The Peugeot 208 is barely available in the showrooms but Peugeot already thinks it's time to expand the family already.
This is the Peugeot 2008. Something Peugeot calls an SUV, and we're here to drive it.
SUV or crossover, I wouldn't really know. I only know this is a second generation Peugeot 2008. And it sure looks a lot better than its predecessor,
because the first 2008 wasn't exactly great to look at. Peugeot already went into the right direction with the 3008 and 5008,
so we kind of knew it was going to look a little like this. However, if I compare it with the smaller 208, this has way less...
originality to its design. It looks a lot like a smaller 3008. On the other hand, it always takes a while before a design grows on me.
So it could be me in this case.
We've driven the 208 extensively, and the criticism that stood out the most was the limited usability.
Space on the rear seat? Meh. Luggage space? Meh. However, Peugeot says, you don't want a 208 then. You want a 2008.
And that's the reason why there won't be a station version of the 208, just like they didn't have one for its predecessor.
The handling then. If you know the 208, this won't be very surprising to you. It kind of feels the same, it has very comfortable springs.
It does sink deep through its springs sometimes when the surface is bad. The steering is relatively communicative though,
and because it's a tad higher than the 208, it heaves about a little. Compared with its rivals in this segment, it's not annoying or anything though.
Then, the new features it has. I always find the blurbs companies send out. Take the 3D-cockpit for example, Peugeot said the 208 was the first...
car to have that, so what does the blurb of the 2008 say? That the 2008 is the first car in the SUV-segment with a 3D-cockpit. I don't make that up.
Anyway, it does have the 3D-cockpit. Only the entry level version doesn't have it. The i-Cockpit with the small steering wheel is standard though.
The engines then. The petrol range starts with a 100 horsepower 3-cylinder, but we're not able to drive it at the introduction.
It's a car which weighs 1.100 kg, so I won't say it will be underpowered, but if you know there's a 130 horsepower-version available as well,
that might be the better option. That's also available with an automatic gearbox, and if you choose that, you won't be much more comfortable...
but you can also choose from additional driving aids. The most powerful petrol version available is this big boy here,
the 155 horsepower-version. That's only available with an automatic gearbox. And because I'm a objective journalist, I have to tell you...
that you can get diesel versions as well, even though I've been told nobody wants those anymore. You can choose a 100 horsepower-version...
with a manual gearbox or a 130 horsepower-version with this very automatic gearbox. It's a Japanese gearbox at that,
but it has been 'PSA'd', so it functions properly and everybody is able to use it. However, if you go onto the motorway, it sometimes has to...
think a little too long about what gear to select. The car we're driving right now is the GT, the fanciest trim level available.
You can recognize it by its two-tone color scheme, because it always has a black roof. The orange color is called... Wait, I've written it down.
Orange Fusion! It's unique to the 2008 and you can't get it on any other Peugeot. You can also recognize the GT by its Diamond-wheels.
I don't know why they're called that, but I suppose everything deserves a name. It's the most luxurious trim-level available,
the interior is dark with alcantara-seats. Beneath the GT-line, there are three other levels. They don't build the Access anymore,
so one of them is gone. The diesels won't play a big role anymore, but the electric version will. I'll tell you more about that in the near future.
The 2008 is in a very busy segment. The Renault Captur, which recently was released in its most modern version, will be the car to beat.
But you also have the DS 3 Crossback, the Dacia Duster, and then I'm only mentioning the rivals from the Mediterranian.
The comparisons will have to show how the 2008 will hold up, but after driving it this morning... I'm sure it'll do better than its predecessor.