Peugeot 3008 Review

Performance4.5/5

There are six engines available with the Peugeot 3008, two of which are petrol. Unless you are a real fan of automatics, you will probably find that the smaller, 1.2 litre Pure Tech 130 will be your preferred choice. Its credentials include 128 bhp, a 0-62 sprint time of 10.8 seconds and a top speed of 117 mph. It's a smooth engine which packs a lot of punch. Its more power peer is the 1.6 litre HP 165, which is only available with an automatic gearbox, but the additional cost of buying and running it is likely to make it the least desirable of the two.

There are four diesel engines to choose from – two 1.6 litres, with 99 bhp or 118 bhp; and two 2 litre versions, with 150 or 180 bhp. The least powerful of the 1.6 litre engines is not exactly nippy, pushing itself to get to 62 mph in 13.1 seconds. The 120 bhp version, however, can do the sprint in 11.2 seconds; and the two litre models add a lot more oomph, covering the 0-62 mph benchmark in 9.6 seconds (for the 150 bhp) or 8.9 seconds (the 180 bhp).

Handling4.5/5

There is no choice of suspension set-ups on the 3008, but the one that it does come with is not bad at all. It takes uneven surfaces and undulations pretty well in its stride, although passengers may be aware of being jiggled around a bit; but if you have the misfortune to hit a pothole, you will definitely feel it. Interestingly and unusually, the addition of the optional l9 inch wheels doesn't affect the ride. Steering – the steering wheel is small throughout the range – is rather vague, but the car takes corners well with little body roll, has good grip, and is easily manoeuvrable around town. The larger diesel engines are a bit noisy, and there is a certain amount of wind noise around the door mirrors.

Exterior5/5

Elegant and stylish, the Peugeot 3008 is a bit of a head turner and has moved on a long way from its predecessor which was rather more staid. It has something of a sporty look, helped by its high sides and small window area. Peugeot have done away with the split tailgate and replaced it with a conventional rear hatchback – and all in all the look of this small SUV is very pleasing indeed.

Interior5/5

The Peugeot 3008 cabin has received a major make-over, and new upholstery, wood trims, a touch of chrome and some interesting design details have been brought in to bring the car bang up to date. The steering wheel is much smaller than normal and is flattened on the top and bottom; it is placed below the level of the control panel and infotainment system, and so all instruments and dials are viewed above the wheel and not through it as is usual. Visibility is good, with a height adjustable driver's seat, and in all but the entry level trim electric lumbar adjustment is included, along with large armrests. The thick windscreen pillars and small rear window create a few blind spots, but front and rear parking sensors, which come as standard from mid spec trims upwards, go a long way towards alleviating the problem here.

Equipment5/5

The Peugeot 3008 trim levels consist of Active, Allure, GT Line, GT Line Premium and GT. They all come very well kitted out, particularly with safety systems; and the entry level Active comes complete with an 8.0 inch touchscreen media system, DAB radio, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers and 17 inch alloy wheels. The Allure adds Sat-Nav with 3D maps and voice control, tinted rear windows, Active Blind Spot Detection, Active Lane Assist, and Advance Driver Attention Alert. The GT Line adds various exterior and interior styling features; and if you are in the fortunate position of being able to go for the top of the range GT you could come away with 19 inch alloys, aluminium roof bars, panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, electric tailgate and some upgraded upholstery.

Safety4.5/5

The 3008 received the full five star rating in its Euro NCAP tests in 2016, which is not surprising considering the amount of safety kit which is included as standard. Six airbags are included across the range; and an additional Safety Plus Pack is available. If you do a lot of serious winter driving you may be interested in the optional Grip Control feature, a traction control system which includes mud and snow tyres, and is a real bonus when dealing with muddy and other potentially dodgy terrains. Reliability remains a bit of an unknown – Peugeot have had issues and the past and it remains to be seen whether these have been ironed out.

Buying & Owning4.5/5

Peugeot offer a 3-year, 60,000 mile (unlimited mileage for the first two years) warranty; and it is also offered with the 'Just Add Fuel' finance scheme. This lumps together insurance, servicing, maintenance and road tax into one monthly cost which some owners may find a budget friendly way of doing things. Although Peugeots are not renowned for their great resale values, the 3008's new SUV format may go some way towards changing this. There is a variation in running costs across the various engines on offer, with claimed fuel economy ranging from 47 mpg to just over 70 mpg. The petrol engines offer good value driving for town use or low to medium annual mileage; the diesels, with some impressive fuel-economy and emissions figures are a more likely to suit drivers who spend a lot of time on motorways.

Reviewed by cars2buy