New Peugeot 3008 SUV Review

If you're looking for a mid-sized SUV, this is one of the cars that you need to seriously consider. The Peugeot 3008 SUV range now starts from £1499 Motability Advance Payment, down from £2199 (section updated October 2023).

Peugeot 3008 Motability Advance Payment Offers Peugeot 3008 PHEV Motability Advance Payment Offers 

Any car maker wanting to develop, build and sell a Crossover SUV in today's crowded market knows that the product concerned is really going to have to stand out. There are, after all, so many brands jostling for space in this segment. Has this improved version of Peugeot's second generation 3008 model got what it takes?

This 3008 slots into the middle of Peugeot's SUV line-up, just above the supermini-based 2008 and just below the larger and more luxurious seven-seat 5008. Whereas the first generation 3008 competed directly against the most affordable Nissan Qashqai and SEAT Ateca-shaped mid-sized SUVs, this MK2 model was moved a little more up-market to compete with slightly larger and more sophisticated mid-sized models like Volkswagen's Tiguan, Ford's Kuga and the Mazda CX-5. It shares its EMP2 chassis and engineering with the PSA Group's other mid-sized SUVs, the Citroen C5 Aircross, the Vauxhall Grandland and the DS 7 Crossback.

Come to this car without previously knowing much about it and to begin with when first you set off, there's a nagging sensation in your head that something is different. By the time you put your finger on what that is, you might have already decided you rather like it, the change in question being the size and positioning of this tiny steering wheel with its curious flattened top and bottom sections. It comes as part of an 'i-Cockpit' design used not only on this 3008 but on all of Peugeot's smaller models, the concept based around viewing the instrument binnacle above the wheel rather than conventionally through it. That means the wheel can be smaller and positioned closer to the driver, giving a more connected feel that encourages wrist-flick direction changes. And it's still one of the best-riding Crossovers of its kind.

Under the skin, most of the mechanicals are shared with the French maker's 308 family hatch, including the sophisticated EMP2 platform, which means that, as ever, the 3008 is primarily built around a front wheel drive platform. The engine line-up is carried over from other models in the brand's range. That means the majority of customers will continue to choose the three cylinder 1.2-litre PureTech petrol powerplant, now fitted with mandatory 8-speed auto transmission and the brand's 48V mild hybrid tech.

The mild hybrid system sees that familiar PureTech unit putting out 134hp and paired with a 28hp electric motor, working via a six-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox - and a 48v battery that charges while driving. With this set-up, when the car is decelerating, the petrol motor shuts off completely, allowing the electric motor to generate energy to recharge the battery. At higher speeds, the combustion engine stops when the driver releases the accelerator pedal at a steady speed and when slowing down. When the engine is under high load, such as during overtaking, the electric motor provides additional torque with a one-off boost that compensates for the turbo's response time. This is intended to avoid the need for downshifts and, Peugeot hopes, should provide more driving comfort and dynamism. When the driver presses the accelerator fully, the electric motor provides an additional 12hp of power.

If none of that convinces you and you still want a mainstream 3008, then you'll want to know that there's also a more conventional 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel with 130hp, also available only with EAT8 auto transmission.

Peugeot can additionally offer you a pair of full-Hybrid variants you can plug in, models which use a 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine mated to an 80kW electric motor, the resulting package offering a combined total output of 225hp in 'HYBRID 225' form - or 300bhp in the case of the top 'HYBRID4 300' version, the only variant in the range with 4WD. The electrified driving range varies between 34-36 miles.

This second generation 3008 was already a much sleeker-looking thing than its predecessor and the looks have been further sharpened as the production run has progressed. The more recent visual updates include restyled headlights that flank a smart frameless grille, while gloss black side scoops and a painted treadplate are integrated within a sleek bumper design. At just 4,450mm in length, this remains one of the more compact models in its segment, yet very class-competitive interior dimensions have kept the cabin feeling acceptably spacious, as you'll discover when you take a seat behind the wheel.

Here, as usual with Peugeot's i-Cockpit design, you're required to view the instrument binnacle over the rim of the usual small steering wheel, rather than through its spokes, the binnacle in question being of the virtual digital kind, with traditional gauges replaced by a big 12.3-inch screen. A further 10-inch screen on the centre stack comes with seven elegant piano 'toggle switches' providing direct access to main control functions, including the radio, Connected 3D Navigation and vehicle settings. Plusher models incorporate into this display an 'Amplify' option that means you can quickly change things like ambient lighting and music settings - and even add in cabin fragrances and massaging seat intensity. Two adults can be comfortably accommodated in the rear; three would be a bit of a squash.

