In 2016 Peugeot transformed the somewhat MPV-like first 3008 into a purebred SUV. This transformation has benefited the brand. Although we met the facelifted version of the second generation Peugeot 3008 this week, we are all looking forward to the completely new generation of the SUV, which is planned for around 2023.
Meanwhile, the second generation Peugeot 3008 within the Groupe PSA family has SUV siblings in the form of the Citroën C5 Aircross, DS 7 Crossback and Opel Grandland X. In 2016, the introduction of the angular Peugeot kicked off the roll-out of the new French SUV family. The second 3008 has done Peugeot no harm to date, certainly not in the Netherlands. Of the barely 30,000 cars that the brand sold in our country last year, 4,811 were a 3008. The SUV thus experienced one of its peak years in 2019. Only in 2017 did more copies leave the showroom with 5,225 units. Within Peugeot, only the 108 and 208 remained the success number in the sales rankings, while the difference with the latter was only a few hundred orders. Last year, the 3008 even came dangerously close in numbers to the Nissan Qashqai, which has been immensely popular in the Netherlands for many years.
Promising
Excellent figures for an SUV, especially when you consider that the 3008 is already blowing out four candles next year. The 3008’s popularity is undoubtedly largely due to its attractive appearance, which is based on the Quarts Concept from 2015. The SUV looks sharp, tough and, despite the fact that it has never been facelifted, it is still very up to date. So a success. The new 3008, like all future C-segment models from the PSA group, will be installed on a completely new platform called eVMP. We may consider this modular basis as the successor to the current EMP2 platform, which the 308, 508 and the current 3008 and 5008 use. In contrast to the current basis, the eVMP platform is focused on the arrival of fully electric models. Where the current 3008 does not go further than two potent plug-in hybrids in terms of electrification, the 225 hp Hybrid and the Hybrid4 with 300 hp, fully electric versions of the new 3008 are coming onto the market. Cars on the new eVMP platform have a minimum of 60 kWh and a maximum of 100 kWh of electrical breath, good for a WLTP range of at least 400 to a maximum of 650 kilometers. That promises something for the e-3008! In addition to the arrival of fully electric variants, you can also count on PHEVs and various variants with a conventional petrol or diesel engine on board.
Piggybacking
Although Peugeot sees its former head of design Gilles Vidal, responsible for the current design language of the brand, leave for Renault, it is unlikely that the new 3008 will soon no longer be recognized as a true Peugeot. Brand-new Design Director Matthias Hossann, who has been behind the drawing board at Peugeot since 2002, undoubtedly puts his own stamp on the drawing style, but cannot completely put the successful current corporate identity to the trash can. It is not inconceivable that the new 3008 will be topped with a mild ‘coupé sauce’. With a model with a relatively steeply sloping roofline, Peugeot can of course benefit from the increasing popularity of such ‘coupé SUVs’. The new 5008 can then nicely take on the role of a practical and more spacious SUV. Fans of the i-Cockpit can most likely count on a further development of Peugeot’s idiosyncratic interior concept with digital displays. After this week’s facelift, the 3008 can handle it again. The third generation 3008 will therefore not be in Dutch showrooms before 2023. The new 308 – which is getting on with age with conception year 2013 – will undoubtedly get priority. Shortly after the launch of the new 3008, fresh model series of the C5 Aircross, DS 7 Crossback and Grandland X will soon follow.