Peugeot E-2008 review: interior, dashboard & infotainment

Perhaps the Peugeot E-2008’s biggest strength – and weakness – is its striking interior. With more angles than a trigonometry exam, the Peugeot’s concept car-esque cockpit is different to the minimalist interiors of rivals such as the cheaper MG4, but boasts superb material and build quality.

Peugeot E-2008 dashboard

If you’ve sat in any Peugeot over the last few years you’ll be familiar with the brand’s polarising ‘i-Cockpit’ layout. While in most cars the dials are mounted behind the steering wheel, with the driver looking through the gap between the spokes to read them, i-Cockpit instead mounts the digital driver display above a small, squared-off steering wheel.

The digital instruments themselves are relatively easy to read and even come with a snazzy 3D effect on top models. While they aren’t the most configurable, and can feel a bit dark and dingy, we do like how they change appearance in respect to what drive mode you’re in.

The real issue is the small steering wheel; this has to be positioned quite low in order for you to be able to read the dials over the top. While this may be fine for some drivers, others will find this uncomfortable, with the wheel knocking into your legs each time you turn it. This could be somewhat of a dealbreaker for many, so we recommend at least sitting in an E-2008 and taking it for a test drive to find out whether you could live with this setup.

Equipment, options & accessories

Choosing your ideal Peugeot E-2008 is simple as there are only three main trim levels to choose from: Active, Allure and GT. Even entry-level cars get 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and climate control, as well as a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Stepping up to the Allure brings 17-inch alloy wheels, gloss-black roof rails, a bigger 10-inch screen, a 180-degree parking camera and the excellent 3D digital instrument cluster. GT adds full LED headlights, high-beam assist, ambient lighting and wireless phone charging.

Notice we said three ‘main’ trim levels? Well, for a short time after the facelifted E-2008’s release, buyers also have the option of the fully-loaded First Edition model. Starting at an eye-watering £41,600, this model boasts exclusive Alcantara seats with green stitching, heated electric front seats, sat nav and an 11kW on-board charger. We’d steer clear of this model and go for the mid-spec Allure, however, as that offers a good compromise in terms of price and level of equipment.

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

As standard, entry-level the Peugeot E-2008 comes fitted with a seven-inch infotainment system, while higher-spec cars get a 10-inch unit. The smaller screen hasn’t got many features and is a bit low-res, so drivers will mostly be relying on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – both accessible via a USB cable.

The larger 10-inch screen gets built-in TomTom sat nav on top models, which is good if you’d rather not use your phone. The upgraded screen is much sharper than the smaller display and even features handy customisable widgets on the home screen, allowing you to easily access some of your most frequently used functions. However, despite the extra screen real estate on offer and a software update as part of the recent facelift, Peugeot’s infotainment system still can’t match that of rivals such as the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 in terms of responsiveness and ergonomics – there are a few too many sub-menus which can be a bit frustrating.