Peugeot 3008
Ahead of the big Stellantis merge, Peugeot’s enigmatic 3008 reminds us just how good Gallic cars can be
Roughly 18 months since Peugeot Citroën South Africa (PCSA) returned to being a wholly-owned subsidiary of the PSA Group – which itself has merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to form Stellantis – and the French brand is riding the wave of positive change. With a new corporate identity, a contemporary new logo and renewed financial support from Paris, Leslie Ramsoomar, MD of PCSA, says the return under the wing of the global mothership has brought untold benefits to local operations. These benefits are borne out in the firm’s recent excellent performance, bucking the downward sales trend postlockdown thanks to the introduction of the new 2008 and Opel Corsa, which helped secure solid month-on-month growth.
The C SUV segment in which the new 3008 GT plays is currently one of the most stable in a volatile market, showing a consistent 11% share of SA’S overall car park, or one in every nine cars sold.
While the 3008’s drivetrain is unchanged and there is no hybrid, the 121 kw/240 N.m 1,6-litre turbopetrol motor is versatile with peak torque available at just
1 400 r/min for easy waftability and it comes with steering wheelmounted paddle shifters to overcome occasional lethargy from the automatic gearbox.
Its hardpoints are unchanged, too, so the 312/1 024-litre stowage space is the same as before, as are the unique interior ergonomics of the i-cockpit with its small steering wheel. The cabin architecture as a whole would be familiar to anyone who drove the previous 3008, including the stylish toggle switches, 10-inch infotainment screen and 12,3-inch digital cluster … which is not the 3D item found in the 2008 if you were curious. The fit and finish on our launch unit were exceptional, with soft, quilted black Nappa leather seats (optionally available in red as well).
However, the real standout is the exterior makeover, against which we’d argue Peugeot’s whole raison d’être for the new 3008 was to serve up one of the bestlooking crossover SUVS in class. The more assertive front end has gone frameless with design elements of the grille attractively pulled across below the LED headlights. Peugeot’s “sabretooth” DLRS draw attention to the outer edge of the front bumper and the nameplate appears on the bonnet as it does on the 2008. The 19-inch wheels fill the wheel arches soundly; and around the back, three-claw 3D-effect taillights with scrolling indicators deliver maximum cool factor.
All in all, the arrival of the new 3008 could not have come at a better time to ensure the firm continues its upward trajectory. The challenge for PCSA in the coming months will be to make certain the corporate integration with Stellantis does not in any way detract from or diminish their efforts.