Peugeot 2008 1,2 Puretech Turbo 96 kw AT and 208 1,5 HDI
Earlier this year, before the world turned upside down, we put the striking new 2008 (and 208) to the test
Price: TBA Engine: 1,2-litre, 3-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 96 kw @ 5 500 r/min Torque: 230 N.m @ 1 750 r/min 0-100 km/h: 9,9 seconds* Top speed: 199 km/h* Fuel consumption: 6,0 L/100 km* CO2: 136 g/km Rivals: Renault Captur; Volkswagen T-cross
+ eye-catching design; promises to be generously equipped - engine can get noisy
The new 2008 is a completely different car to the original Peugeot 2008 (2014-’20) which, while it was good, fought for sales with few rivals such as the Mini Countryman, Renault Captur and Nissan Juke.
Several years on, the new ones faces a far more competitive arena with recent arrivals to the SA market such as the BAIC X25, Haval H2, Hyundai Kona and established sellers such as the Suzuki Vitara, Ford Ecosport, Honda HR-V and Volkswagen T-cross (plus the French vehicle’s cousin, the excellent Citroën C3 Aircross).
In the UK and most global markets, three types of propulsion are offered: petrol, diesel and all-electric. PSA’S “common modular platform” under the new 2008 (which it shares with the 208 hatch) is rather clever and allows all powerplants to slot into the same structural front-end, so all three versions can be built on the same production line. South Africa will get a Puretech engine developing 75 kw, plus this 96 kw version. Both engines will be offered with the choice of a manual or automatic transmission.
So, what’s new for 2020? Nearly everything. With typical Gallic air, Peugeot has created something pretty special to look at. Park one of these on your driveway (as I did) and your curtain-twitching neighbours will be suitably impressed (as they were).
The design is radically different from that of the outgoing model, which now looks rather pedestrian by comparison. An imposing 01 The 2008 owes much of its styling to the template set by the current 3008.