FRENCH SENSE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_peugeot3008crossover_2014

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 66

Peugeot's first attempt at the family Crossover segment, the 3008, proved to be very successful for the Gallic brand when first it was introduced in 2008. To keep this model competitive in the Qashqai class, the French maker significantly facelifted this design towards the end of 2013. That's the version we're going to look at here as a potential used buy. How does it stack up?

Modelsword count: 21

5dr hatch (1.2e-THP 130bhp/1.6 VTi/1.6 THP/ 1.6HDi/1.6 BlueHDi 115bhp/ 2.0 HDi 150bhp/ 2.0 HDi 163bhp auto/ 2.0 BlueHDi 150/2.0 HDi HYbrid4)

Historyword count: 285

By now, most of us are familiar with the concept of a 'Crossover', a family car providing the best elements of an SUV, an MPV and a conventional hatchback. This one, Peugeot's first generation 3008, wasn't the first model of this kind to hit the market but it struck quite a chord with customers following its launch in 2008. Over half a million buyers chose this car in its original form, despite mainstream variants lacking the 4WD and 7-seat options that some Crossover rivals offered. Why? Well it was well priced, neatly packaged and had a quality feel. Plus, a little ironically, despite the 2WD-only drive layout, it was actually a little more use in nasty conditions than affordably-priced versions of key rivals, provided the owner specified the useful GRIP CONTROL system for extra traction reaction. All of these attributes were of course carried forward into the significantly improved first generation design launched in late-2013, the car we look at here, along with extra equipment and much smarter looks. The clever eco-minded HYbrid4 flagship variant we first saw in 2012 also continued on at the top of the range, mating a diesel engine driving the front wheels with an electric motor powering those at the rear. The improved MK1 model 3008 model range got uprated Euro6 engines in 2015, so out went the old 1.6 VTi petrol and 1.6 THP petrol units in favour of a more efficient 1.2-litre e-THP three cylinder 130bhp unit. And out went the old 1.6 and 2.0-litre HDi powerplants in favour of more efficient 1.6 and 2.0-litre BlueHDi units. In that form, the 3008 line-up continued until it as replaced by the more sophisticated second generation model early in 2017.

