LOVE at first ride
BRIANKELLY checks out the second-generation Peugeot 2008 – and is smitten at first sight
It is not often that you can refer to a motor vehicle as making a fashion statement, but that’s howi feel about the all-new, next-generation Peugeot 2008, that’s set fornew Zealand release early next month.
Thanks to Tauranga Peugeot and Citroen, I have been lucky enough to testdrive the vehicle over the past week and I have been incredibly impressed by so many aspects of this smaller SUV.
They say that first impressions are important and that definitely applies to the 2008. Forme, it was love at first sight. Since driving the Peugeot 3008 back in 2017, when it was released innewzealand, I have becomea huge Peugeot fan for so many reasons including its styling, its interior layout and its performance. I can see why it was voted European Car of the Year.
Howdo you improve on perfection? You design and build the next generation 2008.
The 2008 resembles a smaller 3008, although its only150mmshorter, the French design team has gone the extra distance and given the 2008 a unique character, especially at the front, with a larger, sexier front grill and all-led front and rear lighting features that are different and give the vehicle and bigger look.
Inside it’s even better. THEMK22008 sets a new standard for cabin quality, with the amazing “i-cockpit” dash. The instrument set-up is amazing with its3d overlay, giving you a variety of personal set up that include navigation. The dash wraps around into the doors and features a state of the art carbon fibre-like finish. Thenowfamous piano-key style selectors have been refined and are so easy to use. You get all the bells and whistles expectednowin modern SUVS, from the automatic parking system, which is capable of automatically controlling acceleration, braking and steering when entering and leaving a parking space. There’s also a traffic sign recognition system that recognises local sign speed limits and gives awarning on your dash, plus the lane assist to stop you from drifting out of your lane with a very subtle automatic steering adjust. This does take abit of getting used to but it’s certainly an added safety feature.
Cabin space and driver comfort a very important for me, being 1.98 metres tall. The 2008 givesmeplenty of room and even withmy driver’s seat set where I like it, there is still plenty of room for someone of similar height to sit behind comfortably. The cargo area is 10 litres larger than the previous 2008 model, with an added bonus of a false floor than can create additional space.
Onroad performance, in aword, brilliant.
What has blownme away about this vehicle and its performance is that when you consider that the engine is 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrolwith an eight-speed automatic transmission, it performed onmytrip to Hamilton and return over the Kaimai’s like the larger 3008.
It handled the tricky climb over the Kaimai’s from the Waikato sidewith ease, not lacking in grunt. Andof course it means real economy when it comes to L/100km.
Overall the second generation Peugeot 2008 is a smaller, very sophisticated Suvthat offers all the advantages of a compact vehicle for round town or open road driving that has certainly leftmevery impressed and I would have no hesitation in recommending a test drive. Real style.
Brian Kelly is breakfast host on Coast Radio in Tauranga