With the new 3008, Peugeot aims to appeal to buyers’ fantasies by offering a luxury SUV that is compact but at the same time remains one of the most affordable SUVs in the market. This is one of the of the reasons why it’s still holding up pretty well against the competition because it offers something a little bit different than most of its rivals.
On looks alone, the latest 3008 is distinguished by an elegant and contemporary style emphasised by a new grille and fog lamps. The bi-xenon headlights with LEDs are surrounded by chrome and the new LED tail lights feature eye-catching three floating ‘claws’ with a 3D effect. The overall looks of the 3008 is very stylish and modern, suitable for young families with kids.
Inside, you’ll be surprised that the cockpit feels spacious, comfortable, well-equipped and even a little more upmarket than a typical SUV. The 3008 cabin is dominated by a big centre console that is covered in buttons. It gets a little confusing at first trying to figure out what each button does but the good thing about this is that it has plenty of technology to help you with your driving.
For instance, the 3008 comes with a heads-up display (HUD) managed by the Toggle Switches which are controlled easily by your fingertips. The heads-up display shows key information of the vehicle such as the vehicle speed and cruise control/speed limiter so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road when driving. Apart from that, there is also a retractable screen that displays the audio and navigation, the trip computer and the front and rear parking assist and the image filmed by the reverse camera.
Elsewhere, you will find a large panoramic sunroof that gives you an open-air feeling and an electric parking brake that automatically engages when the engine is switched off and releases again when the driver accelerates. It is combined with the Hill Assist function, which temporarily prevents the car from rolling backwards on a hill giving the driver time to accelerate.
One of the things that I love the most when driving an SUV like the 3008, is its high-seating position that allows me to slide in and out without having to contort myself too much, and the enhanced visibility of the road ahead from the elevated driver’s seat. The driver seat also comes with a flexible 8-way electric adjustment which allows for a myriad of different seating arrangements.
One of the 3008’s most distinctive features is its flexible and spacious boot. You can configure it in many different ways depending on what you want to carry. Apart from that, the boot lip/ tailgate can even be lowered to make it easier for you when loading bulky items. You can also use it as a nice picnic bench, however be mindful that it can bear a load of 200kg only. You can also fold the rear seat from the back via a lever located in the boot or at the top of the back seat. On the left-hand side of the boot, you will find an electric torch light which charges automatically when it is placed in its holder to give you 45 minutes of use. How cool is that?
In terms of powertrain, the 3008 comes with an in-line 4-cylinder, 1.6-litre Turbo with Variable Valve Timing that produces an impressive 163hp and 240Nm of torque. Combined with a 6-speed auto adaptive gearbox with Tiptronic and Sport mode functionality. The 3008 proved to be a very relaxing SUV when cruising down the roads although its 9.5 seconds 0-100km/h time sounds a bit pessimistic and won’t excite you much. The turbo engine provides enough feedback to the driver especially when climbing uphill and the steering provides a lot of feedback as to what the front wheels are doing on the road.
The cabin is well insulated from wind and there is no road rumble making the 3008 very quiet a and relaxing to drive. I did enjoy the 3008’s ride quality as it is very smooth and agile, without getting too firm especially when driving on B-roads.
To recap, the Peugeot 3008, priced at RM153,888 on-the-road is a very practical, comfortable and luxurious SUV, which offers excellent value for money. From the split tailgate that allows easy access to the boot through to the large door pockets and full ensemble of tech and gizmos, you can tell the 3008 has been designed for people with families in mind. It simply makes a lot of sense.
