On The RoadSue Cooke

Peugeot 2008 SUV – Review by Sue Cooke

Apparently last month we had more rainfall than in any previous June. And that fact might account for the growth in the SUV sector of the car market. Driving a car with a high commanding view of the road ahead and with the surety of good grip on tarmac, or indeed mud and other slippery surfaces, is reassuring.

But it does come at a cost. A four wheel drive system is heavier, so it’s more difficult for manufacturers to offer a lightweight vehicle which emits less CO2 and offers lower road tax. For the same reason, fuel consumption is less efficient.

Peugeot has a solution. Its updated 2008 which went on sale last month has a two wheel drive Grip Control system. And to demonstrate its abilities, Peugeot has renamed the 2008 as a compact SUV, rather than compact crossover which was its name when I attended the 2008’s first launch in 2013.

The two wheel drive system works with the vehicle’s Electronic Stability programme to maintain the best possible traction from both front wheels. A control mounted on the centre console has five selectable operating modes for the driver to choose from. And while Peugeot is plugging its excellent capabilities off-road, the company has restyled the vertical front grille, scuff plates and new wheel arch extensions (from Allure level) to confirm its robustness. The system is combined with mud and snow all-season tyres.

The British designed SUV has two new paint colours, ultimate red and emerald and a choice of four trim levels, Access, Active and Allure and a new sporty GT Line model.

Facts at a Glance
Model: Peugeot 2008 SUV Allure
Price: £17,715 on the road
Engine: 1.2L petrol PureTech 110
Performance: 0-62 in 9.9 seconds
Top speed: 119 mph
CO2 emissions: 103g/km
Combined fuel consumption: 64.2 mpg

The interior is large and airy and has gorgeous blue LED lighting which runs along the sides of a panoramic roof (Allure) and around the controls on the dash. I found the compact sports steering wheel offers precise steering and improved manoeuvrability. The 7 inch multifunction colour touchscreen puts all the functionality at your fingertips and has hi-tech Apple CarPlay and MirrorScreen, based on MirrorLink. The system which was demonstrated at the launch even read text messages out to the driver!

The i-Cockpit is unique to the brand and a head up instrument panel allows driver information to be accessed without taking eyes off the road. Other equipment includes a reversing camera, Active City Brake and Park Assist – a rarity in this segment.

While some might appreciate the aircraft style chunky handbrake, I didn’t. It needed far more effort than a traditional handbrake.

There are many storage spaces and the large capacity boot has a low loading sill which is great for getting complicated buggies in and out without having to attempt to close them. The seats fold absolutely flat at the touch of a button.

There are five petrol and 3 diesel Euro6 engines which are fuel efficient and four versions are Best-in-Class in their segment, including the 1.2L PureTech 130.

Peugeot says the 2008 SUV is now available to buy with 4.9% APR representative and if you choose the brand’s unique Just Add Fuel package, Peugeot says it will contribute £500 towards your deposit.

The first thing you need to ask when the weather is bad is, do I need to travel? But at least when driving the Peugeot 2008 SUV, you know you will keep as safe as possible with excellent grip and traction. Ideal for our ever-changing British climate!

You can follow Sue Cooke on Twitter @cookecars

July 2016