SPACE AND PRACTICALITY
You have a good forward view in the 2008, but its rising window line and shallow rear screen restrict rearward visibility. Thankfully, GT Line trim gets front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard.
The Q2 is fractionally better, with thinner front pillars and taller side windows. However, it, too, has thick rear pillars that obscure over-the-shoulder visibility. Rear parking sensors come as standard, but you have to go for the Comfort and Sound Pack (£1195) to get a rear-view camera.
Given that the Q2 is the best in its class for interior quality, the fact that the 2008 feels almost as upmarket is quite a feat. The upper surfaces of both look smart and feel soft, and while the Q2’s switches and buttons operate with a more satisfying click, the 2008 features a more eclectic mix of materials that work harmoniously to enhance the ambience. Some of the gaps between panels – the dash and the doors, for example – aren’t as tight as in the Q2, though.
Front space, rear space, seating exibility, boot
Both of our contenders offer plenty of space for front seat occupants. Leg room is extensive in both, and despite the fact that the 2008 comes with a panoramic glass roof in GT Line trim, even really tall people won’t find their heads brushing the roof lining. Both offer plenty of front storage space, too, including deep door bins and small trays at the base of their dashboards. In the 2008, there’s also a compartment between the front seats that houses a wireless charging pad.
In the rear, the 2008 has more leg room, allowing longer-legged passengers to stretch out more, but the Q2 has a bit more head room, extra width and taller side windows, so it’s preferable for three sitting side by side. Getting in or out of the Q2’s rear seats is easier, too, because its sills aren’t as wide as the 2008’s. However, the Q2 doesn’t have any USB ports in the rear, whereas the 2008 does – something worth bearing in mind if you have tech-obsessed kids.
Both cars’ boots are a decent size, albeit not as big or as clever as those of rivals such as the Ford Puma and Volkswagen T-roc. The 2008’s is quite a bit bigger than the Q2’s when the 60/40-split rear seatbacks are folded down, though. Each has a height-adjustable boot floor that, in the highest setting, virtually eliminates any load lip.
BUYING AND OWNING Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
The Q2 has a higher list price, but dealers should be willing to give larger discounts that bring the Q2 within about £1000 of the 2008. Now, £1000 is still a fair chunk of change, plus the Q2 is quite a bit thirstier than the 2008, but once you factor in cheaper servicing costs and the fact that it sheds value at a much slower rate, the Q2 is slightly cheaper for private buyers to own over three years.
Opt for a PCP finance deal instead and the Q2 looks even more tempting. A £3000 deposit contribution from Audi at the time of writing (versus Peugeot’s £1050) means monthly payments are a bit lower than they’d be for the 2008 (£350 versus £361).
You’ll need to add quite a few options to bring the Q2 up to a similar specification to the 2008. For example, climate control is a £525 option, while heated seats and a rear-view camera are available only as part of the £1195 Comfort and Sound Pack. And if you want digital instruments, you’ll have to specify the £1495 Technology Pack.
While both cars were awarded five stars for safety by Euro NCAP, the Q2 scored higher for both adult and child protection, with the 2008 doing a poor job of protecting children in the rear in a side impact. Both cars come with automatic emergency braking.