- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
115kW, 240Nm
- Fuel
NA
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2015 Peugeot 3008 first drive review
Usually home to hyped-up confidence, buzzwords and bravado, it's rare for the opening address of a new car launch to start with the admission of error.
Never one to follow convention, Peugeot marketed its first SUV as a rival to regular hatchbacks, a move current boss John Startari describes as a mistake.
"The 3008 marked the introduction of our first crossover. Being somewhat of a pioneer at the time and taking into account its front-drive only proposition, it was decided to pitch the 3008 against hatches, and to be honest, we got the positioning wrong," he says.
"Today... the market acceptance of a two-wheel-drive crossover is significantly higher."
Relaunching the revised 3008 as an SUV of sorts, Peugeot says the updated model represents a "rethink" of its lineup. The manufacturer rationalised its 3008 range, which no longer includes a premium "Allure" trim, as just one "Active" specification is now available with a choice of petrol or diesel power.
Priced $1000 less than before at $35,490 in petrol form or $38,990 with the diesel motor, the new-look 3008 has fresh headlamps, bumpers and 17-inch wheels along with a new 7.0-inch infotainment display, reversing camera and satellite navigation along with carry-over features such as climate control, Bluetooth and fog lights.
A premium pack adds heated leather trim, rear sun blinds, a panoramic sunroof and colour heads up display for $3500 more.
Prices are not a particularly strong point for the 3008 in a segment led by a fresh Mazda CX-5 range that starts at $27,190, while European rivals such as the Volkswagen Tiguan are available from $33,990 in equivalent petrol form with an automatic transmission and satellite navigation fitted as options.
But the Peugeot has an ace up its sleeve in strong practicality anchored by a split-fold tailgate capable of holding up 200 kilograms of cargo, along with three-height variable boot floor, one-touch folding rear seats, a flat-fold front seat and ample storage bins including a centre console capable of swallowing an adult's arm beyond the elbow.
Those points are tempered by a dated cabin featuring none of the minimalist modernity of the brand's smaller 308 and 208 hatchbacks.
Its steering wheel has sliver highlights but no buttons to control its audio or cruise control systems, which are instead managed by fiddly stalks. Similarly, that new 7-inch screen is controlled by an arrangement of small buttons situated well below the driver's eye line, an awkward 12-volt power outlet next to the driver's thigh isn't ideal and a gaping CD-player-sized hole in the dash lends to an underdone feel not present in class-leasing crossovers. Comfortable and spacious up front, the 3008 has plenty of rear headroom though legroom is limited.
Carrying over engines from the previous model, the 3008 is a little off-the pace on the open road. Its 115kW petrol variant feels tardy, working harder than potential owners might expect to return an official fuel figure of 7.7L/100km, more than the equivalent Mazda, Toyota or Volkswagen offerings. The diesel model is also thirstier than its rivals, though it feels much punchier than the petrol unit thanks to a strong peak torque of 340Nm at 2000rpm. The standard six-speed automatic is smooth, with a tendency to choose the right gears.
Tuned for comfort rather than dynamics, the 3008's chassis doesn't encourage drivers to press on. With a tendency for body roll and numb steering affected by bump steer on coarse roads west of Sydney, the crossover handles bumps competently but does not stand out as a shining example of the breed.
That's unlikely to put off buyers attracted by its practical cargo area, Gallic heritage and strong standard specification.
But the upgraded 3008 is unlikely to make a strong impact in the booming SUV segment, and Peugeot isn't willing to provide sales targets for its redefined hatch-cum-crossover.
The manufacturer tallied less than 300 sales for the 3008 in 2014 and 2015 combined. Shifting to a segment where the best selling model comfortably tops that on a weekly basis will present a fierce challenge.
Peugeot 3008 Pricing and specifications:
Price: From $35,490 (petrol) or $38,990 (diesel) plus on-road costs.
On sale: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 115kW at 6000rpm (petrol), 120Nm at 3750rpm (diesel)
Torque: 240Nm at 1400rpm (petrol) 340Nm at 2000rpm (diesel)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 7.7L/100km (petrol), 6.6L/100km (diesel)