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Review: Peugeot 2008

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Author: | Updated: 20 Nov 2013 11:00

Just as Peugeot’s 308 grew into the 3008, the 208 has been expanded into the 2008, albeit to more stylish effect than its double-oh sibling.

Peugeot may be late to the compact crossover party, with Skoda’s Yeti and Nissan’s Juke setting the standard long ago, but the arrival of Renault’s Captur was equally overdue, hitting UK showrooms around the same time, so can the Peugeot make up for lost time and secure a tasty slice of the B-segment crossover market?

Compared to the 208, the 2008 is nearly 20cm longer, 9.6cm taller, with 75 litres more boot space

Compared to the 208, the 2008 is nearly 20cm longer (4159mm), 9.6cm taller (1556mm) with 75 litres more boot space (360). Its width and wheelbase remain unchanged (1829mm and 2538mm respectively), as does the way it drives, for the most part.

With the switch from supermini to mini-SUV, the driver position is more elevated than in the 208 and its cabin is a comfortable place to be, on par with what you’d expect from the Yeti.

The 2008’s cabin is very similar in style than the 208 with a familiar build quality and finish but it is obviously more spacious and the bubble-like handbrake is a quirky little touch. The improved front view is complimented by vast rear visibility, a point Nissan’s Juke woefully fails on with its letterbox-like rear window.

Just as Peugeot’s 308 grew into the 3008, the 208 has been expanded into the 2008,

Engines and running costs

Petrol engine options consist of three 1.2L units with 82, 130, and 110bhp respectively, and a 115bhp 1.6L. This is matched by three diesels: a 68bhp 1.4L and two 1.6L units with 92 or 115bhp.

Peugeot anticipates 42% of 2008s will go to fleets and we drove the 1.4L HDi in second tier Active trim (£15,195 OTR) with CO2 emissions of 104g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 70.6mpg, which believe or not, isn’t even the most fuel efficient option.

The best fuel economy comes from the lower-powered 92bhp 1.6L manual with 74.3mpg combined at 98g/km (£16,445).

Even the most eco-focused Skoda Yeti and Nissan Juke can’t get close to that (61.4mpg, 119g/km / 104g/km), but Renault’s VED-free Captur dCi 90 just nicks it with 76.4mpg and 95g/km. This Captur’s starting price of £13,895 benefits its cause too, especially as you get the same amount of equipment.

The most basic 2008 (£12,955) comes with manual air con, refrigerated glove box, electric front windows, remote central locking, cruise control, speed limiter, radio/CD player with aux input, roof bars, ABS, ESP, and six airbags.

What you get

With all five occupants, the 2008 offers 360 litres of boot space, 17 fewer than the Captur, 56 fewer than the Yeti but 83 more than the Juke. Either way, it’s plenty and flopping the seats down opens it up to 1194 litres, making the 2008 highly practical.

Offered over four trim levels – Access+, Active, Allure, and Feline – the most basic 2008 (£12,955) comes with manual air con, refrigerated glove box, electric front windows, remote central locking, cruise control, speed limiter, radio/CD player with aux input, roof bars, ABS, ESP, and six airbags.

Active models (£13,895) add 16-inch alloys, front fog lights, leather steering wheel, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio, and touchscreen infotainment system which we found to be clunky and not as advanced as the tech you’d find in any VW Group cars.

Allure (£15,095) has all that plus rear parking sensors, dark tinted windows and electric windows in the rear, dual zone air con, rain-sensing automatic wipers, automatic headlights, and heated folding side mirrors.

Range-topping Feline’s (£17,650) standard kit includes 17-inch alloys, a second USB input, sat nav, alarm, panoramic glass roof.

the 2008 may not be the most exciting or individual mini-SUV out there but it is an able, amiable addition

Performance

Our 1.4L 2008 had a woefully slow 0-62mph of nearly 15 seconds, even the 1.6L e-HDi eco-option can beat that (13.3s) so not only is it the least economical option, it’s also the slowest.

As the Yeti and Juke are a lot more fun to drive, the 2008 needs to make up for it in other ways. The 115bhp 1.6 e-HDi (£17,745) with six-speed auto transmission strikes a happy medium, capable of 70.6mpg and 62mph in 10.4s. The fastest 2008 (1.6 VTi - £14,850) can hit 62mph in 9.5secs with a top speed of 122mph.

In summary, the 2008 may not be the most exciting or individual mini-SUV out there but it is an able, amiable addition to the segment and depending on which engine you choose, running costs are amongst the best around.

Its late arrival doesn’t seem to have affected its appeal. Peugeot has already been forced to double production of the 2008 and expects to sell up to 17k of them in the UK in 2014.

Peugeot 2008 in numbers:

Length: 4159mm
Width: 1829mm
Height: 1556 mm
Wheelbase: 2538mm
Boot space: 360 / 1194 litres
Petrol engines: 1.2 VTi 82bhp (5sp man), 1.2 e-THP 110bhp (5sp man), 1.6 VTi 120bhp (5sp man), 1.2 130bhp (6sp auto)
Diesel engines: 1.4 HDi 68bhp, 1.6 e-HDi 92bhp Stop/Start (5sp man/6sp EGC), 1.6 e-HDi 115bhp (6sp auto)
Fastest:
1.6 VTi – 0-62mph in 9.5secs, 122mph top speed - £14.850 OTR
Cheapest: 1.2 VTI Access+ - £12,995
Priciest: Feline Mistral Ambience 1.6 e-HDi 115 Stop and Start 5dr - £19,345
Most fuel efficient: 1.6 e-HDi manual – 74.3mpg – 98g/km CO2 - £16,445
On sale: Since July 2013

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