What You Getword count: 1175

The original version of this car had many admirable attributes, but it wasn't an especially attractive thing with its short, tall dumpy looks and curious 'egg-crate'-style front grille. The improved post-2014 facelifted model we're looking at here didn't fundamentally change the original aesthetics but did soften them, adding LED signature lighting and various chromed elements for a more universally acceptable look that more recognisably fitted in alongside the more modern designs in Peugeot's line-up. As before, the 4.36m length shadowed the footprint of an ordinary Ford Focus, but buyers were promised a good view out thanks to nearly 1.7m of height. As with the original model, the familiar Lion badge dominates the front end of this facelifted version, the starting point for a recess that runs along the bonnet before naturally following the lines of windscreen and roof. Touches of chrome on the upper window trim, the body sills and the mirrors attempt to inject a quality ambience, while at the rear, revised dark-tinted LED tail lamps neatly set off the chunky silhouette with their distinctive 'three-claw' 3D lighting signature. The interior is very classy for this class of car. Peugeot owns the company - Faurecia - that provides the cabinwear you'll find in many prestige brand models and even if you didn't already know that, you'd maybe be able to guess the fact from a glance around this cabin with its expensive soft-touch materials, metallic highlights and interesting touches of aesthetic flourish. The grab handle on the passenger side of the centre console is one example of this, with the centre top-mounted row of toggle switches another. You'd expect these to sit above the kind of infotainment screen this centre console certainly seems large enough to accommodate but instead, in many 3008 models, the designers elected to try and put across much of this kind of information by using a retractable Head-up display mechanism that whirs noisily up from the top of the dash when you start the car. It's not as noisy though, as the electronic handbrake, which activates with various aural grumblings. You might also notice the lack of steering wheel control buttons and the clearly obvious stereo removal slots, both things would wouldn't expect from a car of this era. Still, there are plenty of compensations, among these the lovely splashes of chrome, the aluminium-look detailing around the instruments and the lovely padded surfaces you'll find on the door waist rails and the fascia top. The centre console is set high, enveloping the driver into what Peugeot hopes is an 'aircraft-style' cockpit, set off by hi-tech touches like the head-up display panel that, as mentioned earlier, rises into your line of view at the bottom of the windscreen on plusher models. Or at least it does once you've fiddled about matching the angle of the colour co-ordinated graphic display to the seat height you've chosen, that seat height wide-ranging enough to vary your position at the helm from being either low and family hatch-like. Or high and SUV-commanding. We're guessing that most owners will want a loftier-style perch, not only because it makes them feel more in charge but also because it gets around a few of the restricted visibility issues caused by the rearward-rising waistline. Compromised rear three-quarter vision is a particular issue, which makes it more frustrating that rear parking sensors weren't fitted as standard on base-trimmed models. Still, you can forgive this car much for its sheer practicality. There's nearly 50-litres of in-cabin storage for example, with decently-sized 7-litre door bins, a sunglasses holder above the driver's door and a 3.7-litre locked space beneath the steering wheel all making up for the rather small glovebox. You get a large, permanently ventilated 13.5-litre central armrest compartment too, big enough to hold a 1.5-litre bottle, but irritatingly hinged on the right hand side so the driver has to reach right over it in order to get items inside. Move into the rear and you'll find a bench that delivers a high vantage point offering a good view forward. It's more comfortable than the rear of a rival Nissan Qashqai at the back due to the better under-thigh support you notice on longer journeys. But as in that car, three adults will need to be on friendly terms. Still, should you find yourself in that situation, you'll be thankful that legroom's impressive for a Crossover of this class, thanks to careful shaping of front seatbacks equipped with useful storage nets. More oddments space is delivered by neat twin floor storage boxes, another MPV-style touch. But that's the only one. These seats don't slide or recline and the compact vehicle length doesn't allow for the optional installation of extra chairs behind them. It'll certainly help if you've a top version fitted with the vast Cielo panoramic roof that, refreshingly, doesn't impinge on headroom yet increases the cabin's total glazing area to over 5m2, so giving the interior a pleasantly light and airy feel. And out back in the Multiflex luggage area? Well, the first thing you notice is this unique-in-class touch, the split-rear tailgate which brings a touch of Range Rover style to the mass market. Should you wish to use it for picnicking, you'll be pleased to find that up to 200kgs can be placed here. Go beyond into the cargo bay and you'll find one of this Peugeot's strongest selling points against its Nissan Qashqai arch-rival: namely the fact that, at 512-litres, its boot is 20% bigger. Though this figure is still well short of the 660-litres you'd get from a comparable Peugeot 308 SW estate model from this era, it's still easily the biggest boot in the Crossover segment from this period. Or at least it is if you go for a conventional version of this car. The batteries and multi-link rear suspension necessary for the HYbrid4 variant eat into luggage space quite a bit, reducing capacity to a much meaner 354-litres. In the standard petrol and diesel variants, this usefully-shaped space is certainly very practical thanks partly to a ski-flap for longer items but primarily to a neat three-position boot floor, under which you can store the rear parcelshelf when not in use. Particularly useful is the higher-set level which corresponds to the height of the lower part of the tailgate and is great for separating your eggs from your iron bru - or perhaps simply your dog from your shopping. Especially if you make full use of the four securing rings onto which a luggage net can be attached. We also like the way that the load area light doubles as a re-chargeable torch. If you need more room, the Easy Flat rear bench seat can be folded in a single movement using buttons located in the boot or at the top of the seat back freeing up 1,604-litres (or 1,435-litres in the HYbrid4 model). Go for a top trim level and you also get a fold-flat front passenger seat for transporting even longer loads - say bikes or surfboards - with lengths of up to 2.62m.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227