More Allure in Peugeot 3008
The mid-range model is the sweet spot for French maker’s new medium SUV, says David Linklater.
It’s taken a while, but you have to admire Peugeot’s newfound commitment to chasing the SUV cause. After years of flirting with different body shapes and genres in its ‘‘lifestyle’’ models (a tedious but unavoidable term these days), the French maker has totally embraced the SUV ethos.
Examples: the pint-sized 2008 wagon was facelifted and relaunched last year with more styling and marketing emphasis on a crossover/SUV character.
The 5008, never sold here but undeniably a pure people-mover in its previous European-market incarnation, has been re-invented as a striking SUV with some clever seating combinations. Yes, we will see that one here.
Then there’s this: the latest 3008, which has evolved from an idiosyncratic one-and-a-bit-box MPV-cum-wagon-thingy into a mid-sized SUV of quite conventional proportions. Striking and fashion-forward in its design detail, but conventional nonetheless.
It’s been a rewarding change in strategy for Peugeot so far: the 3008 is the European Car of the Year for 2017.
What works in Europe doesn’t always resonate in New Zealand of course, but from the outside this looks like a tempting alternative to mainstream mid-sized SUV fare such as the Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. It’s on a similar wheelbase to all of the above, albeit a bit shorter overall, and prices are in the right ballpark: $39,990 to $54,990.
Our Allure petrol-powered test vehicle is in the middle of the range. After time in this and the flagship diesel-only GT, this has got to be the sweet spot. The 1.6-litre turbo-petrol is well down on power and torque compared with the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel in the GT and Combined fuel consumption is 7.3 litres per 100km against a very frugal 4.8 for the oil-burner, but the petrol model is just as quick to 100kmh. And you’d have to bet on a petrol car having better residual value than diesel these days, right?
More to the point, the 121kW/ 240Nm petrol’s power delivery just seems to suit the 3008’s chassis. It’s a very modern SUV, this – by which I mean it’s not available in 4WD in any way, shape or form. While the torquey diesel can overwhelm the front wheels at times, the petrol just stays sweet and keeps the car rolling along nicely over tricky blacktop.
There is indeed a diesel option for the Allure, but it’s a 1.6-litre unit rather than the 2.0-litre of the GT. We’ve not tried that one, but on paper you are giving up a lot of performance for frugality: 88kW/ 300Nm and 0-100kmh in 12.7sec. Fuel economy is 4.4 litres per 100km, which is outstanding by class standards - but not a lot different to the larger engine in the GT.
The 3008 is not a sporting SUV by any measure. Not even as sporting as some of the Japanese and Korean competition. That’s another reason why the Allure works better than the GT: it rides on smaller (but still substantial-looking) 18-inch wheels, which results in a better ride and more fluid handling.
Curiously, the Allure gets Peugeot’s Grip Control and Hill Descent Control systems, whereas the flagship GT doesn’t (they’re a $500 option). Grip Control is a sorry-you-don’t-have-4WD traction control kinda thing and allows you to choose between five different modes: Mud, Snow, Sand, ESP Off and Standard. You’re not going too far off the beaten track in any of them, but the system does have an effect: calibration is quite different for each setting.
The interior is quite something. It won’t be for everybody because it’s based around the second generation of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit design ethos, which puts the instruments up high and a tiny steering wheel way down low, almost in your lap. Works well for some, but you can see how it might be off-putting for others.
The main instrument panel is digital and configurable and... a bit confusing until you get the hang of it. You can have anything from a conventional-looking set of dials to a giant sat-nav screen that dominates the display.
There’s also a tablet-style centreconsole touch-screen, although Peugeot has thankfully abandoned its obsession with hiding everything there. Shortcut buttons are presented as an elegant-looking row of ‘‘piano keys’’.
There are rotary controls for instrument-panel and touchscreen on the steering wheel, but in an unfortunate flashback to lazy form, they’re still set up for lefthand drive. So the dial on the leftside of the wheel controls the right-hand side of the instrument panel, while the corresponding dial on the right-side links to the touch-screen, which is actually to your left. Point offs, Peugeot.
But it’s a stunning cabin all the same – it feels far above its station as a mid-sized family SUV.
For all the flashy stuff, the 3008 still a pretty practical thing. The boot’s a worthy 520 litres and while the rear seat only splits 60/40, the front-passenger chair can also be folded flat to give potential load length of three metres.
The 3008 is entering a crowded segment in NZ and one that’s packed full of talented, volumeselling vehicles. It’s still an idiosyncratic choice compared with a Mazda CX-5 or Kia Sportage, but it also feels pretty special. It’s probably not regarded as a ‘‘safe’’ buy in a Kiwi context, but fortune favours the brave, right?