Peugeot e-Legend Concept Reviews

Peugeot has announced a major reshuffle of its local passenger car range, which will transition entirely to hybrid power in 2025.

Peugeot has confirmed further details of its seriously long range E-3008 and E-5008 electric cars. 

It didn’t take a crystal ball to foresee Citroen’s departure from the Australian car market. The French brand had struggled for years, both to find its identity and sell cars to local buyers.Ultimately, it doesn’t matter about heritage, longevity or brand recognition if you don’t sell enough cars in the relatively small Australian market. Just ask the people at Holden about that.But with Citroen meeting what felt like an inevitable demise, it’s worth turning our attention to the other brands that face a similar struggle. To be crystal clear, this article is not suggesting any of the following brands are in imminent danger of departing the local market.Instead it is simply a study of those near the bottom of the sales charts that have a chance to improve their position, or risk suffering the same endless questions Citroen executives endured over the past decade.Rather than dwelling on the negatives, we’ll look at the ways these brands could turn their fortunes around in Australia.The little Italian brand just keeps plugging away with its solo model, the 500e (and its Abarth variant) to fly the flag now the petrol-powered 500 is gone after 17 years on sale.In the first half of 2024 Fiat managed just 290 sales, which represented a nearly 30 per cent decline on the same period in 2023.On the plus side, Fiat is under the wider Stellantis banner and will gain support from that, as well as the additional 533 sales of Fiat Professional's Ducato van. The reality is, Fiat is not a volume brand in Australia, it’s a high-margin niche one focused on electric cars in a still growing EV market. As long as the brand’s management accepts that and plans accordingly it will tick along steadily.In the first half of 2024 the British brand sold just 403 cars, which is a small number — even for a luxury brand. What’s really surprising is that that figure represented a near 70 per cent increase on the the first half of last year.But there isn’t any panic or even concern within the Jaguar offices. The Big Cat is in a holding pattern at the moment as the brand tries to reinvent itself (again) as an all-electric upper-luxury brand. So there is no investment in the current product line-up, with the XE, XF and F-Type all no longer in production.When the new electric models come online in the next year or two, expect Jaguar to leap back into action, but for now, expectations have to be kept in check.The problem for Genesis is it’s no longer at the beginning of its story. The brand has been on sale as a stand-alone entity for five years and has multiple models, including three SUVs. In other words, it’s had time to find its feet and has the key models you need.So why then did sales slide backwards 18.5 per cent in the first half of 2024? None of its models are finding much traction against an expansive and diverse array of rivals from the more-established rivals such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Audi. Hyundai is used to playing the long-game, so I wouldn’t expect them to give up on Genesis anytime soon. After all, it’s taken Lexus the better part of three decades to become a thorn-in-the-side of BMW and Mercedes. Plus, Mercedes itself is struggling, taking a 24.1 per cent sales hit in the first half of this year.Genesis models have improved in quality, but the increase in price may stifle the potential for growth. It will be interesting to watch how the brand reacts and evolves in the next 12-18 months.Citroen’s French stablemate also makes this list. Selling just 1190 new vehicles in the first six months of 2024, Pegueot matched its 2023 sales result almost exactly (just four cars difference). While Peugeot does significantly better than Citroen, it’s still one of the smallest non-premium brands in the local market.It’s a shame, because it makes some very nice cars, arguably on par with competitors like Volkswagen and Mazda, but the decision to push more upmarket hasn’t helped volume.The addition of the Boxer, Expert and Partner commercial vehicles (at the expense of Citroen’s former offerings in the same segments) helps to boost the overall numbers, with the Partner the brand’s second most popular model behind the 2008.With Citroen gone, Peugeot will have one less obvious rival and can work to improve its reach, while likely remaining a niche brand. It feels a bit like we’re picking on the Stellantis Group in this story, but this is just the way the numbers have worked out. The American off-road brand should arguably be thriving in the current SUV and ute-dominated market, but the rugged Gladiator and Wrangler, as well as the more luxurious Grand Cherokee, just haven’t attracted buyers in big numbers.Only 1282 sales in the first half of the year, which represents a massive 52 per cent decline on 2023, is not a good position. Perhaps Jeep's new, all-electric and compact Avenger can help rejuvenate its sales and bring a fresh audience? That will certainly be what the brand’s local managers will be hoping for.

Electric cars are all the rage these days with exciting new models from Audi all the way to Volvo, offering a zero emissions future.

Can you hear what’s coming over the horizon? Probably not, because it’s a swathe of near-silent Electric Vehicles (EVs), set to supersede the bog-standard gas-guzzling Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car within the next decade or two. 

Cars without back windows? Cameras instead of mirrors? Electric cars that sound like petrol ones? Here's our Top 5 things car makers have fixed that weren't broken.

