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Peugeot 3008 Review: Looks and smells nicer than its rivals, it’s that French


Ever since the Japanese decided to put a radio inside the automobile to improve the driving experience, competition between manufacturers to come up with something alluring other cars don’t have has been fierce.

The French haven’t exactly had a reputation for leading the field on the ingenuity front, but if I tell you that the Peugeot 3008 has a button for a choice of three different fragrances, what I’m really saying is that they have pulled out all the stops with every aspect of this SUV.

Yes, it smells nicer than its rivals, it’s that French.

And, guess what? It’s a looker too.

Indeed, the 3008 is one of the sexiest Peugeots to hit the road in some years – taking on rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar and Ford Kuga with plenty of little touches which set it apart from the rest.

To start off with, there’s the entry-level Active, the next-up Allure, the GT-Line and the GT.

The old 3008 was championed as a crossover but looked more like an MPV and, most importantly, didn’t compare with such rival SUVs.

So, the first, most important, thing to stress, I guess, is the 3008 actually, this time, looks like an SUV.

And, guess what? It’s a looker too

 

My test car was a Sunset Copper metallic paint and I have to admit it looked a shade too brown for me to claim I was entirely comfortable with that choice of livery.

However, there are plenty of other colours to choose from – check out the Nera Black, Magnetic Blue, Amazonite Grey and my personal favourite I’ve seen out on the streets, Ultimate Red.

The 3008 is so different from its predecessor – it’s longer and closer to the ground – you wonder in fact if Peugeot didn’t stop to wonder if it didn’t deserve a name of its own.

If it could claim to be an off roader then maybe it would have – but it isn’t; there’s no four-wheel drive option.

Be under no pretence, this is aimed squarely at parents who have kids and/or those who need a lot of boot space, which this has (591litres, expanding to a gigantic 1,670litres with the rear seats folded).

Not that it’s short on power or the ability to control it.

There’s a choice of four different diesel engines (100-180hp) and petrol (120hp to the 1.6l turbo which packs a 165hp punch).

There are also modes for snow, mud and sand – as well as a hill descent and Clutch Mode function, to keep you gripping and not slipping – controlled by the rotary dial which also offers you a Sport mode, which stiffens up the steering (although I couldn’t honestly notice much of a difference in the drive).

The biggest change to the newer-look 3008 is arguably inside – and an updated i-Cockpit with a slightly higher, clearer new 12.3in digital dial display which is easier to read above the new flat-topped steering wheel and puts what you need to know right in front of you.

It might not be quite as flash as that inside of the Audi or Mercedes but comes as standard across the range, not an expensive option.

The biggest change to the newer-look 3008 is arguably inside

 

Regular readers will know I am a sucker for a decent interior and it’s clear someone at Peugeot has the same set of priorities.

The feel inside the 3008 is that nobody at any point in the production process said: ‘it would be cheaper if we made it with this material’.

A good example would be the chrome piano keys that sit below the air vents act like shortcut keys and toggle things like climate control, heated rear windscreen, navigation and satellite options and are great for those uncomfortable with the distraction of having to keep one eye on the road and one on a touchscreen.

They ooze quality.

Not that the touchscreen isn’t among the best in the market – at an improved eight inches (Peugeot’s biggest ever) it’s more than big enough.

There’s Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink as standard across the range – and GT Line models and above come with a wireless smartphone charging plate.

Amplifying the sound of the engine via the speakers in Sport mode is not so much a gimmick as mood enhancing

The 3008 even comes with its own 4G SIM card so you don’t have to worry about it eating into your personal data allowance.

Allure models and above come with a three-year Peugeot CONNECT subscription – allowing access to services such as weather, fuel pricing, breakdown/accident services and TomTom Live Traffic.

Yes, I said TomTom.

This is also the first car I’ve reviewed in a while that has come with a built-in Satnav made by the market-leaders in getting you from A to B.

In case it needs to be said, they are in a league of their own and I wish more manufacturers supplied their know-how pre-installed.

The GT line and its variants also have an Amplify system with two different modes – Boost or Relax – which alter the ambience inside the car with the use of the lights, speakers and that fragrance diffuser I mentioned earlier.

Amplifying the sound of the engine via the speakers in Sport mode is not so much a gimmick as mood enhancing.

Boost also sharpens up the throttle and steering for a more dynamic driving experience.

If you’re considering buying an SUV, the Peugeot 3008 should be in your Top 3 wish list

Combine that with one of the five modes on the eight-point seat massager – yes, I said massager, standard on GT models – comfort worries will drift away.

If I had some gripes: the unusual flat-topped steering wheel felt a little on the small side for an SUV; while the rear is roomy, having three passengers in the rear said they felt a little cramped; and you need to buy the Allure or upwards to get the satnav, which of course, you will.

These issues are more than made up for with nice touches other cars don’t have like: Magic Folding Seats, which make the most of the available space; an overhead parking camera view; and the boot opening when you wave your foot under a hidden sensor (aka the Smart Electric Tailgate) – great when you are approaching with your hands full.

Given the starting price is £24,155, this is an SUV that not only competes with its rivals – like the Hyundai Ionic, Skoda Octavia and Mercedes-Benz E-Class – but beats them on several levels.

It has a top speed of 117mph and it does 0-62mph in 11.2 seconds which may not sound like much on both fronts, but when you add in that the 3008 does an average 70.6mpg, this is nothing short of a contender in anyone’s book.

After I tested this car, the Peugeot 3008 was announced as the Best New Car of 2019 by consumers in Auto Trader’s third-annual New Car Awards – and it’s easy to see why.

If you’re considering buying an SUV, the Peugeot 3008 should be in your Top 3 wish list.





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