Peugeot 2008 Review

Performance4/5

The Peugeot 2008 offers a range of five engines, two petrol and three diesel. The petrol engines are outperformed by the 1.6 litre diesels which come with either 92 or 115 bhp, have combined fuel consumption of 70.6 mpg, and fall into tax band B. The smaller of the two can complete the 0-62 mph sprint in 13.3 seconds and the more powerful 115 bhp version can do it in 10.4 seconds. The 2008’s smaller 1.4 litre diesel is a strong contender too – with 68 bhp and the ability to move from 0-62 mph in 14.9 seconds. It’s slower off the mark than the 1.6 litre models, but can still pack a bit of a punch.

Handling3.5/5

The Peugeot 2008 offers a comfortable ride, negotiating lumps and bumps in the road with ease. It’s not so comfortable on the ears though, with a certain amount of engine noise, particularly with the smaller petrol engine. The Peugeot 2008 is a light car to handle, cornering well with little body roll – and the Grip Control available with Allure and Feline models makes light work of muddy or snowy conditions. It’s not a very exciting car to drive though – a little sedate for anyone looking for a bit of off-road fun.

Exterior4/5

Squared off wheel arches, distinctive swept-back headlights and an abundance of chrome trim are all features of the Peugeot 2008’s styling; this is a crossover with something of the look of an SUV. The 2008 definitely has a touch of class about it, although some may find the rather glitzy look a little too much.

Interior3.5/5

The interior of the Peugeot 2008 will be strike a chord with anyone familiar with the 208, as the design is almost identical. The small steering wheel may be an issue for some as it seems to obscure the dash instruments, and the large touchscreen infotainment system looks more difficult to use than it actually is. Some surfaces are soft, some more hard and plasticy – so a mixed bag really. The Peugeot 2008 has plenty of leg room in the rear, with lots of space under the front seats for the longer legged to put their feet, but those opting for the glass roof may find head room is more limited. And there’s only room for two adults to sit in the back – it’s too narrow for three.

Stowage is generous with a capacity of 360 litres expanding to 1172 litres with the back seats folded flat – which they do at the pull of a lever. Heaving heavy items in and out is made easier with a low loading lip; but apart from an air conditioned glove box there’s not a great deal of extra storage space throughout the Peugeot 2008’s cabin.

Equipment4.5/5

The Peugeot 2008 comes in four trim levels – the Access, Active, Allure and top of the range Feline. All come with good levels of equipment but, for most buyers, it would be worth going for the Active which adds the multifunction touch screen infotainment system, 16 inch alloys, front fog lights, USB audio input, Bluetooth and DAB radio to the comprehensive list of equipment found in the entry level Access – this includes electric front windows, remote controlled central locking, cruise control, height and reach adjustable  steering wheel, manual air conditioning, and plenty of safety features.  The Allure trim has the added attraction of chrome door mirrors, rear parking aid, tinted rear windows, stainless steel front and rear scuff plates, LED instrument dial surrounds, ‘one touch’ front and rear electric windows, dual zone air conditioning and grip control. The Feline tops it all off with 17 inch alloys, panoramic glass roof, aluminium pedals and sills, sat nav and a second USB input.

Safety3.5/5

The Peugeot 2008 received the full 5 stars in its EuroNCAP safety test. Six airbags and ESP come as standard; and an unusual feature is the GPS based device which, in the event of an airbag being deployed, can call the emergency services informing them of the car’s position. This can also be used manually, providing a valuable connection to breakdown services. As yet the 2008’s reliability is an unknown quantity, although if it follows in the footsteps of the 208 it should not be problematic.

Buying & Owning3.5/5

You will get the best economy from one of the 1.6 diesel engines, which has low emissions (98g/km) and fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg. The Peugeot 2008 is more expensive to buy than rival Nissan Juke, and is only a few hundred pounds more than the smaller Peugeot 208. 2014 will see the replacement of the 1.6 litre petrol engine by a 1.2 litre turbo, which is likely to give a far more economic performance.

Reviewed by cars2buy