2023 Peugeot e-2008 electric SUV set for Australia

The 2023 Peugeot e-2008 electric SUV has been approved for sale in Australia – nearly four years after the vehicle was unveiled in Europe.

Approved for local sale in Australian government certification documents, the e-2008 is the electric version of Peugeot's smallest SUV, with 333km of claimed driving range.

The e-2008 is expected to represent Peugeot's second electric vehicle in Australia, after the e-Partner city van which Drive was first to reveal had been given the green light to go on sale locally in December 2022 – and has been confirmed today by the French brand.

A Peugeot Australia spokesperson told Drive: "We’re looking forward to sharing more information about our continued electrification journey in Australia soon with final evaluations are underway for e-2008. Stay tuned for more information soon."

Australian pricing is not due to be confirmed until closer to launch, however in the UK a top-of-the-range e-2008 costs 26 per cent more than an equivalent petrol model.

The top-line Peugeot 2008 GT Sport is priced from $51,188 plus on-road costs in Australia – which would translate to about $65,000 plus on-road costs for a flagship e-2008 with all option boxes ticked.

It remains to be seen if Peugeot Australia elects to introduce a cheaper version priced closer to $60,000 – however the government documents show all e-2008s in Australia are set to ride on 18-inch wheels (optional in Europe), with the option of a sunroof.

Powering the e-2008 in Europe is a 100kW electric motor driving the front wheels and a 50kWh battery pack, good for a claimed 333km of driving range on European WLTP test protocols with 18-inch wheels.

Opting for 17-inch alloys in Europe can increase the driving range claim to 345km, however the smaller wheels won't be available in Australia.

On a 100kW DC fast charger, Peugeot claims the e-2008 is capable of charging to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

The e-2008's hatchback twin under the skin, the e-208, was recently upgraded with a new 115kW/260Nm electric motor (up 15kW) and a larger 51kWh battery (with a 48.1kWh usable capacity, up from 46.6kWh).

These upgrades delivered a 10.5 per cent increase in claimed driving range, from 362km to 400km.

It is unclear if or when these changes will be introduced to the e-2008, however Australian certification documents show the older electric system with the 100kW motor will be offered locally at launch.

Peugeot Australia typically files for government approval for its new models within a year of first showroom arrivals, which suggests the first examples of the 2023 Peugeot e-2008 electric SUV could arrive in Australia before the end of this year.