New Hyundai Kona Electric & Peugeot e-2008 vs Smart #1: practicality

Has our current favourite small electric SUV, the Smart #1, met its match in new rivals from Hyundai and Peugeot? Let’s find out...

Lawrence Cheung

Published05 April 2024

Space and practicality

Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot

Each of our contenders offers plenty of space up front for 6ft-tall adults, but the boxier shape of the Smart #1 makes it feel the airiest. The Hyundai Kona Electric isn’t far behind, while the Peugeot e-2008’s lower roofline and narrower dimensions result in a more confined feel. Each car offers plenty of storage space for phones and other small items in the console between the front seats, as well as a lidded central bin that doubles as an armrest.

In the rear seats, a pair of six-footers will be okay in the e-2008, but they’ll be able to stretch out their legs more in the Kona and #1, while having more clearance between their head and the ceiling. And unlike in the e-2008, the rear seatbacks recline in the Kona and #1, although the latter’s offer a greater degree of adjustment and free up even more head room when they’re tilted back.

When it comes to squeezing in a third occupant, the wider interiors of the Kona and #1 offer a bit more shoulder space, and flat floors free up some foot space (whereas there’s a hump to straddle in the e-2008), with the #1 being the most accommodating. There’s not much room to tuck your feet under the front seats in any of them, though.

The Kona has the longest and widest boot, swallowing six carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf, compared with five in the e-2008’s relatively deep, well-shaped load bay. Just three cases fit into the #1’s small boot (with enough space left over for a couple of rucksacks), but unlike its rivals, it has sliding rear seats; move them all the way forwards and there’s room for another case. The bench is split in a 60/40 arrangement, so you can slide just one section if you need to juggle tall occupants and luggage.

When you need to carry larger loads, the Kona is alone in having handy 40/20/40 split rear seatbacks. Those in the e-2008 and #1 have a less versatile 60/40 split, although the latter comes with a ski hatch that allows you to slide longer items through from the boot between two passengers.

The #1 is the only contender without a height-adjustable boot floor, but it has a sizeable underfloor storage area. Unlike
the e-2008, the Kona and #1 have small front boots that are large enough to hold charging cables.