Peugeot has a new competitor for the popular Nissan Qashqai, in what is being called a crossover sector of the market. Crossover implies a car that has SUV type attributes, while still being a family car. Most of the popular crossover models are simply two-wheel drive and that’s the market that Peugeot is aiming squarely for.
Peugeot makes no apology for the fact that it is going after Nissan Qashqai drivers with this new model. And, with a market expectation of close to 1,500 units in 2010, the Irish distributor Gowan Group is confident that it has something special on offer.
This new Peugeot 3008 has been designed as a car with flexibility and space. Peugeot aims to go better in giving value in an equally spacious car with the new 3008.
The Peugeot 3008 is a five-seat car and, while it has the looks of an MPV, it offers standard car seating spaces with no boot conversion possible. The 3008 is a tall type vehicle with a high command type seating position to give good road visibility. The overall car has a big feel to it, due to the tallness of its structure.
This new Peugeot 3008 comes as standard with a tried and tested 1.6 litre turbo-diesel engine. This engine is fitted to a host of Peugeot and Citroen cars, with derivates of it fitted to Fords and BMWs.
This engine develops 110bhp, which is slightly above average for a 1.6 litre turbo-diesel engine. The torque output is also good at 240Nm. This engine performance gives the car good acceleration for its size at 12.2 seconds in a 0 to 100km/h run. That compares well with the competition, especially the Nissan Qashqai with its 1.5 litre diesel engine, which is marginally slower.
I’ve had the new Peugeot on the road for a lengthy test drive in recent weeks. I found that the engine performance allows the car to cruise at modest engine speeds when using the sixth speed setting in the manual gearbox. The cruising engine speed on longer motorway runs was very comfortable and within the legal limits, giving relatively low engine noise and better still, good economy.
I achieved almost 1,000km on the full tank of diesel, topping up to complete my 1,600km weekly test drive. The rated economy figure of 5.1 litres/100km (55.4mpg) was achievable in good road conditions. The economy figures are again marginally ahead of those of the Qashqai, but only just and the Qashqai has a five litre bigger fuel tank for less frequent stops.
The CO2 rating at 137g/km puts the car into Band B, giving an annual road tax cost of just €156 for what is a spacious machine. In an overall sense, this engine delivers speed, performance and economy value under the bonnet of the 3008.
From a driver’s point of view, the seating is good and so too is the high gear position. Peugeot uses an electronic handbrake in the new car, which I found took a little getting used to. There are driver controls on the steering stalk that gives audio control and cruise control on the higher specification models.
The 3008 has flexible seating adjustment and there are loads of storage areas. Side door pockets are wide and deep and there are under-floor storage areas in the rear. The centre storage box opens to the opposite side of the driver, a small issue, in that it makes it more awkward for the driver. The boot area is big and has an adjustable double floor system to allow for a secure storage mix. At the lowest position and the boot area is 512 litres; that’s ahead of anything in its class.
The safety package for the car is good. It includes ESP, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, corner brake control, traction control, six airbags (driver, passenger, side and curtain), hill assist, electric child locks and seat belt fastening warning across all models. That’s why the 3008 was able to achieve a five star Euro NCAP rating.
Peugeot is offering three models in the 3008 range in Ireland. The level 1, SE model gives value for money at €24,900 plus delivery charges. This car comes with manual air conditioning, leather steering wheel and gear lever, 17″ steel wheels, cloth interior trim and electrochrome rear view mirror. It has a space saver spare wheel, remote central locking with deadlocks, multi position boot floor, split tailgate and front electric windows.
The new 3008 has a solid build feel to it, better than other Peugeot’s that I’ve driven in the past. It offers reasonable value, with an entry price of €24,900 plus delivery charges. The 3008 is spacious and comfortable to drive; it gives good economy and a pleasant high seating position. It’s the new competition for the Nissan Qashqai.
Peugeot 3008 SE 1.6 HDi - Specifications
Top speed - 180 km/hr
0 – 100km/hr - 12.2 seconds
Economy - 5.1 (55.4) l/100km
CO2 emissions - 137 g/km
Road Tax Band - B (€156)
Entry Price - €24,900
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