Peugeot 3008 Review (2017)

The much anticipated new Peugeot 3008 SUV arrived in Ireland earlier in 2017. SUVs are much in demand now as alternatives to traditional family hatchbacks and saloons. Buyers truly are spoilt for choice with the majority of car manufacturers now offering a compact SUV in their range.

Peugeot has adjusted to this new world order and for the second generation of the 3008, they have led with a more rugged SUV-like design for this popular model. The new Peugeot 3008 is already carving out its own niche in the compact SUV segment as something of a style icon and is also the title holder of 2017 European Car of the Year.

The new Peugeot 3008’s design is attractive and different (and even a little futuristic in places), but it’s exactly what’s needed in a sensible but often staid segment where it can be hard to differentiate models. The compact SUV genre does not seem to always spark that much creativity in the quest for practical family transport, but the 3008 will turn heads.

Of course, beauty is nothing without function, and Irish buyers are smart and want value for money at this end of the market. Pricing for the new Peugeot 3008 starts at €25,995, which is very competitive among the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar and Hyundai Tucson.

The Peugeot 3008 is based on the 308 hatchback’s platform, and will seat five. There is plenty of rear leg room and even the middle seat passenger will find a flat space for their feet. Move around to the boot and you will find 520 litres, which is also very generous. The loading sill is low, which makes loading easy and pain-free.

Car interiors can be quite formulaic but Peugeot has payed the interior of the new 3008 plenty of attention.  The innovative ‘i-Cockpit’ has been overhauled and Generation 2 debuts in the 3008 with more tech and in a more user-friendly package.  A digital instrument panel comes as standard and the quality and graphics look fantastic. Beneath that is a compact steering wheel. To the left you have your infotainment screen positioned on top of the dash and a number of beautiful shortcut keys that make switching between functions like phone, radio and climate control very easy.

The quality of materials are some of the best in the segment and my GT Line test car had a stunning mix of materials that definitely would allow it to compete with the more expensive contenders in the class.

The 3008 SUV has a similar range of engines to the 308 hatchback, including an award-winning 1.2-litre 130hp turbo petrol engine and a 1.6-litre diesel with 100 or 120hp, all with competitive running costs and emissions as low as 103g CO2 on some models. Manual and automatic gearboxes are available, while Advanced Grip Control for extra traction in low-grip conditions is an option on all versions, and standard on GT.

My test car had the 1.6-litre diesel with 120hp. This is a strong and well proven engine for Peugeot and provides adequate power. The cabin is also well-insulated so the 3008 has a serene ambience with little engine noise.

On the road, the new Peugeot 3008 is quite the sharp mover. There is loads of grip and the car stays remarkably flat through corners for an SUV. The steering also weights up efficiently. The trade-off is a firm edge to the suspension that means potholes and other rough surfaces transmit some noise and bumps to the cabin.

Petrol models start at €25,995 for a 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 130hp, while diesels start from €26,515 for a 1.6-litre with 100hp. There are five trims for Ireland: Access (from €25,995), Active (from €28,295), Allure (from €29,855), GT Line (from €33,225) and a range topping GT (€44,395).

Standard feature include multifunction steering wheel, Bluetooth, cruise control with speed limiter, four electric windows, air con, and safety equipment including Speed Limit Information with Intelligent Speed Adaptation, Driver Attention Alert Level 1 and Lane Departure Warning.

The level two Active model is a better specced car with extra safety equipment including Advanced Emergency Braking System with video camera and radar and Front Collision Warning,  and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, 17” alloy wheels, alloy roof rails, electric parking brake with Hill Assist, automatic headlamps and wipers, front fog lights and automatic air conditioning.

My GT Line car has some styling upgrades inside and out, and also keyless entry and start, full LED headlamps, automatic parking, 18” alloys and an opening panoramic glass roof.

It’s fair to say that the new Peugeot 3008 is a major coup for Peugeot at a time when there is huge demand for family SUVs in this price range. The new Peugeot 3008 is the brand’s boldest move to date to really move upmarket and in higher trims, like the GT Line model on test, this car can easily hold its own against more established ‘premium’ competition like the Volkswagen Tiguan. Yes, you will pay for it, but the 3008 comes with an impressive equipment list and the quality of the interior means it feels anything but cheap. For buyers tired of the usual suspects in this class, the Peugeot 3008 offers something refreshingly different.

Model tested: Peugeot 3008 SUV GT Line 1.6 BlueHDi 120bhp 6-speed
Price: €34,925 (Range starts at €25,995)
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo diesel
Power: 120bhp
Torque: 221Nm
0-100km/h:  11.2 seconds
Top speed: 189km/h
Claimed economy: 71mpg
CO2 emissions:  104g/km
Motor tax: €190 per year

Caroline Kidd

If you are looking for an alternative upmarket compact SUV you might also like this review of the Volkswagen Tiguan.