Peugeot 3008 Reviews

The Active model wears a $36,900 price tag. It sits beneath the Allure, GT Line and GT models in the 3008 family.

Chris Riley road tests and reviews the Peugeot 3008 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The well-priced French family bus abounds in cabin comforts but its age and weight are handicaps.There's a last-minute call to CarsGuide for clemency this week just as we're deciding on the Peugeot 3008's standing in The Tick.It comes in the form of a new drive-away deal on the 3008 as Peugeot aims for better value on a range of models. It means buyers of the petrol 3008 will be about $2500 better off, the diesel $3500.The other models are the 208, 2008, 308, 4008 and 508. The Australian importer promises savings of up to $5500 by the time the cars hit the road.The price push comes as the company works hard to reinvent itself in the face of increasingly tougher competition.It has some good cars, especially the 308, but a lot of the line-up is ageing.It will be a couple of years before a full-scale new-model turnover at PSA — the French parent company for Citroen, Peugeot and DS vehicles — comes on line.A full family five-seater that works well as a people-mover in EuropeThe 3008 is old and relatively expensive, although we need to adjust scoring to account for the $39,990 drive-away bottom line on the diesel Active that we drove.It's quirky, a tag we usually reserve for Citroens, and one that's difficult to slot into a comfortable space.A full family five-seater that works well as a people-mover in Europe, the 3008 does not do nearly as well against big SUVs in Australia.The cabin is roomy and flexible, the seats are comfortable, it's easy to get in and out, there's underfloor stowage beneath the rear seat and and the clever boot has a three-tier layout for storage.A clamshell-style fold-out seat provides a temporary perch for toddlers.Even with a big load, the diesel version gets along well enough, thanks to its 340Nm of torque and six-speed automatic gearbox. It's not particularly perky but compensates with impressive economy for such a big bus.The ride is not as good as I expect and in corners the car feels ponderous — it tips the scales at more than 1600kg after all. It's the complete opposite feel to the baby 308, which is sharp, smooth and responsive, and it's probably down to the age of the basic design and the families that constitute the target market.The fitout is pretty good, including seven-inch multimedia screen, satnav, reversing cameras, impressive aircon, alloys and the rest. It also gets a five-star ANCAP safety score.It's also easy to park, thanks to excellent all-round vision and a reasonable turning circle — but not as good as the Citroen C4 Picasso stablemate.Capitalise on the ample space and the flexible seating and it's possible to fit all sorts of stuff inside, as we did during a house move.Every time I look at the dashboard, however, I'm reminded that it's an old car that needs work. The plastics are hard, the layout of the switches is haphazard and the multimedia controls are confusing and counter-intuitive.It's the same when driving. The 3008 is all right but no better than that.That's not good enough when someone could be cross-shopping it against anything from a Hyundai ix35 or Mazda CX-5 to the Picasso or the latest Kia Sorento that's just gained a five-star ANCAP score.In fact, there are so many rivals with impressive credentials, either for driving or family hauling, that the 3008 fades quickly into the background.

The Sun’s Ken Gibson has had an early taste of what could be a ground-breaking car, the Peugeot 3008 that is spearheading the push for hybrid diesel technology. So - in true Gibson style - he took the lion-badged hybrid Peugeot to meet some other rare hybrid lions: a pride of 14 white beasts. And along the way, makes some comparisons that make a lot of sense.

We turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering would you buy one? What is it? Peugeots pumped up SUV version of its 308 hatch, although without all-wheel drive so it

Carmakers have been turning to creating niche models to try and catch the attention of an increasingly varied market. And Peugeot is trying to do it with the 3008 - the tall hatch is part SUV, part mini-peoplemover and part hatchback.VALUEThe range starts at $35,990, but we're testing the two-litre turbo-diesel XTE, priced from $42,990. For that, the equipment list includes 18-in alloy wheels, six airbags, power mirrors and windows, a panoramic glass roof with blind, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, trip computer, rear parking sensors (front sensors are optional), hill-start assist and Bluetooth phone and audio link.TECHNOLOGYThe little Pug is packed with some hi-tech gear, including a heads-up display with a traffic-gap readout (but not active cruise control). The rear suspension fights body roll and engineers have endowed this front-driver (as an option) with Grip Control, a switch akin to Land Rover's Terrain Response - standard, snow, all-terrain, sand and ESP-off modes are offered. It's admirably optimistic but likely to get Peugeot roadside assistance more business from owners stranded where they should never have taken this vehicle.DESIGNIt's a blessing to be behind the wheel because, from front-on, it has an odd look - but others didn't mind the aesthetics. Inside there's a high centre console that might make some feel a little closed-in.SAFETYThe 3008 XTE has dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags as well as pre-tensioning and load-limited front seatbelts. There are anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist and brake-force distribution, latest generation stability and traction control.DRIVINGThis tall SUV offers a surprisingly nice drive. Steering is light but not too vague; the seats are comfortable but there's a hemmed-in feeling from the dash and console and (at 190cm) the driving position is not ideal.The two-litre turbodiesel is unobtrusive, reasonably smooth and has good outputs (120kW at 3750rpm and 340Nm at 2000rpm). The six-speed auto teams well with the engine to get around town at traffic pace without a drama. The solid torque output doesn't tug at the front wheels and the clever suspension system copes well with body roll, although small-sized bumps aren't dealt with in the same effective manner.VERDICTA clever, comfortable hatch on stilts - with plenty of features but a price tag to match.PEUGEOT 3008 XTE 2.0 HDiPrice: From $42,990Engine: Two-litre 16-valve four-cylinderTransmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel drivePower: 120kW @ 3750rpmTorque: 340Nm @ 2000rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h 10.2 seconds. Top speed 190km/hFuel consumption: 6.7 litres/100km, on test 10.2 litres/100kmTank capacity: 60 litresEmissions: 176g/kmSuspension: Inverted strut with anti-roll bar (front); torsion beam (rear)Brakes: Four-wheel discs, front ventilated, anti-lock, brakeforce dist.Dimensions: Length 4365mm, width 1837mm, height 1639mmWheelbase: 2613mmCargo volume: 512/1604 litresWeight: 1614kg.