Peugeot and Citroen have announced huge price cuts on select models until July 31, 2024.Discounts include more than $25,000 off old stock of the Peugeot 508 plug-in hybrid sedan, $17,000 cut from the Citroen C5 X’s price, $15,000 for the C5 Aircross Sport and even up to $14,000 cut from MY24 Peugeot 3008s. These latest offers follow a massive $20,000 price cut on Peugeot's e-2008 electric car which cleared remaining stock within days – not weeks or months – ahead of the facelift’s introduction.The 508 can be had for $57,990 drive-away instead of the $76,990 before on-road costs price at release in 2022. The same car today with an unchanged 165kW PHEV that provides 55km of electric-only driving range lists at $81,610. Peugeot only has MY22 508 liftbacks on offer and none of the wagons. Peugeot sold 130 508s in 2022, 156 in 2023 and has registered 37 so far this year. The facelift is expected to arrive this year.  Citroen’s quirky C5 X Shine’s price has been slashed down to $45,990 drive-away, roughly a $17,000 saving over its $57,670 list price. It uses the same powertrain as petrol 508s, a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol with 133kW and 250Nm. In 2022 61 C5 X examples were registered, climbing to 68 in 2023 and sitting at 26 so far this year. A plug-in hybrid MY24 model is available via special order only.It is strange that Peugeot and Citroen have such dated floor stock in the country when companies like Toyota and Mazda are only just catching up with post-COVID demand. CarsGuide has contacted Peugeot Citroen Australia for comment.Citroen's more conventional mid-size SUV to rival the Toyota RAV4, the C5 Aircross, is on sale as well. MY23 examples are available from $44,990 drive-away, about a $15,000 saving on its $55,990 before on-road costs list price. Peugeot’s take on the same underpinnings is the 3008. It comes in three variants (unlike the sole-trim models above) with varying savings – in this case, they’re all on new MY24 models. The entry-level Allure can be had from $46,990 drive-away, that’s down about $7700 but it includes the $5990 Luxury pack (with Nappa leather, sunroof and more) for that price, bringing total savings to nearly $14,000.Other trims, including the GT ($50,990) and flagship GT Sport ($62,990, both drive-away), have more modest discounts of around $6000. The 3008 GT plug-in hybrid remains priced at full whack: $82,915 before on-road costs. Various discounts on vans – including more than $15,000 off the pre-facelift e-Partner electric van – are available. Even one of Peugeot’s freshest models, the 308 GT hatch, can be had for less than list with a circa $1000 saving thanks to a $46,990 drive-away price. 

Peugeot has released final pricing and specification for its updated Partner small van from $39,990 before on-road costs.That's a $9000 lift over the previous Partner City manual which has been erased from the facelifted range.A rival for the Volkswagen Caddy and Renault Kangoo, the combustion-engined Partner models arrive first with no pricing or timing for an updated electric model.Like Peugeot did with the E-2008, the brand has current E-Partner models on discount with $10,000 off the MSRP. The Partner's new fascia closes off the upper grille, replacing it with a strip of body colour material that fades into the headlights.Inside, the cabin is updated with a new multi-function leather appointed steering wheel, 'e-Toggle' gear shift, and 10-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside connected services.Fabric upholstery remains as does the three-seat cabin configuration and under-seat 'MultiFlex' cabin storage.There is a fresh 10-inch digital instrument for the cluster and digital rear-view mirror in all Partner trims.On the safety front, the Partner receives improved AEB, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, auto high beam, rain-sensing wipers and a 360-degree surround view camera.This is why pricing for the $39,990 (before on-road costs) Pro variant – the new entry grade – has climbed $2000. It is available in short (SWB) or long wheelbase (LWB) guise.The Premium adds keyless entry with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, an extra 12V socket (two total), body coloured bumpers, 16-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights,The Partner's engine is an unchanged 1.2-litre three-cylinder 'Puretech' turbo petrol engine developing 96kW and 230Nm.It drives the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic. Payload is capped at 896kg for the SWB and 998kg for LWB models.In 2024, the Peugeot Partner has accounted for 43 per cent of sales in the small van segment, a long way ahead of the Renault Kangoo and just behind VW's Caddy.“We’re excited to unveil the new Peugeot Partner van, a highly capable workhorse that doesn’t compromise on comfort, safety and practicality," said Peugeot's General Manager, David Owen.“Championing Peugeot's bold new design ethos and an array of cutting-edge technologies, drivers of the new Peugeot Partner can enjoy intuitive control at their fingertips," he added.2024 Peugeot Partner pricingPrices are before on-road costs 

Peugeot has slashed the price of its electric E-Partner compact van by more than $10,000.It is now priced at $49,990 drive-away down from $59,990 (before on-road costs).The deal is only available on 2023 plated models and the vehicle needs to be delivered before the end of June.The price cut means the electric van is only a few thousand dollars more than the petrol powered alternative that is priced between $32,990 and $43,490 (before on-road costs). It is also more than $15,000 cheaper than its main rival, the Renault Kangoo E-Tech.This isn’t the first time the French brand has heavily discounted one of its electric cars. In May Peugeot slashed more than $20,000 off the price of its E-2008 small electric SUV, which then sold out in less than a week. The E-Partner is fitted with a 50kWh battery that feeds a single electric motor making 100kW/260Nm. Peugeot claims it has a driving range of up to 258km.It can accept a maximum charge of 100kW via a DC fast charging pylon, which the French brand says can top the battery up from 0-80 per cent in half an hour.When hooked up to a home wallbox charger it can absorb up to 7.4kW, which can replenish the battery from flat to 100 per cent in about seven and a half hours.The E-Partner has a payload of 753kg and a max braked and unbraked towing capacity of 750kg.It can hold a fair chunk of cargo for a compact van with a max volume of 3.9 metres squared. The laid capacity dimensions are 2167mm long, 1243mm high and 1527mm wide. Distance between the wheel arches is 1229mm.There are some handy features included such as a full-size spare wheel, 16-inch steel wheels, an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen and it’s got plenty of safety gear.Tradies on the hunt for an eco-friendly workhorse are in luck as Ford has also knocked $15,000 off the price of the larger E-Transit electric van, which now starts at $89,990.

Looks are subjective but Peugeot's updated 2008 small SUV is good looking from every angle. The update brings a raft of design tweaks and some tech upgrades, but mechanically there isn't anything new.