Peugeot 2008 2021 review

The all-new 2021 Peugeot 2008 is designed to stand out in the crowded space of small SUVs, and it's fair to say that this stylish French small SUV does just that.

It stands out not only for its attractive design, but also for its frankly desirable pricing strategy, which pushes the Peugeot 2008 from the competition of the VW T-Cross, MG ZST and Honda HR-V towards the realm populated by the Mazda CX-30, Audi Q2 and VW T-Roc .

You can also think of it as an alternative to the recently released Ford Puma or Nissan Juke. And you wouldn't be wrong if you thought it could compete with the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos. 

The fact is that the price of the base model is equivalent to the price of most competitors in the middle class options. And the top spec is also top notch, despite both offering fairly extensive hardware lists.

So is the 2021 Peugeot 2008 worth the money? How is it in general? Let's get down to business.

Peugeot 2008 2021: GT Sport
Safety Rating
engine's type	1.2 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	6.1l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$36,800

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

The Peugeot 2008 is one of the most expensive small SUVs in the mainstream part of the market, and it comes across quite overpriced at a quick glance at the price list.

The entry-level Allure model costs $34,990 MSRP/MSRP before travel. The top-of-the-line GT Sport costs $43,990 (list price/suggested retail price).

Let's go through the standard specs and equipment list for each model to see if they can justify the cost.

Allure comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels with Bridgestone Dueler (215/60) tires, LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, leather-look cloth seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, brand new 3D digital i- cockpit, 7.0" touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB digital radio, six-speaker stereo, four USB ports (3x USB 2.0, 1x USB C), climate control, air conditioning, push-button start (but not keyless access), an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, a 180-degree rear-view camera and rear parking sensors.

Allure models have a hill descent control system not found in the top-end models, as well as a different driving mode system with mud, sand, snow, and conventional driving settings that work through GripControl's proprietary traction control system.

The Allure has the usual cruise control with speed sign recognition and a system that lets you adjust to a designated speed limit at the push of a button, but it doesn't have the fully adaptive cruise control of the top-of-the-range model, which adds a number of safety features too. For more information on security features, see the Security section below. 

You can address some of these technical safety shortcomings by spending 23% more on the more powerful GT Sport variant, but let's look at comfort and convenience first.

The GT Sport is fitted with 18-inch black alloy wheels with Michelin Primacy 3 (215/55) tires, signature lion's claw LED daytime running lights and adaptive LED headlights with auto high beam, keyless entry, bi-tone black. roof and black mirror housings, as well as various driving modes - Eco, Normal and Sport, as well as paddle shifters.

The GT Sport is fitted with 18-inch black alloy wheels. (GT Sport shown)

GT Sport interior features Nappa leather seats, power driver's seat, heated front seats, massage driver's seat, 3D sat-nav, wireless phone charging, 10.0-inch multimedia screen, ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charging, black headlining. , perforated leather steering wheel, aluminum pedals, stainless steel door sills and a few other differences. The GT Sport can be purchased with an optional power sunroof for $1990.

Inside the GT Sport, the seats are upholstered in Nappa leather. (GT Sport model shown)

For a little context: Toyota Yaris Cross - from $26,990 to $26,990; Skoda Kamiq - from $27,990 to $27,990; VW T-Cross - from $30 to $28,990; Nissan Juke - from $29,990 to $30,915; Mazda CX-XNUMX - from $ XNUMX XNUMX; Ford Puma - from $ XNUMX XNUMX; Toyota C-HR - from $ XNUMX XNUMX. 

And then if you buy a GT Sport, there are competitors like: Audi Q2 35 TFSI - $41,950; $42,200; Mini Countryman Cooper - $140 $40,490; VW T-Roc 41,400TSI Sport - $XNUMX; and even the Kia Seltos GT Line is a relatively good buy at $XNUMX.

The 2008 range starts with the Allure, which costs $34,990 before travel expenses. (Allure shown)

Yes, Peugeot 2008 is overpriced. But what's odd is that Peugeot Australia has admitted that it knows the car is expensive, but believes that looks alone can get people to spend more for 2008 than some of its competitors. 

