The Peugeot 2008 has become one of the most recognisable crossovers on the road and its
been a massive part of the segments’ rise to power since it was introduced in 2013.
So, what’s new with this model? Well, to keep things fresh, Peugeot has given the 2008
a mid-life facelift, which brings darkened headlamps, some new more aggressive wheelarch extensions and
most noticeably, a meaner-looking grille, which will feature on all new upcoming Peugeot crossovers.
One other big addition is this new GT-Line trim, which like in its smaller 208 sibling
it’s based on, bings a flurry of black detailing, like this black detailing on the grille,
like these black alloys, and these black door mirrors.
And although it may only seem like a small thing these black and red
seats belts are probably my favourite GT-Line addition, but you also get this black and
red colour scheme on the floor mats, door trims and seats. The sat-nav, aluminium sports
pedals and panoramic sunroof are some cool additions too.
Also new to the 2008 as part of the facelift, is Apple Car Play and Mirror link, great news
for tech addicts. Apart from that, the interior layout will be very familiar, with a sporty
speedo readout, thanks to the i-Cockpit design, you've got the shrunken steering wheel and
yeah there's a nice mixture of high quality and hard-wearing materials. I particularly like this strip that goes
right across the dashboard thats kind of carbon fibre-esque. Standard kit across all models is also very generous
with the likes of air-con, DAB radio, LED daytime running lights and cruise control.
Like I mentioned, that panoramic sunroof is cool, what’s not cool is the lack of headroom
in the back because of it, as it can be a little cramped back here. Leg room is a little better though,
being a very familiar supermini size. What I like most about the rear though is how easy it
is to get in and out due to this low bench. The boot on the other hand is a bit more rounded
as you can see you get a nice low loading lip, with this anti-scuff metal plate, 60 litres more storage
space – with up to 410 litres – and when you fold the 60:40 split seats you get a nice flat loading surface.
On the road, the 2008 is as you might expect from a crossover. Basically, it looks like
a sporty SUV, but it’s essentially a supermini at heart – so, it’s got a comfortable
ride, sharp steering smooth enough six-speed manual gearbox, but it’s not particularly
exciting to drive. Not one for the country-road loving driving enthusiasts, but it is great for
city and urban driving. The slightly raiseed ride height helps as well.
Although it is a bit of an SUV poser, the 2008 actually comes with a
Grip Control function, which instils greater confidence on things like snow and mud by
distributing tractions appropriately. Just don’t go gung-ho off-road until you’ve
got a feel for its limitations first. The 1.6-litre diesel is expected to be the
best-seller in the 2008, but for me, the 128bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech we’ve
got is the one to go for. This little 1.2-litre unit can get from 0-62 in just 9.3 seconds and
has got a surprising amount of punch, with 230Nm of torque. It’s not got the trademark grunt
of a diesel, but you can have a surprising amount of fun it in. And it only emits 110g/km
of CO2 and realistically you should be able to get around 50mpg.
As with its 208 sibling, the 2008 can get pretty pricey if you climb the trim levels.
And if you go for this 1.2-litre PureTech 130 in the new GT Line trim, then you’ll
end up paying £19,500. Quite a big difference compared with the entry-level £14,000 price tag.
I do think the 2008 is one of the best-looking
crossovers on sale though, at least when compared to similar competition like the Renault Captur,
Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka – because let’s be honest, it can’t really be compared
to the Mazda CX-3, which has class-leading driving dynamics, or the Skoda Yeti and its
sublime off-roading capabilities and practicality. But the 2008 certainly is a more conventional
crossover, focusing more on comfort and style. And in that case, yeah, the 2008’s a great
little car. But what do you think of the 2008?
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