SWIMMING AGAINST MAINSTREAM
Attention to detail and impressive finishes set this French SUV apart from a crowded market
Within a world of conformity, it’s difficult to stand out from the crowd. Peugeot has long been around in Australia without breaking any sales records. Never destined to be a volume seller Down Under, the brand is comfortable as a semi-premium niche.
An updated badge and a new defined direction has Peugeot gunning for the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, rather than Mazda, Toyota or Mitsubishi.
Boasting a strong line-up of SUVs, Peugeot has earmarked its product for a more affluent market.
Prices reflect this ascension. Our family has parked the mid-size 3008 in the driveway for a few months, to gauge its appeal. The base model is $47,990 drive-away, but the GT Sport we’re sampling is in traffic for just shy of $60k.
VALUE
Often models wearing the GT moniker just get some flashier external features. The 3008 version also gets some extra grunt, 12 additional kilowatts and 10 more Newton metres than the base petrol model.
Instantly recognisable over its stablemates, this version also comes with a range of black coloured features including the grille, badging, lower rear bumper, roof rails and 19-inch alloys.
Other GT highlights include a power tailgate, 10-speaker 515-watt sound system and nappa leather seats with the front pair heated while the driver has a massage function.
Options include a sunroof for $1990, while metallic grey and black external hues cost $690 – premium white, red or blue paint is $1050.
Warranty coverage meets the new standard of five years, which matches the likes of Volkswagen, Mazda and Toyota but trumps Audi and BMW at three years.
Servicing undertaken by a Peugeot dealership is covered under a “price promise” guarantee with intervals annual or every 20,000km. Over five years the cost would be $2639 which is about middle ground in comparison to rivals.
SAFETY
Australia’s safety authority awarded the 3008 five stars back in 2016 under a far less stringent criteria, but both have moved on significantly since then.
Peugeot has upped its game with a strong list of technical additions expected nowadays.
Across the entire range is autonomous emergency braking which can step in if the driver fails to act fast enough before an impending frontal collision, functionality which can actively steer the car within a lane if attention wanders, along with radar cruise control to maintain preset distances from other vehicles.
Front and rear parking sensors are also standard.
There is one key item missing – namely rear cross-traffic alert which has become standard fare on many rivals and warns of oncoming vehicles when reversing. Some also have the ability to completely stop the car – so AEB in reverse.
COMFORT
Those looking for something different will be inspired by the interior styling. Concave finishes across the doors, ambient lighting, posh metal toggles for the infotainment and aircon shortcut controls ... there’s a high level of attention to detail which makes the 3008 feel almost handcrafted.
Equally interesting is Peugeot’s atypical cockpit.
Using a small sports steering wheel, the instrument cluster sits high on the dash. Think of it like the modern head-up display that projects vital information onto the windscreen, except this is done within the traditional digital binnacle.
There are a range of digital displays on offer, from minimalist to options featuring all traditional gauges and trip information.
While the interior space falls short of segment leaders like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, there’s enough real estate to handle four adults. All seats offer good support and those in the back have their own air vents as well as a pair of USB ports.
The primary system operations are relatively straightforward, although you quickly need to become accustomed to shifting between the shortcut buttons and the touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard for those who like the full smartphone integration.
DRIVING
Offering some strong pulling power, the turbocharged four-cylinder is a zesty unit. Partnered to a eight-speed automatic transmission (other petrol models get only six cogs), it’s happy to rev and offers a nice turn of speed when summonsed.
During some challenging rural sojourns, the 3008 excelled where many SUVs flounder. It offers flat cornering abilities with accurate steering and grip which inspires driver confidence.
Requiring premium unleaded, we’ve achieved Peugeot’s claim of seven litres for every 100km courtesy of some easy freeway drives – those regularly in stop-start traffic could expect a couple of litres more on average.
The driver can choose between Normal, Sport and Eco modes depending on mood or thriftiness. Using the most dynamic setting improves the throttle response but doesn’t transform the SUV into a hot hatch.
Boasting a tight turning circle, it makes easy work of carparks, while a boot space of nearly 600 litres makes it a useful family hauler. During a school holidays trip it handled two large suitcases and a pair of carry-ons.
Dropping the rear seats 60-40 can be done from the boot, and it can easily handle an adultsize bike without removing any wheels.
HEART SAYS
Mainstream is nice, but I have a penchant for things outside the conventional.
HEAD SAYS
European styling and performance without the premium price tag.
ALTERNATIVES TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID CRUISER $47,651 D/A
One of the best buys in the segment for space and all-round dexterity. Powered by a 2.5L hybrid drivetrain with fuel consumption of less than five litres per 100km, all-wheel drive adds about $3k. There’s a big queue though … expect to wait at least nine months due to stock shortages.
MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 200 $86,578 D/A
The entry-level vehicle in the mid-size SUV spectrum from Mercedes, powered by a 145kW/320Nm RWD turbo four-cylinder petrol. Ample luxury, refinement and tech with room for the family.