PUG’S NEW PUPPY
A striking design and smart tech puts Peugeot’s new 2008 SUV in the mix
The new Peugeot 2008 was an easy pick for the brand’s local arm. Baby SUV sales are booming and many customers are spending more on their next model, so a high-riding hatch represented a clear choice for the famous French marque.
Peugeot hasn’t committed to the new 208 found overseas, that hatchback’s electric cousin or the next-generation of its Corolla-rivalling 308 in Australia. But the new 2008 is here.
It embodies what Peugeot Australia boss Kate Gillis describes as the “premiumisation” of the brand. More expensive than mainstream rivals, the 2008 is priced from $34,990 plus onroad costs in entry-level Allure form, or $43,990 for the premium GT Sport pictured here.
Standard equipment in the 2008 Allure includes 17-inch alloys with a space-saver spare, cloth seats, LED headlights and a 7-inch touchscreen stereo with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Safety kit includes auto emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, speed sign recognition and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors.
Shelling out $9000 more for the GT Sport lands heated leather seats with a massaging function, better LED headlights, smart keys, ambient lighting and a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless charging and sat nav. You also get a broader array of driver aids including active cruise control and blind spot monitoring, front parking sensors and a self-parking system.
Premium paint and a sunroof add around $3000 to the bill, pushing the test example pictured here beyond $50,000 drive-away. That’s a fair wedge of cash for a baby SUV.
But the cabin does feel better-finished than class rivals, blending premium materials such as nappa leather and faux carbon fibre with clever touches including a high-mounted 3D digital dashboard. The 3D dash has two layers, presenting pertinent information such as vehicle speed and safety warnings ahead of background data such as fuel consumption.
Peugeot’s i-Cockpit dashboard layout is divisive. We have mixed feelings about a tiny, low-set steering wheel that prescribes a particular driving position, and doubt a local spokesman’s claim it “provides far better grip and handling for your vehicle”.
Other ergonomic gripes include climate controls accessed through the central touchscreen, fiddly cruise controls hidden behind the steering wheel, and a backward approach to audio controls giving the driver a rotating wheel to choose the next track and buttons for volume adjustment.
Happily, there are four USB points spread throughout a cabin with impressive storage space, though rear head and legroom in our sunroof-equipped example was tight.
Both 2008 models are powered by turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder engines driving the front wheels through automatic transmissions. But the GT Sport replaces the standard model’s 96kW/230Nm motor and sixspeed auto with a punchier 114kW/240Nm unit mated to an eight-speed gearbox.
The premium model uses less fuel and accelerates noticeably harder, reaching 100km/h in a claimed 8.9 seconds, a full second less than the entry grade.
All-wheel-drive isn’t available, though the car does have a clever traction control system with settings tailored for various off-road environments.
We tested the crossover on its Australian launch in Sydney, where wet weather challenged its traction. Both engines feel strong for the segment, offering effortless performance compared with non-turbo rivals. Fast and light steering in the 2008 makes it easy to hustle around town, and a pleasure to drive on the open road. While keen drivers might be tempted to go for the GT Sport, the Allure’s 17-inch wheels and more compliant suspension offer a better ride without giving much away in the bends. It’s a better drive than most cars in this class.
VERDICT
An eye-catching design and impressive tech make the Peugeot 2008 an interesting proposition, but the GT Sport’s high price and ergonomic quirks are harder to reconcile.