Quick Facts
- Price: From 359 900
- Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine
- Power/Torque: 96kW / 230Nm (GT Line tested)
- Transmission: Six-speed Auto
I spent a week sampling the new Peugeot 2008 and if you haven’t already, please do yourself a favour and go test drive it. Before you even finish reading this article.
I had unfortunately missed the launch sometime this year but I found solace in the fact that it would grace my driveway, and thankfully, it did. Off the bat, I can proudly say that the Peugeot 2008 is the best looking compact SUV on the roads currently. The exterior looks have been given a massive upgrade and so has the interior, the LED claw-like Daytime running lights makes anyone stare they give it a distinctive look and a huge character, I mean it only makes sense, one of their slogans is “Lions of Our Time”.
The exterior of this car speaks for itself, nothing to fault, the designers clearly did not sleep a wink and made sure that everyone would notice the compact SUV. At the rear, the ‘Lion’ theme continues with the 3 rear LED lights also in a claw-like effect and have a 3D shape. Every bulge and crease placed in the right way to give the car a beautiful look and feel. All-round parking sensors, a reverse camera, lane assists, blind spot detection as well as front collision warnings are just some of the safety features you can look forward to.
Exterior Round up:
18-inch alloys, LED headlights and taillights, LED Daytime Running Lights.
The French did go an extra mile in designing this.
Inside, a premium cabin that matches the beautiful exterior design. A soft-touch dashboard and door handle while the cloth and leather seats look and feel great, however, the first thing you will notice is the steering wheel, or should I just call it a steering column since it is not a wheel. While this steering has been at the forefront of some criticism because of its so-called ‘distracting’ view of the driver display, that was far from the case with me. A correct sitting position and dropping it a few inches down ensures that you see everything perfectly.
Speaking of displays, the Peugeot 2008 features a 3D i-cockpit driver display which drivers can toggle between various menus such as fuel consumption, navigation, the various dials, and distance among many other functions. There is a 10-inch touch screen infotainment in the centre that can work with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as well as Bluetooth. My only issue with this screen is the fact that while there is a touch button for the aircon, you still have to touch and adjust the temperature on the screen which can be very distracting while driving. Continuing with the touch, the heated seat controls, navigation, music and car settings are all buttons, with no haptic feedback so sometimes you might get yourself pressing on these buttons accidentally.
Just below the 10-inch display, are piano-like keys which are physical Buttons used to access things like your hazard warning lights, aircon button (you still have to set the temperature on the screen once you press this), door lock and unlock button and overall, these buttons looks and feel great in the cabin. Rounding off the cabin is ambient lighting with a choice of bright 8 colours and 2 USB ports in the front and the rear. (They have even catered for USB C ports which is a big win and on the GT Line model as well as a wireless charger.)
Overall, 2008’s interior looks fantastic, the plush-feeling materials and good build quality make the Peugeot 2008 a serious contender in the compact SUV segment, in fact, I will take it up a notch and say that it is the best premium cabin in the segment. Customers can also option the 2008 GT Line with the Focal Sound system as well as a panoramic sunroof. (A must-have in my opinion as it would bring in much-needed light in the cabin)
Interior Roundup:
Contrasting stitching seats, Wireless charger, partial wood trim on the dashboard, 3D cockpit display, Ambient lighting,
So how does it drive?
Sometimes manufacturers make a great looking car and forget that it still needs to perform, also not the case here. While the 2008 GT Line I drove was a 3 cylinder turbo engine with 96Kw and 230nm of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic, one would easily dismiss this car on paper. However, it is still a brilliant performer. It has 3 driving modes (sand, mud and snow) and I never got to experience them as the car was just too pretty for me to take off-roading.
The suspension is also soft and offers passengers a quiet ride with minimal road and wind noise coming into the cabin. There weren’t any rattles or squeaks in the cabin either and this goes to show just how good the build quality I spoke of is.
There is some turbo lag when you try and pull away fast, but this is not a huge claw back as most of its competitors have the same issue. It also handles corners exceptionally well while the safety features are always on par to make sure you do not make a fool of yourself. Going on a road trip? Then you will be glad to know that there is cruise control available.
What I liked.
- The Exterior looks
- The walkaway lock or walk towards unlocking functionality
- The Fuel consumption
- The 3D i-cockpit display
- The Comfortable Seats
- Sporty Steering wheel (column)
What I did not like
- The non-haptic touch buttons
- Most of the vehicle settings are controlled through the 10-inch infotainment screen which can be distracting while driving.
Overall
Peugeot really worked hard in ensuring that 2008 becomes a success, the pricing has also shocked many people I came across and this can only show you that it does not need to be expensive to be premium. I have been super impressed with the offering and it has been a great product to live with. Go and give a test drive if you are in the market for a compact SUV.
Pricing
2008 ACTIVE 1.2T 74kW MT6 - R359 900.00
2008 ACTIVE 1.2T 96kW AT6 - R399 900.00
2008 ALLURE 1.2T 96kW AT6 - R429 900.00
2008 GT 1.2T 96kW AT6 - R479 900.00 - Tested