Want to know about the colors of Peugeot 2008? Allure has a choice of Bianca White (free), Onyx Black, Artense Gray, or Platinium Gray ($690), and Elixir Red or Vertigo Blue ($1050). Pick the GT Sport and the free option is Orange Fusion plus most other colors, but there's also a Pearl White option ($1050) instead of the white offered on Allure. And remember, GT Sport models also get black roof trim.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

Design is what can make you walk in the door and be ready to give your money away more than anything else in the Peugeot 2008. It's a very attractive model - far less van-like than its predecessor, and more modern, masculine and aggressive. in his position than before, too.

In fact, this new model is 141mm longer (now 4300mm) with a 67mm longer wheelbase (now 2605mm) but 30mm wider (now 1770mm) and slightly lower in relation to ground (1550 mm high).

However, it was the way the designers made this massive new model that really narrowed it down. From the clawed LED strips that run from the edges of the headlights down through the front bumper, to the vertical grille (which varies depending on the variant), to the angular metalwork that pushes through the car's doors.

If you want to know what Peugeot had in mind when he penciled the new generation for 2008, you need to look back at the 2014 Quartz concept. Then you need to squint, make sure you're not looking too close, and voila!

The rear also deserves attention, with a clean and wide look that is accentuated by a group of taillights and a centerpiece. Gotta love those claw-marked taillights and LED DRLs on the top-of-the-line version. 

It's up to you to decide whether you like it or not, but there's no denying that his style helps him stand out in his class. And since the new model is built on the Peugeot CMP platform, it can be equipped with an electric motor or a plug-in hybrid transmission, as well as the petrol transmission used here. More on this below.

But what is also interesting is the fact that the Peugeot team believes that the Allure model, which opens the range, is more aimed at outdoor enthusiasts (and is equipped with it accordingly), while the GT Sport is aimed at buyers more oriented for enthusiasts. We think they could complicate the topics here a bit, especially for Allure. And maybe not with Allure as the model name. Remember the original Peugeot 2008 that had an Outdoor variant?

The eye-catching design flows into the cabin area — see the interior pictures below to get what I’m talking about — but there really is no other small SUV like this in terms of cabin design and presentation.

The brand's polarized i-Cockpit - with its high-mounted digital instrument cluster and tiny steering wheel that you have to look over, not through - either works for you or is completely unacceptable. I fall into the first, that is, I lower the steering wheel low on my knees and sit down so that I look over the tiller at the screen, and find that it is both interesting and pleasant to live with.

There are many other cabin practicality considerations that we will explore next.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

It's a small SUV, but it's surprisingly spacious inside. There are many models in this segment that can pull off this trick, and the 2008 Peugeot does it a little better than some others.

The aforementioned i-Cockpit design is eye-catching, as is the 3D cluster design on the driver display. The controls are mostly easy to get used to, but despite Peugeot's claims that the digital system can display driver safety warnings faster than conventional dials and indicators, there is some lag and lag when you adjust the screen display or trigger drive modes. 

The steering wheel is a charming size and shape, the seats are comfortable and easy to adjust, but there are still some ergonomic annoyances.

The seats are comfortable and easily adjustable. (Allure shown)

For example, the cruise control system, which is a switch hidden behind the steering wheel, can take a while to figure out. So are the steering wheel controls and driver information screen menu buttons (one at the end of the wiper arm, one on the steering wheel!). And climate control: There are switches and buttons for some parts, but fan control, which is essential for quick access on very hot or very cold days, is done through the media screen rather than a physical button or knob.

At least this time around, there's a volume knob on the media screen, and the set of buttons below the screen looks like it's taken straight from a Lamborghini laptop. 

The screen itself is okay - it lags a little when navigating between screens or menus, and the 7.0-inch unit in the base car is a bit small by today's standards. The 10.0-inch is better suited to the technical focus of the cabin.

Material quality is mostly pretty good, with neat soft-touch carbon trim on the dash, nice seat trim in both specs, and padded elbow pads on all four doors (alarmingly becoming less common in European SUVs).

