Peugeot 3008 Review

Find out more about the Peugeot 3008 in the latest Motors.co.uk Review

£20,414
Average price
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4
Out of 5

Pros

  • Styling stands out
  • Efficient range of engines
  • Nice to drive

Cons

  • Surprisingly pricey
  • First generation was not stylish at all
  • Other rivals have more space
  • MPG

    0 - 0

  • CO2

    0 - 0 g/km

  • Video

  • Price Guide

  • Trims

  • Summary

Model Review

First introduced just before the crossover market exploded in the early 2010s, the first generation Peugeot 3008 came out in 2008 and with it a new direction from the French brand.

It could be said that it was the starting pistol for the now dominate segment of the motoring market, although the design of the first model left a little to be desired – it was a bit dumpy and although it was something a bit different, it didn’t quite hit the mark.

With the second generation – released at the start of 2017 – came a fresh outlook, a more SUV-orientated stature and a much improved design, although it could split opinion.

It includes an improved version of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit, a sportier driver setup and a more refined finish, which is a significant step-up for the French manufacturer.

Latest Model

The new model has already won accolades that many other cars would be envious of, including the 2017 European Car of the Year, which is a big achievement for the Peugeot brand.

With four trims, a wide range of body colour – including two-tone options – and a wide range of driving assistance technology, the 3008 is ready to take on the incredibly competitive and ever-evolving crossover market – which is currently the motoring world’s fastest growing.

As a move away from the MPV-style design of the first generation, the evolution towards an SUV style in a necessity to keep up with the rest of the market.

The i-Cockpit concept is the most interesting part of the 3008, however, as it is a real step change for the French brand and the interior design is much improved from previous Peugeot models.

 

Value for money

As mid-size crossovers go, starting prices for the 3008 are at the higher end of the scale but in terms of interior spec and what you get, the price is understandable. With the base Active model, Peugeot fits an eight-inch touchscreen, DAB radio with infotainment system and Mirror Screen mobile compatibility service, automatic dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, lane departure warning and safety pack – including automatic emergency braking and distance alert system.

As well as a few other good quality accessories, the 3008 is kitted out well enough and at £22,495, it is at the top end of the crossover market – a price that Peugeot are trying to push to appear a more premium brand.

Due to the second generation’s very recent release, the likelihood of finding a cheaper model on the used market is microscopic, so if you were to go for a used 3008 it would have to be in the old body style, which some may find to be a difficult sell. But if you are looking for a mid-size MPV that will do the job and comes with a good level of tech then it may be a good option.

A 2015 Allure example with 2.0-litre E-hdi Hybrid4 power unit is available for £16,966 – which is well down on a new base spec model – and it comes with a wide selection of technological features. For example, it comes with satellite navigation, a head-up display, cruise control with speed limiter, Peugeot Connect with Bluetooth and USB connections, a split tailgate and LED daytime running lights.

As well as electric windows, dual-zone automatic climate control and leather steering wheel, this high spec 3008 and others like it are well worth looking at.

 

Looks and image

The main difference between the first and second generation is how the 3008 looks, and goodness is it an improvement. The Mk I wasn’t particularly good looking at all and was very early 2000s Peugeot in its outlook.

Now, the Mk II brings Peugeot into a much more stylish and modern-looking, making it a much more appealing prospect. The interior design is also much better than before and with the sportier design it helps you to feel more involved with the driving itself. The design overall may be a bit marmite for many, but it is a major improvement on the previous design.

To drive the 3008 tries to tread the line between comfort and dynamic driving, and in both segments it does lag behind some of its rivals – the Renualt Kadjar for comfort and the Seat Ateca for sportiness.

With Peugeot setting it up to feel as car-like as possible, it has much stiffer suspension than the previous version to make it corner much better – which it does – but is jerky at slower speeds and doesn’t soak up the bumps as well as the previous model. But as soon as you get cruising at higher speeds it does well indeed and gets on with the job nicely – but some of the engines will limit how quickly and how refined it gets there.

The smaller steering wheel improves the feel and control, and is a big plus point to make it feel much smaller on the road than it is, but the Seat Ateca does have better poise and feedback.

The front seats are definitely sportier than before – as with the identity of the car – and they could divide opinion. They cocoon you in the sporty cockpit and help your drive feel more focused, although – as seems to be the case with some French cars – the driving position is strange and can take some getting used to.

For the rear, though, comfort shouldn’t be an issue as there is plenty of space for passengers in the back and with the SUV body shape, headroom is good for taller passengers. Refinement is very good in most of the range, as exterior noise is kept to a minimum, although some noise from the smaller engines can make it into the cabin – especially diesel units.

The advanced grip control is available as an option on all models, which improves the 3008’s all-terrain credentials despite the lack of four-wheel drive.

Video review

Space and practicality

Against market rivals like the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar, the 3008 has them beat in terms of boot and interior space with 520 litres with the rear seats up and 1,580 litres with the seats down. The 60/40 split rear seats fold pretty much flat and can offer you a good load space. There are plenty of storage pockets, bins and spaces throughout the cabin, meaning you have plenty of cubby holes for your phone, keys and other knick-knacks you may have.

