12-month test: Peugeot 3008 1,6 THP Active AT
A year spent with Peugeot’s gentle midsize crossover turned its keeper into a proud Francophile
IN this review, I’ll spare you the clichéd tropes such as “great cars but pity no-one buys them” usually so prevalent in a test of a Peugeot. Instead, this feature will focus simply on why the 3008, by embracing the very things that make it oh-so French, is one of the best midsize crossovers there is (and where Peugeot could improve it come midcycle refresh).
WHAT I LIKED
Specification: when Peugeot South Africa offered CAR a 3008 at the start of last year, the brand’s communications department kindly allowed me to choose the colour and specification. Tempted as I was to tick the box next to the full-fat 1,6 THP Gt-line in striking Magnetic Blue metallic, I succumbed to innate sensibility and chose a white 3008 in entry-level Active trim coupled with Peugeot’s familiar 121 kw/240 N.m 1,6-litre turbopetrol engine. While the Gt-line’s glitzy dual-tone 19-inch wheels, glossy trim highlights and LED headlamps certainly lift the crossover’s otherwise stylishly understated sheetmetal, the Active variant still offers 17-inch alloys (their design is a touch too demure for my tastes but, thankfully, they’re almost impossible to kerb), foglamps fore and aft, plus rear-sited park-distance control sensors. Front ones would have been welcome too, as the 3008’s nose is deceptively long, but otherwise I did not miss much of the Gt-line’s long list of modern conveniences.
The same applies inside. While leather trim on seats which are electrically adjustable and massage and heat your derrière are welcome, the Active’s hardy cloth trim with très chic textured inserts suited me just fine. Even after nearly 20 000 km, not the material, nor the padding, showed much sign of wear. The woven cloth on the doors’ armrests, however, does its best to exfoliate the skin on your elbows…
The Active also doesn’t have the pricier models’ satellite navigation, another feature I happily lived without in favour of Google Maps, but Apple Carplay would
have been welcome to mirror the real-world route to the freestanding central eightinch touchscreen.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover this model has dualzone climate control as standard – it’s effective at warming the cockpit but can struggle to maintain a cool temperature on a hot summer’s day – plus lanedeparture warning and trafficsign recognition.
Space: although the 3008 measures shorter than 4,5 metres, it comfortably accommodates four adult passengers and their luggage. Our long-termer performed regular service as a weekend adventurer to the Garden Route; transported me to a wedding in Cintsa, where it ferried five grown-ups about; and was the vehicle of choice for features writer Wilhelm Lutjeharms and photographer Peet Mocke (and all his gear) when they travelled to Bloemfontein on assignment.
When we tested the 3008 in September 2017, we measured its boot at 312 litres using our industry standard ISO blocks, while utility space registered 1 024 litres. I came to appreciate the low loading lip, flat floor and rear-seat backrests that are easy to stow.
Style: perhaps what I love most about the 3008 is its stylish interior constructed from premium materials. Sure, we experienced two trim mishaps during the year – a clip holding a plastic panel on the lower facia broke; plus the steering wheel boss developed a faint but annoying creak when the wheel was twirled – but I could not detect any other unwanted noises before Peugeot came to collect its vehicle. And that’s not something we can say about many a long-termer.
From material selection (the subtle use of metal trim throughout the cabin being a particular standout) to the graphics on both the central screen and 12,3inch digital instrument array, the 3008’s interior exudes class without resorting to the Teutons’ favoured straight lines and lack of colour and texture. It feels very, very French inside. Sportiness: the 1,6-litre engine – which has been around for a while and at one stage even fired the Mini Cooper S down the road – is one of three powertrain options, the others being an entrylevel 1,2-litre triple connected to a six-speed manual gearbox, plus an appealingly frugal 2,0-litre diesel developing 110 kw and a muscular 370 N.m.
My vote would go to this 1,6-litre. Mature it may be, but it imbues the 3008 with a stout turn of pace and pairs brilliantly with the six-speed automatic transmission. It also spins quietly right up to about 4 000 r/min, after which it turns a touch rowdy. There’s hardly any need to stray close to the redline at 6 000 r/min, however, as 240 N.m plateauing from 1 400 to 4 000 r/min means the THP feels brawny even when four bums occupy seats.
It wasn’t quite as frugal as I had hoped, however. Sure, it spent a large majority of its time in my traffic-clogged commute from the Atlantic Seaboard to CAR’S offices in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, but I still raised an eyebrow when my calculator’s screen displayed a figure in the nines after I had tallied all the fuel slips. Still, 9,03 L/100 km is 1,63 less than we recently achieved with a direct rival, the Ford Kuga 1,5 Ecoboost (you’ll have to dig out your January 2019 issue for that vehicle’s final feature). The comparatively generous 53-litre tank meant those dreaded fuel stops weren’t an all-too-regular occurrence.
Supple suspension: possibly the best reason for choosing an Active model is because it’s shod with plump 65-profile Michelin tyres, which aid the soft, typically French ride. It’s here where I was glad I hadn’t chosen a Gt-line. Fantastic as they look, that vehicle’s 19-inchers and lower-profile rubber add a slight edge to the ride that’s
absent on this Active.
Together with superb refinement at speed and those comfortable seats, the 3008 makes a great tourer in a class where some vehicles lack that final sheen to render them alternatives to premium midsize SUVS in our cost-conscious era.
JOBS FOR THE FACELIFT
Wacky wipers: Peugeot was generous enough to include automatically activated wind- screen wipers on this base model but I habitually wished it hadn’t bothered. Without an adjustable sensitivity setting, in auto mode the wipers would froth at their joints to clear the screen. A few drops lead to frenzied swipes that sustained their intensity even when coming to a halt at traffic lights. Inconsistent infotainment: sometimes, the 3008’s entertainment system and my iphone would sync perfectly, streaming podcasts across the punchy audio system without a hitch. The very next day, the Continental Peugeot would turn up its nose at my American smartphone (and other handsets from Eastern brands). Latency on the touch- screen system needs work, too. And while the technicians are fiddling with the electronics, RDS would be appreciated so I know which radio station I’m listening to when the 3008 refuses to acknowledge the presence of my phone.
Sad service situation: not a job for the facelift, certainly, but Peugeot SA should back its products. A four-year/60 000 km service plan (which I couldn’t test due to the 20 000 km interval falling outside the 12-month loan period) and three-year/ 100 000 km warranty are feeble compared with the offerings from most mainstream rivals.
TEST SUMMARY
Like my previous long-termer, an Audi Q2, I quickly grew fond of the 3008 thanks to its varied excellent characteristics. I was sad to see the midsize Peugeot go because it always felt special to look at, sit in and drive. Excuse the cliché, but it’s a great car and more people should buy it...