There’s a soft-touch carbon-look trim on the dashboard. (GT Sport model shown)

It's a French car, so the center cupholders are smaller than you'd like, and there are no bottle-shaped containers in the door pockets, although they will hold a decent-sized soda or water. The glovebox is tiny, as is the storage area in the center armrest, but there's a good-sized section ahead of the shifter and a drop-down shelf that, on the high-end model, includes wireless smartphone charging.

Rear seat amenities are somewhat lacking, with a pair of mesh map pockets but no center cupholder or armrest, even on the high trim. The pockets in the rear doors are also modest, and the tailgate upholstery is made of a more durable material than that used in the front. 

The rear seat folds 70/30, has double ISOFIX and top attachment points. There is quite a lot of passenger space for the size of the car - at 182cm or 6ft 0in I could easily fit behind my seat behind the wheel without needing more knee, head or leg room. Three adults will be uncomfortable, and those with big feet will have to watch themselves on door sills, which are quite high and can make getting in and out more clumsy than they need to be.

According to Peugeot, boot volume is 434 liters (VDA) to the top of the seats with a two-level boot floor in the highest position. This increases to 1015 liters with the rear seats folded down. There is also a compact spare wheel under the boot floor.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

The engines offered in the two 2008 grades have the same horsepower but differ in performance and horsepower.

Allure is equipped with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder Puretech 130 turbo-petrol engine with an output of 96 kW (or 130 hp at 5500 rpm) and 230 Nm of torque (at 1750 rpm). It is offered as standard with an Aisin six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, and a claimed 0-100-km/h time for this model is XNUMX seconds.

Does the GT Sport's 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine live up to its nameplate? Well, the Puretech 155 version develops 114 kW (at 5500 rpm) and 240 Nm (at 1750 rpm), is equipped with an eight-speed “automatic” from Aisin, front-wheel drive and accelerates to 0 km/h in 100 seconds. 

These are high engine power and torque figures for their class, surpassing most of their direct competitors. Both models are equipped with an engine start-stop system to save fuel - more on fuel usage in the next section.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Claimed combined cycle fuel consumption for the Allure model is 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers with CO148 emissions of 2 g/km.

Combined cycle requirements for the GT Sport version are slightly lower: 6.1 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 138 g/km. 

At first glance, it may seem strange that both of these figures are significantly higher than the requirements of the existing 1.2-liter model of the car, which was less powerful, but consumed a claimed 4.8 l / 100 km. But this is due to changing testing procedures over time between models.

For what it's worth, we saw 6.7L/100km shown on the dashboard on the Allure, which we drove mostly on the highway and in light city driving, while the GT Sport showed 8.8L/100km while doing so and a bit more. vigorous driving on wet road, winding roads.

Interested in 2008 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or electric (EV) versions? They may well arrive in Australia, but we won't know until 2021.

The volume of the fuel tank is only 44 liters.

What is it like to drive? 7/10

I had quite high expectations for the new generation Peugeot 2008 as I was a big fan of its predecessor. Does the new one match this? Well yes and no.  

Admittedly, the conditions we were driving weren't what Peugeot had hoped for - a late October day with temperatures of 13 degrees and side rain for most of the driving program - but they actually brought out a few of the inherent disadvantages of dry driving. weather. presumably will not be affected.  

Otherwise, the GT Sport driving experience was pretty darn good. (GT Sport model shown)

For example, there was a serious struggle for traction on the front axle, to the point where the "axle jump" is when the front tires scrape the surface so hard that the front end feels like it's bouncing up and down in place. - there was a constant consideration when taking off from a place. If you have not experienced this, perhaps you have an all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive car, you might think that something is wrong with the car. This is pretty confusing.

Once things are moving, better progress is offered, although it must be said that the GT Sport struggled for traction and squirmed constantly on the front axle, and a flashing traction control light was a common sight on the digital dash. This was also the case in corners where you want to feel solid progress and your tires grip the pavement to get you back up to speed. 