Tested alongside the 5008 back in 2016, the new 3008 rates highly on the EuroNCAP safety tests after it scored an overall rating of five stars. With adult occupancy and child occupancy scores of 86 and 85 per cent respectively, the 3008 does well on those fronts, with pedestrian and safety assist scores in the middle of the pack (67 per cent and 58 per cent).

Active safety brake and distance alert come as standard on all models, with other technology available such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping technology, driver attention alert and speed limit recognition also available at various trim levels.

If you are looking for a good, safe and well-equipped family car, the Peugeot 3008 may be for you, as it also comes with three Isofix points to attach child seats and other accessories, a large rear space for storage and, overall, a comfortable ride. This has already been voted European Car of the Year and it families should recognise that if they’re looking for their next model.

 

Engines

For the 3008 Peugeot offer two diesel and two petrol units and have surprisingly taken away a hybrid option. The petrol options come in the guise of a 1.2-litre PureTech with 129bhp and a 1.6-litre THP with 163bhp – both of which are surprisingly economical and offer the better performance figures. For the best efficiency for long-distance, however, you are better looking towards the diesel options. The 97bhp 1.6-litre BlueHDi model is underpowered and no more efficient than the 118bhp option – which will be the most popular engine in the range thanks to its good day-to-day performance and efficient running costs. The 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel comes with 148bhp and 178bhp options, with the top end model only available in the GT trim and with an automatic gearbox.

 

Running costs

None of the 3008s will be expensive to run over the long term, as all emit less than 130g/km CO2, meaning road tax costs won’t be more than £160 for the first year. All will be on £140 for tax from the second year onwards. MPG figures are also quite good considering of the 3008, with the 1.6-litre BlueHDi offering figures between 67 and 70mpg, while the best petrol models can achieve is 55mpg – not too bad when you think about it. For insurance the 3008’s groupings are very reasonable for the lower powered models, with only the 2.0-litre BlueHDi models going into the 20s. The lowest group is for the 1.2-litre petrol models that fit into group 11.

Things to look out for

For the current generation, it’s a bit early to say whether it has had any issues or not but on Peugeot’s current form their reliability is improving compared to the 2000s. The first generation did suffer from some minor issues in groupings with other cars, such as fuel and oil leaks, spot welding problems and driver seat airbag malfunctions, but many of these would have been solved by visiting a Peugeot Centre. If you’re looking at first generation models as a used option, check the vehicle’s history to ensure possible faults were fixed.

 

Rivals

Many of the 3008’s rivals come from the popular Asian manufacturers Kia, Hyundai and, most notably, Nissan. The Sportage, Tucson and bestselling Qashqai are the Peugeot’s biggest rivals due to their lower price and reliable nature, but models from Renault (the Kadjar), Mazda’s CX-5 and the Volkswagen Tiguan are other notable rivals that will push the 3008 hard in the crossover sector.

Which 3008 to pick

Cheapest to buy when new

1.2 PureTech Active Premium 5dr

Most MPG

1.2 PureTech Active Premium 5dr

Fastest model (0-60)

1.6 Hybrid4 300 Allure Premium 5dr e-EAT8

Trims explained

The 3008 comes in four trim levels – Active, Allure, GT Line and GT – which gives customers plenty of options alongside the extra accessories available to the model.

Active

With the Active trim, Peugeot fits a 12.3-inch display in the instrument binnacle, an eight-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Mirror Screen (with Mirrorlink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), lane departure warning, emergency braking system, distance alert system, automatic dual zone climate control, rear parking sensors, leather sports-style steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels and automatic headlights as part of the visibility pack.

That’s a lot for anyone to get their teeth into from base spec alongside the raft of standard features that comes with the 3008 anyway, so despite the £22,495 starting price being near the top of the crossover spectrum it is still respectable.

Allure

For the Allure spec, Peugeot adds the safety plus pack (which includes blind spot detection, lane keeping assistance, driver attention alert and Smartbeam assistance), tinted rear windows, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera, satellite navigation, leather-effect/cloth seat trim and 18-inch alloy wheels, as well as some other cosmetic features.

With the technological additions, the £1,800 step up to the £24,295 starting price is understandable and one that you can definitely swallow as it is arguably the best value model.

GT Line

For the GT Line, the 3008 gets i-Cockpit Amplify (which offers two moods for your style of driving), a smartphone charging plate in the central console, sportier bodywork, two-tone 18-inch alloys, LED headlights and foglamps and scrolling front indicators.

GT Line models start from £26,195.

GT

For the top spec GT, Peugeot adds the Open and Go keyless entry and start system, a foot-operated tailgate, active cruise control, panoramic glass roof, 19-inch alloy wheels and a more premium feel to the interior.

This means a starting price of £33,695, as it is the best-equipped model in the line-up.

Summary

  1. Stand-out design
  2. In a competitive sector
  3. Lots of trim and accessory options
  4. Can feel overpriced
  5. Decent running costs
  6. Good level of practicality
  7. First generation not good looking
  8. Cheap high-spec used options, but not in Mk II body
  9. Voted European Car of the Year 2017
  10. Good to drive, but not best in sector

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