Small SUVs launch in abundance but thanks to electric power and great interior tech, this is among the most interesting.
Pros Fancy dials, Great petrol engines and a decent EV
Cons Firm (ish) ride, Pricey if you tick too many boxes
The Peugeot 2008 is an SUV you can buy with your heart and your head. It’s cheap to run, easy to drive and has a big boot but, alas, the back seats aren’t that spacious.
Pros Stylish design 3D infotainment display Fun and cheap to run
Cons Noisy diesel Tight back seats Sluggish automatic gearbox
The e-2008 has a great interior that offers a decent amount of space, but the car’s appeal is limited by its high list price and disappointing battery range compared with those of the best rivals.
Pros Refined interior Relatively spacious Impressive build quality
Cons Expensive Rivals have longer range Firm ride
The 2008's identity crisis is partly solved, but as this is a mild update rather than ground-up rebuild, it was never going to be the CX-3 killer product planners dream about. With the new engine and transmission, though, the range is more appealing and easier to make sense of. It retains what made the car so original at launch, with the polarising i-Cockpit, clever-on-a-budget interior detailing and, as it turns out, it's a tough customer loved by rural folk. All of this won't rocket the Frenchie to market leadership, but it puts it in the mix where it was previously too confusing an idea for many buyers.
Pros New engine and trans combo Interior still cool CarPlay across the range
Cons Tight rear seats Grumbly engine at low revs Some cheap plastics
Previously overlooked small SUV gets a dose of credible performance from its new drivetrain.One of the legacy products from PSA (Peugeot and Citroen), the 2008 has been hamstrung since its local launch in 2013 by a poor selection of drivetrains. That is now resolved with the introduction of a facelifted model powered by the sparkling 1.2-litre turbo three-cylinder, driving through a six-speed automatic transmission. A reversing camera and new connectivity technology further enhance the 2008 package, all for no more than $1000 extra at entry level. In the 2008 the new engine is quieter still than it was in the light hatch. The engine rarely made its presence felt in the SUV unless it was under load, accelerating up hill, for instance – when its distinctive three-cylinder warble could be clearly heard.
The new-look 2017 Peugeot 2008 has arrived,with the more muscled looking mini SUV axing its diesel engine offering and adding new safety and technology equipment. The new model range is a petrol only affair, with the brand’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo engine and six-speed automatic transmission aimed at appealing squarely at the majority of front-wheel-drive SUV buyers. Styling wise, the revised 2008 sees the adoption of the brand’s family look, with a more pronounced grille, more angular bumper and revised headlights and tail-lights. The GT-Line model stands out from the other models with extra body cladding, black exterior highlights and more.
