Peugeot has joined the Crossover crowd with the new 3008. This latest Crossover vehicle is based on a stretched version of the 308 chassis and like most other crossovers in the market it is styled like an off-roader but is front wheel drive. The idea of course is to combine the interior space of an SUV with the low weight and economy of a car, which Peugeot has rather convincingly done with this vehicle.
Peugeot 3008 aircraft style cockpit
The most notable aspect of the 3008 must be the driving position, which is surrounded by a large centre console that sweeps up to the top of the dashboard, with a set of aircraft-style switches right at the top. It should feel claustrophobic, but it feels more cosseting and secure, very much like you would expect a cockpit style driving position to produce.
3008 head up display
Continuing the aircraft similarities is the head up display, which is controlled by many of the aforementioned switches at the top of the dashboard. The head up display sides out and up from the top of the dashboard in front of the driver – a neat, but almost kitsch trick.
The head up display shows the vehicle’s speed and also shows a function that uses radar to search for cars ahead. Unlike most such systems though, this one is not linked to the cruise control system, as it merely reports the distance in terms of how many seconds the 3008 is behind the car in front. While the driver can adjust the distance warnings it does turn out to be more of a toy than anything else.
The head up display does also display the cruise control/speed limiter settings as well, which is a much more logical use for the display.
Build Quality Issues with 3008
And all isn’t well with the build quality though, as the gearlever surround and passenger grab handle wobble slightly under pressure. Also wobbling under pressure is the chassis, as when driving over uneven ground occupants in the car can easily hear the doors moving up and down against the door seals as the chassis flexes.
It is rather perplexing as the 3008 is based on the 308, which has no such issues and Peugeot claims a torsional rigidity close to that of the Peugeot 308SW. Plus, this writer is currently testing the diesel version of the same vehicle and it has no such body rigidty issues and handles much better than the petrol. An example of variable build quality, or something wrong with the other press fleet car? Peugeot NZ is investigating.
Turbocharged Engine Developed With BMW
Things do get better when moving onto the powerplant. There is a 2.0 litre diesel available, but the vehicle tested here is the 1.6 litre four cylinder turbocharged petrol (shared with the BMW Mini). The 115kW (154 horsepower) the engine produces is enough to give the 3008 impressive acceleration and unlike many French cars of the past the six speed automatic gearbox performs much like any other auto.
Older French automatics have a habit of selecting gear ratios lower than the driver would prefer and then hold onto the gear ratio. It seems to have been a situation when the French – who are still great believers in the manual gearbox – to give the auto the feel of a manual, which is of course rather stupid.
Dynamic Roll Control System
Despite the wobbly chassis the 3008 handles reasonably well, thanks mostly to the Dynamic Roll Control system fitted to the rear axle. This links both rear shock absorbers together to reduce body roll in corners. The 3008 could never be mistaken for a sports car but then again it was never intended to be one.
Inside the 3008
What the 3008 does do is provide a comfortable ride and plenty of space for occupants and all their associated gear. There are extra storage boxes in the floor behind the front seats and the tray in the boot floor can be mounted at different heights to produce a boot with two separate spaces.
There is plenty of room in the rear thanks to the high roofline and long wheelbase, which is 50mm longer than the standard 308 (perhaps playing a part in the chassis issues?).
Crossover Convenience
As with all such vehicles the 3008 is a Crossover rather than an MPV, as it lacks any four wheel drive system, but the real attraction to the car is convenience and ease of use. It has enough room inside for five adults and their luggage, and enough storage space to hide a small army. It isn’t the most exciting driving experience in the world, but these days that sort of thing is rapidly being overtaken by how usable the vehicle is in the real world of heavy traffic and enforced speed limits.
Sam Domett - I have been a motoring journalist for over 15 years, beginning with my own website. I then moved on to the Manukau Daily News. My next job ...
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