight (about 1.7 tons or more) is well masked—at least until you get too playful in the corners.

On the highway, the E-5008 transforms into something else—an elegant express train. It tracks straight, wind noise is minimal, and bumps are smoothed out as it rolls quietly and smoothly. However, slow down for a pothole or speed bump and the soft suspension rocks for a moment like an American lowrider.

In corners, body roll is noticeable, steering feedback is virtually absent, but everything feels safe, predictable, and relaxed. Some may find this dull, but for most, it’s the perfect family car recipe—like grandma’s potato salad: never exciting, but always reliable.

The E-5008 comes with three powertrain options:
- 210 hp, 502 km (WLTP)—plenty for daily use.
- Long Range, 230 hp (98 kWh battery, up to 668 km WLTP)—further than most people can drive in one sitting.
- AWD—dual-motor, 320 hp, 0–100 km/h in about 6-7 seconds, all-wheel drive, elegant and capable. Handles slippery roads as if the tires are glued down. Reportedly, as it is not yet available.

Charging is simple: at home, an 11 kW charger fills the battery overnight; at a fast charger, 160 kW gets you to 80% in 30 minutes. And you do not have to remember to preheat the battery—the car handles it.

Peugeot promises over 40 driver assistance and safety systems. And no, that does not just mean more beeping alarms—though you get those too. The car keeps a closer eye on your surroundings than you do. Even in the Allure trim, you get everything essential: automatic emergency braking that detects pedestrians, cyclists, and maybe even stray e-scooters. Lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, driver fatigue monitoring—features that make you wonder whether you are driving the car or it is driving you.

But that is just the start. Higher trims bring Drive Assist Plus 2.0—a system that makes highway driving feel like you have an invisible butler at the wheel. Adaptive cruise control can stop and go in traffic, lane keep assist makes gentle corrections, and the slickest trick: semi-automatic lane changes. The car checks if the lane is clear, and if you want to change lanes, just tap the indicator and the car does the rest.

The E-5008 can also suggest the right speed if, for example, it is raining—"Sir, you might want to slow down now." And if you do not, well, at least it warned you. Blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, parking assist, and even a 360-degree camera system called VisioPark are all included.

And of course—the little touches. The rear camera has its own washer, cleaning the lens on muddy winter days. You did not know you needed this until you could no longer tell if there was a car or a moose behind you.

The test car was the GT Electric 210 (157 kW). Seven seats, roughly 500 km range, and front-wheel drive. Yes, it is the family car that swallows all the kids, the dog, grandma, and even a small garden cart—doing it all quietly, smoothly, and with sparkling elegance.

The futuristic cabin features a 21-inch curved screen, illuminated textures, buttonless dashboard, voice control with "OK, Peugeot," and ChatGPT on board.

The drive? This is not an Alpine or a Tesla Plaid. If you hope to attack corners like Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring, you will be disappointed. The suspension is soft, steering feel is absent, and the overall driving dynamic is more relaxing than thrilling. But for this car, that does not matter. You do not buy the E-5008 for speed records. You buy it to have space for all your stuff and to transport it in silence from point A to point B.

Of course, it is not without flaws: climate controls only on the screen are inconvenient. The Isofix mount is gone from the middle seat in the second row. The third row for adults? More punishment than reward. But these are livable quirks, because with the E-5008, Peugeot has achieved something few automakers can: they have made a family car that truly fulfills its purpose.