Luggage space is more generous than the external dimensions might suggest - rated at 520-litres for the conventional models and 395-litres for the Plug-in Hybrids. Fold the second row of seats flat and this results in a total luggage capacity of 1580-litres for the conventional variants, one of the largest and most versatile load capacities in the segment. It's 1,357-litres for the PHEVs. Either way, the folding bench seat has a 2/3 - 1/3 'Magic Flat' capability to optimise loading with a flat floor. The very original adaptable moving boot floor, initiated on the original 3008, has been evolved with two positions to allow the optimisation of boot space and removable side-panels that can be affixed to the side boot trim.

If you were buying this car outright and not leasing it through the Motability Scheme, prices generally sit in the £32,500 to £37,000 bracket. There are three main trim levels - 'Active Premium+', 'Allure Premium+' and 'GT'.

Whichever variant you decide upon, equipment levels are pretty complete. Connectivity is taken care of by facilities like MirrorScreen smartphone linking, induction Smartphone recharging and 3D connected navigation with TomTom traffic reports. TomTom connectivity also delivers information that could be essential to your journey on things like local weather, car-parks and the location of service stations. There's also the Peugeot Connect SOS & Assistance system that'll automatically alert the emergency services in the event of an accident.

As for safety, Peugeot is offering what it calls 'Active Safety Brake and Distance Alert', a system that combines autonomous braking with a lane departure warning system. There's also a Driver Alert Warning function which will warn you if the car notices fatigue in your driving reactions. Other systems include Automatic High Beam Assistance, to automatically switch between high beam and low beam depending on the lighting conditions and oncoming traffic; Speed Sign Detection; Adaptive Cruise Control with a Stop function; an Active Blind Spot Monitoring System; and Park Assist, which allows the vehicle to park itself with minimum input from the driver. There are also useful 'Visiopark' all-round camera view systems if you want them.

Peugeot reckons that the 48V mild hybrid petrol engine technology that most 3008 customers will choose reduces fuel consumption by 15%, with these savings mostly being achieved during urban driving, where the brand claims the car can run on just electric power for up to 50% of the time. Motorway efficiency remains unchanged.

The 3008 models equipped with the 48V Hybrid powertrain have a specific display embedded into the 'i-Cockpit' instrument screen. The digital display shows 100% electric driving (speedometer in blue), the flow of energy in the system, the battery charge level, its operating status via a power meter (Charge, Eco, Power) and the percentage of distance travelled in electric mode at any one time or at the end of the journey. Expect around 50mpg on the combined cycle and under 130g/km of CO2. If you want to do better in a mainstream 3008, you'll need the BlueHDi 130 diesel auto variant, which manages up to 60.8mpg and up to 122g/km of CO2.

For really frugal running cost returns though, you'll need one of the clever Plug-in Hybrid versions. These use an 11.8kWh battery which can be fully charged in under two hours using a standard 7kW Wallbox. Once that's done, an all-electric WLTP-rated driving range of between 34-36 miles is possible. Even better news lies with the low WLTP-rated CO2 readings and combined cycle fuel readings generated by these plug-in models; up to 29g/km and 222.3mpg for the front wheel drive 225hp HYBRID; and up to 28g/km and 235.4mpg for the 4WD HYBRID4 variant.

A car like this is a bit of a lifestyle choice, which means that it needs to be able to change aspects of your motoring lifestyle; the atmosphere you drive in; the way you can use the cabin instruments; the kind of mobility choices you can make at journey's end. A 3008 makes a difference in all these areas in a way that no other car in this class can.

Of course, it also needs to get the basics right too. As before, this is one of the most spacious and efficient cars in its segment. And there are shades of real premium quality inside. As for the drawbacks, well Peugeot certainly isn't shy in charging a higher Advance Payment for it (compared to say the Vauxhall Grandland), the diesel engine can be a little noisy when pushed and other models in the sector still handle better - though few of these ride the bumps as well. In summary, this remains a very sophisticated kind of compact SUV. Crossovers, it seems, have moved on. To find out how far, try driving one of these.

People with a disability and carers who choose a new Peugeot 3008 through Motability will receive a brand new car, delivered by a Motability Specialist at a local Peugeot dealership, complete with insurance, servicing and maintenance, full breakdown assistance, replacement tyre cover, windscreen repair or replacement cover plus a mileage allowance of 60,000 miles over three years.