Peugeot 3008 Review

The Peugeot 3008 ushers a top quality interior and advanced safety equipment into the crossover market

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Economical engines
  • High-tech interior
  • Long-term reliability
  • Expensive list prices
  • No four-wheel drive until hybrid arrives
  • Small steering wheel not universally loved

Peugeot 3008 prices from £8,495   Finance from £206.81 per month

The latest Peugeot 3008 was the first of the French brand's new approach to design and quality. Gone was the drab, uninspiring people carrier and in its place stood this strikingly designed crossover with heaps of appeal.

Aside from the obvious redesign on the outside, the 3008's interior received a similar level of love. Peugeot has made a conscious effort to improve upon the perceived quality of its cars in recent years, and the 3008 was the first evidence of that. 

Among a wealth of competition including the Nissan QashqaiSkoda KaroqRenault Kadjar and Kia Sportage, it's the 3008 that delivers the best interior quality. A slick new media system that Peugeot calls i-Cockpit features a customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel which can be set to show a rev counter or sat-nav among other options. Alongside that is a second eight-inch touchscreen display, again with sat-nav capability, but also Android Auto and Apple Carplay as standard, while chrome switchgear completes what is a very upmarket and satisfying place to be. 

The high standard of tech included here is reflected in the price. The 3008 starts from around £25,000 from new, where as the alternatives mentioned above start from around £21,000. This places it somewhere between those cheaper options and more expensive and even more luxurious alternatives such as the Audi Q3 or BMW X1, which the Peugeot doesn't hold a candle to in terms of outright quality.

The 3008 has been designed for relaxing driving. It's comfortable, economical and quiet on motorway journeys, remaining steady if you turn into corners quickly without too much leaning. Despite its size, it feels nimble because the 3008 changes direction sharply - that sense is enhanced by the small steering wheel, which is meant to make the car feel more agile.

Despite its appearance as a rugged and capable off-roader, in truth the 3008 is not cut out for much more than a steep driveway. Although some models do feature some fancy tech that gives the effect of four-wheel drive with improved grip in slippery conditions. The most powerful plug-in hybrid version does feature all-wheel drive, but again, don't expect to be scaling mountains.

Inside, the car is as practical as a big 4x4, though, with plenty of space for two large adults to sit in the back. The 591-litre boot is what you'd expect of a crossover this size, and considerably larger than the 430 litres in the Nissan Qashqai. An adjustable shelf allows you to create an under floor compartment. Fold the seats down with the pull of a lever and there’s 1670 litres to play with. For more space, the Peugeot 5008 is a larger version of this car, with seven seats.

The Peugeot 3008 was awarded the full five stars by Euro NCAP and standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors and Lane Departure Assist, as well as Isofix points for safely mounting child seats in two rear seats and the front passenger seat.

 

Key facts

Warranty 3 years / 60,000 miles
Boot size 591 litres
Width 1841mm
Length 4447mm
Height 1615mm
Tax (min to max) £140 to £200 in first year, £140 thereafter Pre April 2017: £20 to £130 per year

Best Peugeot 3008 for...

Best for Economy – Peugeot 3008 Active 1.5 BlueHDi 130 S&S

The 1.5-litre diesel 3008 with an automatic gearbox comfortably takes the honours as the most economical offering in the 3008 line-up, though if you can’t bear to plump for a diesel, the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol also delivers decent fuel economy. Plenty of standard equipment means entry-level Active doesn't feel like a budget choice.

Best for Families – Peugeot 3008 Allure 1.5 BlueHDi 130 S&S

This is where the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 shines. It offers a family friendly blend of power and economy, while Allure trim includes a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, and sat-nav.

Best for Performance – Peugeot 3008 GT 2.0 BlueHDi 180 S&S EAT6

This powerful diesel engine shows just how far diesel engines have come in terms of outright performance. Its in-gear acceleration, as opposed to the traditional 0-60mph measure, is outstanding.

One to Avoid – Peugeot 3008 GT 1.6 THP 165 S&S EAT6

With such a strong diesel in the range (the 2.0 BlueHDi 180) it’s no surprise this thirsty petrol is relegated to ‘One to avoid’. It might be as quick from 0-60mph it's left wanting when accelerating from higher speeds.

History

  • January 2017 Peugeot 3008 arrives in Britain
  • February 2018 GT Line Premium trim level introduced 
  • September 2018 Range updated, with 100hp, 120hp and 150hp diesel options dropped, and 130hp 1.5 BlueHDi diesel introduced. 1.6-litre petrol updated with more power and improved economy. Eight-speed automatic replaces old six-speed gearbox.
  • Autumn 2019 Plug-in hybrid model due to go on sale

Understanding Peugeot 3008 names

Trim level Allure

This indicates the level of standard equipment you can expect to find in the car. There are four trim levels ranging from ‘basic’ Active, through Allure and GT-Line to GT.

