Peugeot 2008 (2021) SUV Review — The cat that should get the cream

Styling

The new Peugeot 2008 is far removed from the previous one. The newcomer looks chic, sharp, poised, and ready to pounce. A floating-effect roofline, diamond-facet-inspired body panels, black body cladding and diamond-cut alloy wheels all add to its aggressive urban demeanour. At the rear, the red LED light signature is styled to resemble large claw marks. It's a highly effective design that garnered many compliments and salacious looks. When I went to visit an elderly friend in a well-heeled estate, she exclaimed: "Oh, this car is just gorgeous! The neighbours will think I have wealthy friends."

Interior layout and convenience features

The latest Peugeots are styled to perfection with the brand's new i-Cockpit 3D design and layout. Peugeot's i-Cockpit is not new, but the 3D i-Cockpit instrument cluster is a segment first, and standard only in Allure and GT derivatives. Unlike the virtual dashboard you'd find in Volkswagens and Audis, the instrument binnacle projects information in a three-dimensional manner that creates a sense of space and depth. It's easy to read at any angle, and the picture "moves" depending on how it's viewed. You have the option of selecting different layouts via a fingertip dial on the steering wheel. The Satnav view was my default selection on most days. 

In the centre of the dashboard, there's an elongated, easy-to-operate 10-inch touchscreen (this bigger screen is standard in GT-LIne models), along with a nifty hidden compartment below the central air vents. It opens with a satisfying 'click' to reveal a charging pad for your smartphone. Below that, you'll find another open storage binnacle with 2 USB ports on either side, of which one is a mini-USB port. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard features on all models, but if you don't have your phone on hand, you can always rely on the 2008's own voice control system to carry out your commands. You can ask the system to increase or decrease the temperature (but only by one degree at a time), for example, or give navigation commands, among others. 

As with all new-generation Peugeots, the piano dials or toggle keys beneath the central air-vents allow you instant results in regard to air-conditioning, locking the doors and demisting windows, etcetera. There's also a touchpad above the keys for quick access to music, temperature, on-screen menus and so forth. There are also satellite buttons on the itsy-bitsy steering wheel to access menus and to change similiar settings. The central armrest (standard in Allure and GT LIne variants) may look small, but it's surprisingly deep and spacious.

Ambient lighting, glossy black finishes, aluminium pedals, and faux carbon fibre trim add to the general upmarket ambience of the 2008's cabin in GT trim. 

 

Space and comfort

The 2008 GT has beautifully-designed seats covered in a combination of leather and houndstooth cloth, but the cloth part feels thick and durable. It shouldn't be difficult to clean with a sponge or cloth if you or your family members regularly engage in in-car snacking.

The rear seat is wide enough to seat two average-sized adults and a child in the middle, with sufficient legroom for all three persons, but taller passengers may feel uncomfortable on longer trips if the driver prefers his seat to be quite far back. As you can see on the image below, I climbed in behind my own (electronically adjustable) driver's seat, set to suit my 1.73cm frame, and legroom wasn't amazing. 

While the 2008 is too compact to require rear air-vents, it's certainly geared towards device-addicted teens who need to charge their phones twenty-four-seven, because two USB ports can be found at the back of the front armrest. 

The boot offers plenty of room and features a false bottom where valuables or smaller items can be stowed. This bottom "shelf" snaps open easily and is held in place by a simple, yet cleverly designed mechanism that also facilitates easy closing. I had to transport a large, framed photograph from Somerset-West to Hermanus, and this secret compartment came in useful to prevent the frame from moving about excessively.

 

Drive, performance, and fuel consumption

The 1.2-litre turbocharged engine in the Active, Allure and GT Line models has an output of 96kW and Nm of torque. It has that typical, sporty 3-cylinder growl that falls on the ears rather sweetly. This little power plant feels punchy and eager, and suits the characteristics of the 6-speed automatic gearbox perfectly well. Despite being able to hear the engine when you accelerate, the cabin is very quiet otherwise, and the 6-speaker sound system is of a high quality. Should you prefer to do the gear-shifting yourself, there is only one manual model in the lineup: the Peugeot 1.2T 74kW Active, which is the entry-level model at R359 900.

