Peugeot 3008 Hybrid | Review

For many, a Peugeot 3008 will offer everything they need: it’s economical, practical and upmarket. If you’re looking at small SUVs and crossovers, the 3008 is definitely one to be considered. The Peugeot 3008 is arguably one of the most stylish SUVs on sale. It backs up smart looks with a practical five-seat cabin, good build quality, and solid engines. It’s comfortable with a well-judged ride that’s firm enough to stop it feeling too bouncy.

Special mention : Big comfy cruiser, spacious, 300BHP AWD Petrol Hybrid with 50km WLTP range.

Needs work : Hybrids reduce boot space, the looks haven’t changed much but that’s no bad thing really, would love to see the piano keys use selectable settings as opposed to fixed.

BHP 300Petrol / Hybrid / Auto
0-100 km/h in 6.1 secondsRoad Tax €140

Price: €30,995.00
As Spec’d
€52,600.00
Boot space 591 (standard) 395 (Hybrid 4) litres

Mostly the 3008 is similar to the launch vehicle from 2016 when king of the compact SUVs.  The latest design updates aren’t drastic, but new side-scoops in the bumper and a frameless grille give the 3008 a fresher and more contemporary edge. Rivals give the 3008 a run for its money in a class that contains peers such as the SEAT Ateca, Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Opel’s Grandland.

The 3008’s finest attributes are its plush cabin and family-friendly practicality. The interior is a great place to travel in, it uses nice textures throughout and uses Peugeot’s i-Cockpit digital dashboard set-up. As with all other Peugeots in the current lineup, the 3008 has a small steering wheel you must look over – rather than through – to see the fancy digital 3D dash.

It’s got efficiency, comfort and practicality on its side and the 3008 is softer and more forgiving than sportier rivals. The long-travel suspension in the Peugeot means it feels composed on all but the worst roads, offering decent refinement and comfort. On the motorway the 3008 cruises smoothly when not pushing things along too fiercely.

The new 3008 is available with a Hybrid4 300 4-wheel drive version and a 2-wheel version. The front-wheel drive HYBRID 225 and this all-wheel-drive HYBRID4 300 both make use of the same 179bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, combined with a single electric motor for the 225 version and dual electric motors for the 300 variant. Performance is improved with 0-100km/h in 8.9 and 6.1 seconds, respectively. You can fully recharge the battery using a standard plug (8 A, 220 V) in 7 hours. You can also recharge more quickly on a wall box charging point which takes around 1 hour 45 minutes on a 7.4 kW wall box.

The 3008 is much more stylish than the Qashqai or SEAT’s Ateca the only minor setbacks being the air-con controls are still on the touchscreen display, which makes them hard to use on the move, and the materials lower down in the cabin are fairly durable.

The 3008 gets a superb interior, visibility is good as the driving position is quite high and as in most cars of this class, the rear view is limited. The narrow-diameter steering wheel is a bit of a contentious point, but with this second iteration of the i-Cockpit layout Peugeot has refined the concept, so it’s more user friendly. It’s easier to see the digital dash, which comes as standard on all models, adding a hi-tech feel together with the central screen. The interior wraps around the driver and incorporates Peugeot’s latest infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen. The 3008 also gets Peugeot’s latest i-Cockpit display, which incorporates a 12.3-inch screen behind the wheel. You can change the layout of the dials, decide what is displayed and how or, most usefully, show sat-nav directions directly in front of you. The 3008 features plenty of cubbies to store phones and wallets, along with a large central cubby that doubles as an armrest. There’s also space for a wireless smartphone charging point on GT-Line.

The plug-in hybrids are heavier than the rest of the 3008 range. The extra weight is supported by a sophisticated rear suspension set-up.  The Grip Control package includes all-weather tyres with solid, less absorbent sidewalls that make the ride stiffer. With the Hybrid4’s 300 bhp and impressive traction out of tight bends utilising its four-wheel drive system, you’re unlikely to have any more fun than you would in a standard 3008. The plug-in hybrid versions are enjoyably silent when in pure electric mode. The transition between electric and petrol power is a little gruff especially when accelerating. 

The 3008 has plenty of space, it’s slightly longer than a Qashqai, with plenty of legroom for the rear passengers. The flat floor means it’s a comfortable choice if you regularly carry three passengers in the rear. Storage options are class leading with an opening central armrest revealing a huge air-conditioned cavernous space, which is useful for keeping drinks and food chilled. Just in front of this sits a pair of cupholders, and there’s a tray for your mobile in front of the gear lever. There’s plenty of head- and legroom in the Peugeot 3008 to accommodate taller adults, and the interior is wide enough to put a comfortable distance between front and rear passengers.

The boot has a wide opening and a low load lip leaving a 591-litre capacity. Folding rear seats come as standard with a 60/40 split instead of a 40/20/40 arrangement that some rivals offer. The 3008’s rear seats don’t slide or recline unfortunately but in the higher trim levels you’ll get a folding front passenger seat and when folded flat, the front passenger seat backrest can be used as a picnic table. 

The 3008 taps into the current trend for bold styling, and beyond its striking visual looks, the Peugeot 3008 is practical, cheap to run and equipment levels are pretty decent.