Test drive Peugeot 3008: a little bit of everything

French brand Peugeot recently refreshed its 3008 compact crossover. First impressions of the version with a XNUMX-liter diesel engine and manual transmission.

When it was introduced five years ago, the 3008 entered the market with a strong claim that it was a station wagon, van and SUV. The facts showed that the model actually used less of the capabilities of each of the three listed categories, although it did not offer the full range of capabilities of any of them. More importantly, Peugeot's custom concept was very well received by European clientele, with more than half a million units sold to date. To maintain interest in the 3008, the French company has subjected its crossover to some "rejuvenating" procedures. The most noticeable changes in the layout of the front end - the headlights have new outlines and received LED elements, the radiator grille and front bumper are subject to restyling. The taillight graphics are also new.

Updated forms, familiar content

Functionally, the body causes very little to complain about, except for the limited visibility from the driver's seat. The pilot and his companion have comfortable seats, separated by a massive center console with an atypically inclined position, in the back of which real catacombs for storing items are built. The obsolete infotainment system is a little disappointing - here you can see that the model is still based on the previous edition of the 308. The trunk can easily cope with transporting a sidecar plus excess luggage. Unfortunately, the 3008 does not boast particularly innovative interior solutions - the only options for transformation are the bottom of the trunk with three possible positions and an asymmetrically folding rear seat. The benefit of splitting the back cover into two is also debatable - designed as an impromptu picnic bench, the bottom end in real life tends to get in the way rather than bring any real benefit.

Despite its impressive posture and increased ground clearance, the car lacks special talents for handling difficult conditions such as slippery surfaces or off-road driving. This fact does not change regardless of whether the machine is ordered with the so-called Grip Control or not. The rotary knob allows the driver to select different operating modes. However, the system developed by Bosch in no way replaces the functionality of the dual transmission, and the effect of its operation is difficult to detect. Also, the M&S tires that come with this system definitely degrade both dry grip and braking performance. Otherwise, active safety is at a satisfactory level - the technology of dynamic compensation of lateral vibrations of the body does its job well. The principle of the engineering solution under consideration is relatively simple - a special damper element is installed above the cross member of the rear axle, which is connected to shock absorbers. This works on a situation-by-situ basis and provides more stiffness in corners and smoother straight-line control.

It hardly makes sense to talk about a sports buzz, if only because of the poor feedback from the contact of the front wheels with the road that the steering delivers. Riding comfort is decent, but it's hard to call it top-notch.

The delicate workmanship is part of the character of the 150-horsepower 340-liter turbodiesel known from other models of the concern. The four-cylinder unit has a maximum torque of 2000 Newton meters at XNUMX rpm, spins spontaneously and is almost turbocharged, and its power is uniform. Fuel consumption under optimal conditions is impressively low, and in standard use it averages around seven and a half liters per hundred kilometers.

Conclusion

A partial update to the 3008 brought with it an updated look, but nothing changed in the car's character. The relatively high ground clearance, various traction control settings and a high seating position will positively continue to attract a decent number of buyers to the model, but the behavior on the road and the capabilities of the infotainment system suggest that the 3008 is still based on the previous edition 308 and in this respect is inferior to its a more modern successor.

Text: Bozhan Boshnakov