{"id":245633,"date":"2023-11-18T11:49:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T11:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotobuzz.com\/?p=245633"},"modified":"2023-11-18T11:49:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T11:49:28","slug":"peugeot-e-2008-vs-byd-atto-3-family-friendly-electric-suvs-fight-it-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automotobuzz.com\/car-reviews\/peugeot-e-2008-vs-byd-atto-3-family-friendly-electric-suvs-fight-it-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Peugeot E-2008 vs BYD Atto 3: family-friendly electric SUVs fight it out"},"content":{"rendered":"

The revised Peugeot E-2008 offers more range than before, but has it progressed enough to beat the BYD Atto 3?<\/h2>\n


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Electric car innovation moves forward at lightning speed: not only are we seeing big improvements in battery tech, but also new car makers bursting onto the market with impressive speed and regularity. We\u2019ve brought together two examples for this test: an updated version of an existing EV, the Peugeot E-2008, and a new player that\u2019s already making waves: the BYD Atto 3.<\/p>\n

While the pre-facelift Peugeot was still a good option for many buyers, the market has moved on quickly and the car\u2019s claimed 214-mile range didn\u2019t stay impressive for long. This new version has a larger battery that also happens to be lighter than before, and thanks to some other tweaks it now manages a much more respectable 250 miles on a charge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Boasting a reworked front end, the sharpened Peugeot is ready to take on a very interesting rival in the BYD. This newcomer has already impressed with its value for money, and here we\u2019ll find out which of the two is the better pick as an electric family car.<\/p>\n

Peugeot E-2008<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Model:<\/td>\nPeugeot E-2008 GT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price:<\/td>\n\u00a340,700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Powertrain:<\/td>\nSingle e-motor, 54kWh battery, 154bhp, front-wheel drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
0-62mph:<\/td>\n9.1 seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Test efficiency:<\/td>\n4.1mi\/kWh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Test range:<\/td>\n196 miles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charging:<\/td>\n100kW (10-80% in 26 min)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In GT guise tested here, the updated E-2008 costs \u00a340,700, which is \u00a31,710 more than the top-spec Atto 3. Allure trim is slightly below the BYD at \u00a338,500, but misses some key equipment.<\/p>\n

Tech highlights\u00a0<\/h2>\n

The Peugeot 2008 has been a huge success since the second-generation model launched in 2019, and we reckon it was always at its best in electric form as the E-2008. The original version had a range of around 214 miles courtesy of a 50kWh battery, and this updated version \u2013 easily identified by its dramatic-looking new grille and distinctive alloy wheels \u2013 has a larger 54kWh pack that\u2019s also 5kg lighter. Together with some software tweaks, it means the facelifted car provides an official range of 250 miles.<\/p>\n

The motor has been updated too, delivering 154bhp and 260Nm of torque. It drives the front wheels, so uses the same layout as its rival here, although the BYD has a more powerful unit with 201bhp. It\u2019s clear that the Peugeot is slower; it takes 9.1 seconds to accelerate from 0-62mph, while its rival takes just 7.3 seconds. These are family SUVs rather than hot hatchbacks, though.<\/p>\n

A more important area where the E-2008 falls behind its rival is for charging speed, because the Peugeot is only capable of rapid charging at a rate of up to 100kW, while the Atto 3 can top-up at a maximum of 150kW. The Peugeot appears to have the edge for real-world charging, though, taking 10 minutes less than the BYD to go from 10-80 per cent capacity.<\/p>\n

Safety: <\/strong>The pre-facelift Peugeot 2008 was tested by Euro NCAP in 2019 and achieved a five-star result, scoring particularly well for adult protection. It matches its rival here, which was tested in 2022, also with a five-star rating.<\/p>\n

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On the road<\/h2>\n

The Peugeot feels more mature than the BYD on the road. It\u2019s more comfortable and quieter over bumpy surfaces, and despite being down on power when compared with its rival it feels just as punchy at lower speeds.<\/p>\n


