Peugeot 2008
“It’s smaller than most family cars, but the 2008 has real road presence”
THE jacked-up Peugeot 2008 made its debut in showrooms back in 2013, and proved an instant hit thanks to its combination of practicality, an upmarket interior and low running costs. A facelift earlier this year further boosted the model’s appeal by improving its stylish looks and subtly altering the line-up.
Buyers can choose from Access, Active, Allure and Gt-line specs, while the engine range consists of a 1.6 Bluehdi diesel in 75, 100 and 120 guises, plus a 1. 2 Puretech petrol in 82, 110 and 130 forms. Here we test the mid-range Allure model with the flagship 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel, costing £19,820.
Styling 4.1/5
IN recent years, Peugeot has made a concerted effort to push its cars upmarket, and the 2008 is proof that this policy has been a success. For a car that’s smaller than most family hatchbacks, it has an unexpected road presence thanks to its rugged and fashionable SUV lines.
The recent facelift has only enhanced the 2008’s visual appeal, with the nose getting a larger, more upright grille – complete with chrome detailing on our Allure test car – plus redesigned headlights and a new front bumper.
The other big change is the addition of extra black cladding, which starts on the front bumper, extends back over the wheelarches and goes all the way to the rear. There are fake skid plates on the front and back bumpers, too, although aside from that new nose, the 2008 appears largely the same as before. It doesn’t look quite as large as its rivals here, but the neat detailing, chrome trim inserts and distinctive alloy wheels give it a more expensive feel.
Climb aboard and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were inside a pre-facelift 2008. Except for new seat upholstery and a carbon fibre-effect finish across the dashboard, the interior has been left largely unchanged. Peugeot’s i-cockpit cabin layout has been retained, so the instruments are set high up with a small steering wheel ahead of you.
The 2008 has arguably a more premium feel than either the Vauxhall or Honda. There are plenty of soft-touch plastics, and the subtle chrome detailing gives things a lift. On top of that, our mid-range Allure test model features LED strips set into the headlining, which give the cabin a cool and futuristic air at night.
This car also benefits from the brand’s seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but while it looks good it isn’t as easy to use as the Mokka’s Intellilink set-up. Not only is the 2008’s screen overly sensitive to inputs, you have to navigate through a few too many sub-menus for our liking even to perform the most basic functions. Still, while Peugeot charges £450 extra to upgrade the unit with sat-nav, you do get Mirrorlink and Apple Carplay connectivity as standard.
Driving 3.9/5
THE recent facelift to the 2008 was mainly cosmetic, because under the skin, it’s been left largely unchanged. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine fitted to our test model is a willing and reasonably refined performer.
At the track, the Peugeot was faster than the Vauxhall in nearly all of our assessments,
and only marginally behind the sprightly Honda. We completed the benchmark 0-60mph sprint in 10.1 seconds – over a second faster than the Mokka – and acceleration in-gear was quicker, too.
Out on the road there’s little to separate our trio, though, with all three cars delivering 300Nm of torque and more than capable of keeping up with faster traffic. In fact, the 2008’s performance is hobbled more by the spongy action of its sixspeed manual gearbox than its gutsy engine.
In corners, the Peugeot feels more agile than its competitors in this test, although it suffers from a fair amount of body roll. The steering is sharp and there’s more grip than in the Mokka, which is surprising, given that the 2008 is fitted with all-season tyres.
An unfortunate side effect of those tyres is additional road noise at motorway speeds, so the Peugeot drones a little more than its rivals at 70mph. The suspension also has a tendency to fidget over bumps, but nevertheless, the car is marginally more comfortable than the other models here, particularly at lower speeds where the 2008 copes better with potholes and sharp ridges than the stiffer Mokka and HR-V.
Ownership 4.2/5
OVER the past few years, Peugeot has drastically improved its showing in our annual Driver Power satisfaction surveys, and that’s partly thanks to models such as the 2008.
The company ranked 17th in the 2016 manufacturers’ chart – ahead of both rivals here – while its network of franchised garages finished a decent 10th in our most recent dealer poll. One area the 2008 could improve on is safety. While the car earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating when it was launched in 2013, it wouldn’t get the same score in today’s more stringent crash tests.
Still, the crossover is equipped with six airbags, plus the switchable traction control improves the car’s ability in slippery conditions. It’s also available with autonomous emergency braking for £250 – this kit isn’t even an option on the Mokka.
Running costs 4.4/5
THE 2008 falls between its opponents in this test on price, at £19,820, although it has a longer list of equipment than the more expensive HR-V. Parking sensors and a touchscreen infotainment system are both included as standard.
Everyday running costs should be appealing, too. We returned an impressive fuel economy figure of 56.3mpg on test, while CO2 emissions of 96g/km ensure the Peugeot is the most cost effective business choice. This means lower-rate earners will save nearly £50 a year over those choosing the Honda, paying £751 annually.
In addition, you’ll save on maintenance with the Peugeot, as its monthly payment plan works out at £468 for three services, compared with £639 for the Vauxhall and £597 for the Honda (based on its £995 five-year scheme).
Practicality 4.3/5
WITH a capacity of 360 litres when the rear seats are in place, the 2008’s boot is four litres bigger than the Mokka’s, but 71 litres down on the Honda’s. A low boot lip makes it easy to load, though, while the back seats fold flat in one easy movement like the HR-V ’s. The trouble is, when you do this, the maximum space available is comfortably the smallest here, at 1,194 litres, and unlike its rivals, the 2008 doesn’t benefit from a deep underfloor storage space. The upshot is that you get a space saver spare wheel; in the other cars, you have to make do with a foam repair kit.
While rear headroom is acceptable, it’s not as generous as the rise in the 2008’s roofline would suggest. Still, the seats are comfortable, and the car’s raised ride height means occupants get an elevated seating position. Passengers in the rear have less legroom than in either rival in this test, although it’s a matter of millimetres when compared with the Vauxhall.
Cabin storage is no match for the other models here, either. All you get in the 2008 is a small armrest bin, restricted door cubbies and some shallow centre console trays.