2008 offers some fun when it comes to steering. (Allure shown)

The GT Sport’s drive experience was otherwise pretty darn good. The suspension is a little tighter than the Allure, and that was noticeable over both lumpy road surfaces and the open road, where it transmitted more of the smaller lumps and bumps but also managed to feel less floaty and soft.

So it will depend on what you prefer, which model achieves your goals. The Allure's softer suspension is more comfortable in the city, although 17-inch wheels and higher profile tires and GripControl traction control with mud, sand and snow modes mean it should feel better in open country.

The driver's choice is GT Sport. (GT Sport model shown)

Either of these two is going to offer some delight when it comes to the steering, which is both very quick to turn but also entertaining in its action because of the size of the wheel. The nose darts when it comes to direction changes, while parking is a cinch thanks to its tiny (10.4m) turning circle and quick lock-to-lock electro-hydraulic steering rack. 

The engine in the Allure offers enough power to satisfy the vast majority of buyers, so if you don't want the glitz that comes with the top class, you'll probably find it perfectly suited to your needs. But if you want to explore the engine's potential, the GT Sport transmission - with two additional gear ratios and paddle shifters for manual control - lets you do just that. Both, though, have the advantage of not being fussy at the start, as both are standard torque converter automatic transmissions rather than dual-clutch transmissions like many of its sharper rivals. 

The softer Allure suspension is more comfortable in urban environments. (Allure shown)

Neither is what I'd call "fast" but both are quick enough to get going despite some noticeable turbo lag in the Allure, which bothers the GT Sport less thanks to its high-flow turbo and improved breathing. It picks up speed well, and because it's very light (1287kg in GT Sport trim), it feels nimble and bouncy. 

The driver's choice is GT Sport. But honestly, both could use their power better on the ground.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

The Peugeot 2008 received a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating in 2019 for similar performance models we get in Australia. It is not clear if this score will be reflected by the ANCAP or not, although it will likely not be re-checked against the 2020 criteria.

The Allure model has automatic emergency braking (AEB) that operates from 10 to 180 km/h and also includes daytime pedestrian detection (0 to 60 km/h) and cyclist detection (operates from 0 to 80 km/h). km/h).

There is also Active Lane Departure Warning, which can steer the vehicle back into lane if it violates lane markings (65 km/h to 180 km/h), Speed ​​Sign Recognition, Speed ​​Sign Adaptive Cruise Control, Warning driver attention (fatigue monitoring), hill descent control and a 180-degree rear view camera system (semi-surround view). 

Walk up to the GT Sport and you get day and night AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as blind spot monitoring and a system called Lane Positioning Assist that can steer the car when the GT Sport model's standard adaptive cruise control system (with stop function) ) the possibility of self-service in traffic jams) is active. There are also automatic high beams and semi-autonomous parking. 

All 2008 models lack rear cross-traffic alert and rear AEB, not to mention a proper 360-degree surround view camera. The camera system used here is not very good.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Peugeot Australia offers an industry-standard five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty plan, which is pretty decent support for a fairly small operation.

The company also backs up its vehicles with a five-year roadside assistance plan in support of the warranty, not to mention a five-year, limited-price service plan it calls the Service Price Promise. 

Maintenance intervals are set every 12 months/15,000 km, and costs for the first five years have yet to be confirmed. They should be later in '2020, but Peugeot Australia says prices will be "comparable" to the current version, which has the following service prices: 12 months / 15,000 374km - $24; 30,000 months/469 36 km - $45,000; 628 months/48 km - $60,000; 473 months / 60 km - $ 75,000; 379 months / 464.60 km - $ XNUMX. This averages out to $XNUMX per service.

Worried about the reliability of Peugeot? Qualitative? Ownership? Reminds me? Don't forget to check our Peugeot issues page for more information.

Verdict

If you're the type of buyer who will pay over the odds for a car that looks great, then you could be a Peugeot 2008 customer. with which it competes.

While Peugeot Australia expects more customers to opt for the top-of-the-range GT Sport, and we think it's better equipped based on standard safety features, it's hard not to notice the Allure, even though it's too expensive for what you're getting.