The Peugeot 3008 is a car that very much reflects the changing fortunes – and changing attitudes – of its maker. Back in 2008 when the original 3008 was launched, Peugeot was a manufacturer of very comfortable but somewhat staid-looking family cars. As a result, the original 3008 was an enjoyable car to ride in and offered a lot of interior space for people and luggage, but was rather gawky-looking.
It was also Peugeot’s first significant attempt at a family crossover SUV, following the lead of the popular Nissan Qashqai and joining cars like the VW Tiguan and Ford Kuga in the race to capitalise on the car-buying public’s appetite for an SUV style car with the running costs and practicality of a family hatchback or small MPV.
Fast-forward to 2016 and the second-generation 3008 was quite a departure from the original car. Peugeot had rediscovered its sense of style, with striking, bold styling inside and out, really making the new car stand out as a chunky, stylish crossover SUV. As well as being more spacious inside, there was a panache to the whole car that pitched it closer to premium SUVs than mainstream rivals from the likes of Nissan, Hyundai or Ford.
Generations: 3
Peugeot 3008 mk2 (2016-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Peugeot 3008 mk2:
- Won the European Car of the Year award in 2017, beating the Mercedes E-Class and Alfa Romeo Giulia
- Includes a Driver Alert Warning system to make sure you’re not driving tired
- The front passenger seat folds down to allow long, narrow items to be carried with ease
- The distinctive Peugeot i-Cockpit has instruments above a small steering wheel
Fashionably chunky SUV looks and a left-field interior design helped make the new Peugeot 3008 stand out in 2016, and it continues to do so today. It was already practical, but the fact that its boot is 90 litres larger than its predecessor was impressive.
Trim levels for the mk2 3008 start with Active Premium, which gets standard equipment like climate control, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers. Step up to the Allure trim and you’ll get larger 18-inch alloy wheels, and a 10.0-inch touchscreen rather than an 8.0-inch model. Upgrade to Allure Premium for still more luxuries, while Peugeot 3008 GT line and GT Premium cars top off the range. High-tech kit such as adaptive cruise control is fitted to the higher-end models.
Engines include a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Puretech turbo petrol model, plus a 1.6 e-THP with 163bhp and, on newer models, the option of a 178bhp 1.6-litre Puretech petrol engine. If you want a diesel then, depending on the age of the car you can get a 148bhp 2.0-litre BlueHDi or a 1.5-litre BlueHDi with 130hp. There’s also a more powerful 178bhp 2.0-litre BlueHDi turbodiesel.
Gearbox choices include a six-speed manual or a six-speed EAT6 automatic. The six-speed automatic gearbox was superseded by the eight-speed EAT8 or e-EAT8 transmission from 2018.
If you’re really after improving your green cred, the plug-in hybrid version, introduced in 2019, could be a good choice. There’s the front-wheel-drive Hybrid, which has 222bhp and an all-electric range of 39 miles, plus CO2 emissions of just 29g/km. Alternatively, you can plump for the 296bhp Hybrid4, which is the only four-wheel-drive 3008 and has an electric range of 40 miles.
Read our expert review of the Peugeot 3008 mk2 or search for a used Peugeot 3008 mk2 on CarGurus
Peugeot 3008 mk1 (2008-2016)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Peugeot 3008 mk1:
- Boot has a split tailgate design, and the lower half can support up to 200kg
- The 3008 Hybrid4 was the world’s first full diesel hybrid model
- To help keep the car’s weight down, Peugeot used laser welding instead of spot welding
Although the first 3008 wasn’t the striking style statement that its successor was, it nevertheless had considerable appeal. The dashboard had enough soft-touch fixtures and shiny chrome bits to give a nod towards a premium feel. Even the basic Active models were fairly well equipped, although you won’t find a modern infotainment screen in these models – just a basic radio and CD player. Sport models were better equipped, with Allure-spec cars topping the range.
The 3008 was facelifted in 2014, which brought with it more fuel-efficient engines, a smarter interior and slightly less awkward styling (though you’d not really call any 3008 mk1 a beauty).
Engine options included a 128bhp 1.2-litre e-THP turbocharged three-cylinder petrol, which was surprisingly lively, as well as a non-turbocharged and less powerful 1.6-litre VTi petrol four-cylinder engine.
The diesel engine choice was a 2.0-litre HDI with either 148bhp or 161bhp and a 1.6 HDi with 108bhp or 118bhp. Fuel economy figures of up to 68.9mpg (and 75mpg for the hybrid model) were claimed with the diesels, while the 1.2 petrol could achieve up to 57.6mpg. It’s worth noting, however, that these figures were obtained using the old-style NEDC tests, which are less accurate than the newer WLTP standard.
Read our expert review of the Peugeot 3008 mk1 or search for a used Peugeot 3008 mk1 on CarGurus