Suspension is soft enough to deal with our poorly-maintained roads, and feels comfortable on dirt and gravel. There's a smidgen more lean in the corners than I expected, and the A and C pillars are quite thick, which restricts your view a little at times. However, the clever placement of cameras affords you a bird's eye view of the 2008 when you need to reverse safely out of a tricky spot, or you just want to ensure there are no obstacles around you that pose a danger to your 2008's slick sheet metal. When you put the 2008 into reverse, the infotainment screen displays both the rear view and the view from above. Fuel consumption is claimed at 6.5 litres per 100km, but given my enthusiasm behind the wheel, my average usage was in the region of 8 litres per 100 km.

 

Safety

The 2008 comes very well-equipped with all sorts of safety equipment, including ISOFIX child seat anchorage points in the front passenger seat (GT model), as well as the outer rear seats (all models). ABS, EBD, brake assist, rear park distance control, cruise control, traction / stability control, hill-assist control, safety headrests and 6 airbags are standard across the board. 

GT models also have fatigue detection, speed limit recognition, lane keeping assistance, a blind spot monitor, automatic headlights, high-beam assist, front fog lamps, and park distance control in the front and rear, as well as the aforementioned Visio Park 1 (180° Colour Reversing) cameras. Peugeot's Active Safety Brake will also stop the vehicle if pedestrians are detected.

You can view the new Peugeot 2008 brochure here to see every model's standard features. 

 

Pricing and verdict

The GT Line model is absolutely stunning in the metal, fun to drive, easy to use, very stylish and ultra-safe. But it's not the model I would opt for — I would happily spend R399 900 on the Active derivative instead of R479 900 on the GT Line. Who needs ambient lighting anyway? And the 3D instrument binnacle is cool, but it's not a must-have. 

Here's the local Peugeot 2008 lineup and how much it costs, currently:

• Peugeot 2008 1.2T 74kW Active (manual), R359 900
• Peugeot 2008 1.2T 96kW Active, R399 900
• Peugeot 2008 1.2T 96kW Allure, R429 900
• Peugeot 2008 1.2T 96kW GT, R479 900

(We also attended the local launch of the Peugeot 2008 in February 2021. Read our report of this event here.)

(Prices were correct at the time this article was published, but may increase without prior notice. Please refer to the Peugeot SA 2008 microsite for the latest prices.)

Other competitors in this segment include the Hyundai Venue, Volkswagen T-Cross, Mazda CX-3, Citroën C3 Aircross, Fiat 500X, and the Toyota CH-R. Don't forget about the Suzuki Vitara, Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster, Kia Seltos, Ford EcoSport, and Nissan Qashqai either. These are all venerable contenders, but considering what is on offer in the 2008 as standard, and the quality of everything inside (and on the outside) of the 2008 GT variant, personally I feel that it competes with more premium offerings such as the Volvo XC40, BMW X1/X2, and Audi Q2.

The 2008 has been one of my most enjoyable drives of 2021 so far, and I hope that South Africans will feel as passionately about this fabulous Frenchman as I do.

 

Did you know?

There seems to be a common misconception that French cars are a bad idea where after sales are concerned, and that parts are expensive or hard to find. This may have been an issue in the past, but is no longer the case.

The 2017 Kinsey report (you can read it here) found that the 2017 Peugeot 2008 Active Diesel had the cheapest parts basket of all, beating the Ford EcoSport and the Mazda CX-3 to the punch! Read Who Says Peugeot Parts are Expensive? for more information.

The Peugeot 2008 is sold with a 5-year/100 000 km warranty and a 3-year/60 000 km maintenance plan.