With a red hot paint finish and gloss detail new 2008 SUV is a real head-turner
Peugeot is giving its 2008 compact SUV a major revamp with the introduction of a new engine and a bold new look.
The changes have transformed the model and in the case of the new top specification GT Line versions the effect is outstanding.
Replacing the Feline grade on the current 2008, the GT Line cars come with gloss black roof rails and door mirror cappings and black detailing around the windows on top of a restyled nose and more pronounced wheel arches.
It’s also available in the stunning red paint finish Peugeot uses on its very hot 308 GTi hatchback.
From the front the 2008 now has a real macho presence – akin to that the 2008 Dakar Rally winning car – with the grille set off by 30 shiny facets and red lettering for the Peugeot name.
The red theme is continued inside in a trim line around the cockpit which illuminates at night and a centre stripe on the seatbelts while the main instruments sit behind Peugeot’s smaller than normal 13-inch steering wheel, complete with a flattened bottom.
It’s classy, functional and very state of the art with a touchscreen display providing sat nav as well as MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity.
Under the bonnet the new 2008 really hits the mark with the arrival of the 130ps derivative of Peugeot’s award-winning 1.2-litre PureTech three cylinder petrol engine.
In the new 2008 range this engine is available on from top-but-one Allure specification and fitted with stop/start it is not only feisty but also economical.
The official fuel return is 58.9mpg with emissions of 110g/km. We averaged 37 to the gallon and that’s nothing to be sneezed at in what is the quickest of the new 2008 range.
Top speed is a claimed 124mph with a 0 to 60 time of 9.3 seconds which makes it a spritely performer on the SUV scene.
Road holding is more than acceptable and the power delivery is smooth and plentiful through the six-speed manual box – there’s no auto option with this engine but such transmissions are available on lower powered versions of the PureTech engine and on the diesels.
The new 2008 line up is priced from £13,615 to £20,565 which is an increase of a few hundred pounds over the previous model.
The 130ps GT Line 2008 costs from £19,315 and for a sub£20,000 SUV it is highly competitive.
Not only does the new 2008 look posh it is also very purposeful courtesy of Peugeot’s electronic Grip Control system.
Instead of a full blown 4x4 set up, which adds weight and impacts on fuel consumption, Grip Control enables the 2008 to be surprisingly capable over poor surfaces. It can be set to tackle sand, snow and mud and each setting gives the car optimum front wheel traction.
We tried it through soft sand more than a foot deep and the 2008 pulled through without difficulty.
As such it is an off-roader that weighs less than 1.7 tonnes yet still has a towing capacity of 1.27 tonnes – well suited for those who want a car with a little extra.
It’s a snazzy all-rounder and very family-oriented with boot space ranging from 410 to 1,400 litres. Loading is helped by a low boot sill which stands just two feet off the ground.
First deliveries are slated for July and the new model looks set to build on the success of the original 2008 which has notched up more than 40,000 sales in the UK since its launch in 2013.
With its striking looks, clever drive system, lashings of refinement and high on value for money, Peugeot has created a compelling piece of kit with the GT Line PureTech 130ps 2008 – enough to make some of the crossover kings from the likes of Nissan, Renault and VW cross indeed.