The 2021 Peugeot 3008!Read Caroline’s Peugeot 3008 hybrid review for everything you need to know about buying the popular family SUV in Ireland from Peugeot.
In this review we take a closer look at the new Peugeot 3008 plug-in hybrid – a popular family SUV now with a plug!
The back story? Well, in 2020 Peugeot Ireland brought a series of new hybrid and electric models to market. Peugeot jumps on trends exceedingly well, keeping their range fresh and current in a rapidly evolving motor industry.
The French brand had already witnessed a revival in the market thanks to the launch of a trilogy of popular SUVs and a move upmarket with new design direction and rock-solid quality.
The Peugeot 3008 mid-size SUV is of course a particular highlight of that new lion brand SUV trio – a former Irish Car of the Year and European Car of the Year award winner. Now in 2021 we meet the epic facelifted edition – even better with a hybrid powertrain!
The launch of the Peugeot 3008 in Ireland back in 2017 was the brand’s best manifestation yet of Peugeot’s move upmarket. I had forgotten just how good this car was when it launched, how revolutionary the interior of the car was with its full digital instrument cluster that was standard before many rivals could offer similar.
The Peugeot 3008 has been revised for 2021 with even more styleWhat’s so special about the 2021 Peugeot 3008?
Comfortable and practical, the 3008 competes in the sweet spot of the market where the family SUVs reside. Updated for 2021, Peugeot’s bestseller now has slightly revised exterior styling. What a good-looking car! Surely one of the prettiest SUVs of its size on the road. And the new look gives it enough modernity to stay stylish and relevant.
The updated range kicks off from €32,995 for a 1.2-litre Puretech petrol with 130 hp. The diesel range kicks off from €33,700 for a 1.5-litre diesel, also with 130 hp. The new hybrid range starts from €40,920 with 225 hp. There are three trim levels for Ireland – Active, Allure and GT – with lots of equipment from the entry into the range.
On the outside, the 2021 Peugeot 3008 has a new frameless front grille and gloss black air intakes, while the headlights, daytime running lights and indicators all use advanced LED technology across the range. At the rear, Peugeot’s trademark three-claw taillights and new sequential indicators provide a contemporary look.
Our GT test car looked particularly good with standard equipment including 18” alloys, some exclusive trim elements, alloy roof rails, black roof, and sports front bumper design. Other high-end features include ambient lighting, handsfree start, Alcantara/leather effect seats, and front and rear parking sensors with 180 rear reversing camera.
The interior of the 2021 Peugeot 3008Inside the 2021 Peugeot 2008
Inside, the new 3008 SUV features Peugeot’s next generation digital i-Cockpit® technology with a 12.3-inch digital head-up instrument panel, a compact steering wheel and 10-inch high definition colour touchscreen. It’s dripping in class and style, a truly different cabin experience to anything else wafting around the market at this price point. Preeemium!
There is seating for five with good space inside the vehicle. There is plenty of rear leg room and even the middle seat passenger will find a flat space for their feet. However the boot has been trimmed down in size in the hybrid. Standard petrol and diesel models get 520 litres, while the hybrid can only manage 395 litres. A powered tailgate is also available.
The Peugeot 3008 plug-in hybrid on test is quite a machine, combining a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 13.2 kWh battery to produce a healthy 225 hp. This model can be charged up and driven on electric power alone for a range of up to 62 km. Paired with the eight-speed Efficient Automatic Transmission (EAT8), this car feels great on the road. A drive mode selector gives the option of switching between electric, hybrid and sport modes; the car does the rest.
A 3.7 kW single-phase on-board charger is included as standard, with a full charge taking three hours and 45 minutes.
The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid offers buyers even more power and flexibility
Did you like the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid?
On the road the 3008 hybrid displays its wonderful pedigree. The hybrid carries a premium over other models in the range but with the power and ease of the transmission, it is a high-end driving experience. The way the hybrid system blends with the automatic transmission adds up to an effortless, serene drive. It’s very comfortable over the tarmac and feels agile from behind the wheel.
Plug-in hybrids are at their best when you are making use of the battery, and charging between journeys to boost the overall efficiency of running this car. Drawing on power mostly from the petrol engine, my fuel consumption averaged at 6.7 litres per 100 km.
Stepping back into the Peugeot 3008 after a few years is a reminder about why this car ran away with so many awards when it was launched. It has a simply stunning interior and the high-end GT model on test feels like a truly premium offering.
The plug-in hybrid adds diversity and flexibility to the 3008 range, though as with all cars of this type, the battery is best used regularly to see a good return on the investment and make the car more efficient to run. The hybrids are now the most expensive of the 3008 range but buyers will still find a good car in the more affordable petrol and diesel models. The facelift gives this car just the right presence. What’s underneath is still a very good car indeed.
New Peugeot 3008 range available from €32,995Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Peugeot 3008 GT PHEV
Price: €43,240
Engine: 1.6-litre petrol electric hybrid
Power: 225 hp
Torque: 360 Nm
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 8.8 seconds
CO2 emissions: 31 g/km
Motor Tax: €140 per year