Engine 1.5 BlueHDi 130 S&S

Peugeot 3008 engines are identified by their size in litres (here it's 1.5). The most efficient petrol engines are badged PureTech. Other petrol cars have the e-THP label. Diesel engines are called BlueHDi. The next number (120 in this example) is the engine's horsepower. S&S stands for stop and start, an automatic system that switches off the engine at traffic lights, for example, then restarts it to move off.

Gearbox EAT6

The 3008 has a manual gearbox with six gears as standard but there’s an optional automatic gearbox available, too, called the EAT8 (Efficient Automatic Transmission 8).

Peugeot 3008 Engines

Petrol: 1.2 PureTech, 1.6 THP Diesel: 1.5 BlueHDi 130, 2.0 BlueHDi 180

The 1.2 PureTech 130 is the cheapest engine in the 3008 range but the most rewarding to drive because it remains smooth, even when revved. It's turbocharged, which provides extra power that makes the engine feel bigger, without having a devastating impact on fuel economy. You're unlikely to come close to the unrealistic official fuel economy figure of 53.3mpg, but real-world efficiency is around 40mpg, which is impressive for a crossover. If you’re a low-mileage driver or your budget is tight, it’s the obvious choice.

This 1.2 makes it hard to make a case for the larger 1.6 petrol. It's more powerful and noticeably faster to accelerate but you can only specify it with the automatic gearbox, which just makes it even more expensive.

Of the diesels, the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 is excellent. It pulls well, it’s economical and cheap to tax, and it’s available with a manual or automatic gearbox. Once again, abandon all hope of achieving the official fuel economy figure of up to 71mpg but the real-world figure is closer to 50mpg. Despite this disparity, this makes it one of the most economical crossovers on the market.

The larger 2.0 BlueHDi 180 diesel engine, is a lot more powerful. It’s a great choice if you regularly travel fully loaded or cover lots of motorway miles. Real-world economy of almost 46mpg is only average, though.

 

Type Official fuel economy Power Acceleration (0-62mph) Top speed

1.2 PureTech 130

Petrol

53.3mpg

131hp

9.5sec

117mph

1.6 PureTech 180

Petrol

50.4 - 48.7mpg

181hp

8.0sec

136mph

1.5 BlueHDi 130

Diesel

71.0 - 64.0mpg

130hp

11.2 - 12.7sec

119mph

2.0 BlueHDi 180 auto

Diesel

59mpg

177hp

9.0sec

134mph

Peugeot 3008 Trims

Active, Allure, GT Line, GT Line Premium, GT

The 3008 line-up begins with Active trim. This has the virtual iCockpit with a 12.3-inch high-definition instrument display and 8in dashboard screen, which includes Apple Carplay and Android Auto software. There's also 17in alloy wheels, climate control, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, rear parking sensors, cruise control and a speed limiter. Safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking and an alert if the car drifts out of its lane.

Allure cars cost almost £2,000 more when new, and add 18in alloy wheels, a reversing camera, front parking sensors, power folding door mirrors and blue ambient lighting. These cars also include sat-nav, which might seem of little use, given that you can display your Android or Apple mapping apps on any 3008 dashboard screen. However, the Peugeot system also displays directions in the screen behind the steering wheel, making them easier to follow. Extra safety equipment includes a blind spot alert and steering that will nudge the car back on track if it drifts out of its lane.

GT Line is a further £2,000 more from new and adds more luxuries, including wireless phone charging and interior "themes", which include adjustable lighting and interior fragrances. The seats are partially trimmed in artificial leather and the door mirrors project an image of the Peugeot lion onto the ground as you approach the car. Brighter LED headlights are extremely useful at night

Another £1,000 brings GT Line Premium specification, with keyless entry and start, front heated seats with massage function and a motorised bootlid that can be opened by poking your foot under the rear bumper.

Expensive, top-spec GT trim tips the 3008 uncomfortably into premium-badge territory with 19in alloy wheels, oak veneers, nappa leather, a panoramic glass roof and adaptive cruise control that adjusts the car's speed to maintain a safe distance from any vehicle in front. For the price, you could afford a BMW or Audi.

Peugeot 3008 Reliability and warranty

According to the 2018 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, the Peugeot 3008 is Britain's best car to own - and by some margin too. Owners were particularly fond of the way it looks and its build quality. Particularly, it fairs well in interior quality and comfort, and the amount of safety features it has on it.

Only 11 per cent of owners surveyed reported a fault, with electrical items probably to blame if a 3008 experiences any faults.

The new 3008 feels even better-built than the 308 it shares parts with, and if it does go wrong you'll be protected in the first three years by the car's standard warranty.

Used Peugeot 3008

The first brand new Peugeot 3008s arrived in Britain at the beginning of 2017, so there are already plenty of used models to choose from.

Diesel models are most common and least expensive. Most are fitted with the 1.6-litre diesel engine with 120 horsepower, which was replaced by a newer and slightly more powerful 1.5-litre engine. Performance and fuel economy are similar, so you're not missing out on much by opting for the older engine.  Petrol models cost from  £8,495 or £206.81 per month.

Other Editions

3008 (2009 – 2016)

The Peugeot 3008 may not be the prettiest thing on four wheels but as a family car it’s hard to fault