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Around town: <\/strong>The Peugeot E-2008 isn\u2019t the smoothest-riding family car around, because it\u2019s slightly firmer than we\u2019d like on rough, potholed roads. However it does a good job of filtering out smaller bumps and feels more grown-up than its rival in this area. It\u2019s significantly quieter than the BYD, although since they\u2019re both electric, they\u2019re equally ideal for driving in town and in traffic.<\/p>\n

A & B-roads:<\/strong> Although Eco and Normal driving modes will allow you to reach the maximum potential range figure, Sport mode feels more natural on A and B-roads. The motor is heavily restricted in the other settings and can feel quite lethargic if you need to make a quick overtake or want to accelerate out of a tight corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the Peugeot isn\u2019t hugely powerful anyway, with 154bhp to the BYD\u2019s 201bhp, it doesn\u2019t feel as quick as many have come to expect of electric cars. However, we\u2019d still rather be driving the E-2008 overall: it\u2019s more comfortable \u2014 despite the slightly awkward driving position \u2014 and the steering is more responsive, if not as good as some of the best cars in this class when it comes to driving enjoyment.<\/p>\n

Motorway:<\/strong> Both cars here are at home on the motorway and offer decent ride comfort, but the Peugeot has the edge for wind and road noise, which is louder in the BYD. As with all electric cars, though, travelling at higher speeds tends to sap the battery, and will result in a lower overall range the more time you spend going so fast.<\/p>\n

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Ownership<\/h2>\n

The E-2008 continues with Peugeot\u2019s i-Cockpit design that has become a staple of the brand\u2019s interiors. It uses a small steering wheel and digital dials above, in this case featuring an interesting 3D effect. It looks really smart in low light, but we found it lacking in contrast on bright days.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The centre console hasn\u2019t changed much from before, but the materials are of a high quality and the whole cabin feels more upmarket and luxurious than the BYD\u2019s. In fact, the E-2008 has one of the best interiors in its class in terms of styling and finish, if not ergonomics. There are a few niggles, such as the lack of physical air-con controls and the tiny drive selector that feels spongy and cheap to use, but overall it\u2019s a pleasant place to sit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While BYD is too new to have featured in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, Peugeot managed an impressive ninth place. It shows that buyers are pretty happy with their cars and the ownership experience overall, but the main area Peugeot scored highly was for exterior and interior styling. Owners love how their cars look and this new E-2008 has an even more bold appearance, thanks to that new grille.<\/p>\n

Storage: <\/strong>There\u2019s plenty of space in the cabin of the E-2008, although it does feel slightly more cramped than the Atto 3, mainly because of the bulkier seats and darker colour scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a fairly broad smartphone shelf on the centre console, and since the drive selector is a tiny toggle switch rather than a large lever, there\u2019s lots of room between the driver and passenger for a pair of cup-holders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a storage cubby under the armrest that\u2019s larger than it first seems; the opening is quite small but there\u2019s a large and deep space underneath. There\u2019s also a fold-out shelf just below the infotainment switches, which could be useful for a second smartphone or a wallet.<\/p>\n

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Practicality<\/h2>\n

The E-2008 is smaller than its rival here, so it should be a little easier to park in tighter spaces. Visibility isn\u2019t a strong point in either car, though.<\/p>\n

Rear Space: <\/strong>There\u2019s enough space for adults in the back, and headroom is fairly impressive for the class. It feels darker inside than in the BYD, and there\u2019s less legroom, too. Kids will be fine back there, though, and there are two Isofix points. If you choose a higher-spec car, then you also get one on the front passenger seat, but it\u2019s not available on Active or Allure trim levels.<\/p>\n

Boot:<\/strong> The boot is an appealing aspect of the E-2008, because at 434 litres it\u2019s more than enough for a compact family SUV. It opens up to a total of 1,467 litres, which is superior to the Atto 3\u2019s maximum. It\u2019s a decent shape and helps to make up for the slightly cramped rear seats.<\/p>\n

What to buy?<\/h2>\n

Which version we\u2019d choose<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n