It’s not easy to combine ecology and family life… Especially when it involves fitting seven bipeds into a “bonus” electric SUV. Normal, there are only two: the pioneer (Mercedes EQB) and his new rival (Peugeot e-5008). A match full of sparks!
The only two 7-seater electric family SUVs on the market compete against each other
Count 7 seats aboard a family vehicle ? Nothing could be more banal at the time when minivans reigned supreme. It’s ancient history now, their successors in the hearts of motorists – the essential SUVs – being fewer in number to offer this type of configuration. Much to the dismay of large families – particularly those who now wish to reduce their carbon footprint by opting for an electric model.
And for good reason, there were, very recently, only two of them officiating! The Kia EV9 in the large SUV category (5.01 m!) and the Mercedes EQB in the compact/family category. Machines unfortunately out of reach for most households, with prices between €60,000 and €75,000.
It is also to make its model more accessible that Mercedes developed the EQB 250+. Powered by a single 190 hp asynchronous unit (two to the credit of the 292 hp EQB 350 4Matic), this version is even eligible for the €4,000 bonus, with the entry-level Edition costing €46,950. An interesting proposition, except that German is no longer going it alone from now on.
Peugeot e-5008 vs Mercedes EQB: moderate pace…
Also eligible for the maximum bonus in Allure finish (€46,990), the new Peugeot e-5008 is the first French electric SUV to offer 7 seats as standard. It has a more powerful electric motor (210 hp), powered by a generous battery of 73 useful kWh, compared to 70.5 kWh for the EQB. Fortunately for Mercedes, the Franche-Comté is also very heavy… A beautiful “anvil” of 2.3 tonnes!
180 kg lighter and with 385 Nm of torque (345 Nm on the e-5008), the EQB breaks away from its starting blocks more quickly: from 0 to 100 km/h in 9s2, compared to 10s at Peugeot. An appreciable brilliance, but the German then aligns himself with his comrade in the 1000 m DA and in recoveries. We owe this feeling of greater dynamism at Mercedes above all to less clumsy road behavior and to steering that is both more precise and lighter than that of the Frenchman, who forgot his agility in the locker room.
The overweight of the e-5008 also affects its range: 380 km of autonomy on average, compared to 415 km to the credit of the EQB 250+, which benefits from a heat pump as standard (800 € at Peugeot). This valuable equipment saves energy when heating or air conditioning is used: a big advantage in winter. Unfortunately, the German is satisfied with fast charging power limited to 100 kW in direct current (DC). Allow 35 minutes, at best, to “reinflate” the battery from 10 to 80%. The e-5008, designed to accept up to 160 kWrequires 10 minutes less.
However, you will have to anticipate the “recharging” steps yourself, the Allure finish not offering either connected GPS or route planner (both standard at Mercedes) as standard. A real shortcoming for an electric. Count €800 for the optional Panoramic Navigation pack. Impossible, moreover, to benefit from adaptive cruise control without breaking the bank, since Peugeot has chosen to integrate it within a pack at €1,650 (blind spot monitoring, 360° camera, high beams automatic). The EQB allows you to have the Distronic regulator for €500, the other “gadgets” (apart from the panoramic camera) being delivered as standard. A rare generosity from Mercedes!
Chests: single or double
Big differences on the equipment side, but one great asset in common: the comfort. Cathedral-like silence and cozy damping (especially on board the e-5008, imperial on the speed bumps), these SUVs pamper their guests. The French in particular, thanks to its standard air conditioning in the second row and a (sliding) bench seat sized so that an adult can sit in the middle. Less comfortably, unfortunately, than on board the old 5008 which had three individual seats of the same width…
Shorter by 11 cm, the EQB nonetheless offers spacious rear seats but the seat of its bench (also sliding), as shallow as it is stiff, causes cramps over long distances. Another advantage for Peugeot to access and travel in third row, less narrow than that of the German. The latter suffers above all from an undersized trunk (almost half as large as that of his rival) which ultimately costs him victory…
Victory: Peugeot e-5008
With a trunk worthy of the name and a slightly more welcoming third row, victory was achieved for the EQB. The German indeed seduces with its brilliance, its autonomy and its surprisingly competitive price/equipment ratio. But when it comes to pampering the family, the e-5008, practical, spacious and cozy, sets the standard.
Photo credit: Nicolas Soler / ERAS
