PEUGEOT 3008
FINAL REPORT It’s been all smiles during our man’s 12 months with brilliant crossover
Fond farewell to awardwinning crossover after 23,000 miles in a year.
IT’S time to say goodbye to our Peugeot 3008, and I’m gutted to see it go, because the French crossover has really left a lasting impression on me.
For me, it’s the best car the company makes, and deserved to pick up the Best Mid-size SUV crown at our New Car Awards 2017: the 3008 brings some French chic to the crowded class.
There are so many competitive models in this market that it can be difficult to work out which one is my favourite. In the past I’ve run a Renault Kadjar and SEAT Ateca – both great cars – but if I was spending my own money, I’d have to go for the Peugeot. The cool French styling means it’s handsome from the outside, but it’s the interior that really makes the 3008 stand out.
It’s not just that the materials give it a high-quality feel; it’s also the way they have been used. Rather than simply sticking in some more expensive-looking plastics, Peugeot has made the cabin design interesting to look at and it feels special. The i-cockpit system is integrated really well, replacing the dials above the small steering wheel. In some Peugeots this set-up is a bit awkward, but in the 3008 you sit high enough that seeing the speedometer isn’t an issue.
That’s crucial here, because rather than just glancing at the dials I’ve taken to using the digital instrument display to follow sat-nav directions, instead of looking at the touchscreen display in the centre of the dash. It’s a great system, one of the best of its kind, and shows why the 3008 is at the top of its class.
We’ve encountered no issues with the car over our time with it, but one gripe I have had concerned that central display. When you start the car the system takes time to warm up; sometimes when I’ve wanted to get going, I’ve felt frustrated waiting for the sat-nav screen to come on.
But while the 3008 stands out on account of its superb interior and stylish looks, it doesn’t do away with anything that makes crossovers so popular. The car has a huge 591-litre boot, yet still offers plenty of legroom in the back, so my whole family can fit inside, even while the car is carrying a lot of luggage.
The cabin materials have proven hardwearing over 12 months with my two children, so they should stand the test of time. However, stopping dust getting in and around the buttons and screen has been a pain. Likewise with cleaning the exterior: the intricate details such as the silver lines on the grille look great when they’re clean, but they catch all too easily on my valeting cloth.
The car has come into its element in the recent poor weather, however. Our 3008 is fitted with Advanced Grip Control (£470), which adds a snow mode – but much more importantly, all-season tyres. They allowed me to get to work even in very tough conditions, but had minimal impact on everyday driving when the weather was fine.
While I’ve had the keys, the 3008 has done plenty of motorway miles, because I spend a lot of time driving around the country to photograph many of the cars you see in Auto Express each week.
A few stonechips have appeared on the bonnet over those long trips. There was nothing too bad, until early this year when a large stone hit the windscreen. Still, it was no problem to fix: a mobile repair operator came out to my house and filled in the mark in no time.
All those motorway miles have meant we managed 48.9mpg in our last few months with the car. That’s down from our best figure of 56.5mpg earlier in the year, and is possibly a result of the poor weather conditions and a few more trips driving around town.
Even so, this is still strong enough economy for my needs, and the 1.6-litre diesel engine is punchy and reasonably refined as well. The overall experience is let down a bit by the Peugeot’s slightly vague, unpleasant gearshift, but the box isn’t enough to put a downer on my experience with this brilliant crossover.