Popular choice also automatically good?
When you think Peugeot 3008, you probably think of the SUV model that has been filling the showroom since 2017. This car, officially named 3008 SUV, has managed to forget its somewhat remarkably designed predecessor. With more than 5,000 copies in the first year and almost 16,000 in the period after that, you can safely call the car a success for Peugeot. Is it also for owners who drive it every day?
The 3008 SUV represented a step up for Peugeot. Not only did we see the shift from MPV to SUV, the brand itself was also positioned slightly higher. It not only brought the 3008 SUV more beautiful interior materials, the car stood out mainly because of its i-Cockpit 2.0. A further development of the striking dashboard concept that we already saw in the 208, 2008 and 308. It meant that the 3008 also got an ultra-compact steering wheel, with a digital instrument panel above it. The latter was somewhat revolutionary.
Do you like that little steering wheel?
The i-Cockpit usually leads to division. There are regular noises from drivers who cannot read their instruments properly or who are ‘trapped’ between the seat and the steering wheel. ‘A matter of getting used to’, according to owners. “The clock shop is perfect and easy to read above the small steering wheel. A short acclimatization period and you don’t know any better.” This is confirmed by a very tall driver, who does add a comment. “I like the small, flattened steering wheel. Why do we still sit with such a big hoop on our lap? However, the steering wheel should extend 10 cm further. In the rear position of the seat I can no longer reach the steering wheel. I’m 2.03 meters, so it’s probably not because of the length of my arms.”
The seating furniture also receives compliments. Both the standard furniture and the optionally available items with AGR certificate. You can recognize this by the extendable seat. “The AGR seats with Mistral leather are excellent,” said one driver, “only my wife sometimes complains that the headrest cannot be tilted forward.”
Space and comfort 3008 SUV
In the transition from MPV to SUV, some interior space is almost always lost, mainly due to the higher car floor. This never leads to problems for driver and co-driver, rear passengers get off slightly less cheaply in the 3008. “Space is a bit limited in the back, but the kids rarely come with all three,” says the owner of a 2017 3008 BlueHDi, “The boot is roomy and with the rear seats folded down, a visit to IKEA is never a problem, all the more so because the right front seat can be folded down.”
If everyone has been able to find a good seat, it turns out to be pleasant on board the 3008. “The comfort of the 3008 is top notch. The seats are perfect, you hardly hear the wind and tires. Partly thanks to the layered side windows, which come in combination with the Focal audio system.”
How does the 3008 drive?
The sound production on board gets more positive reviews, with the exception of the chassis. “There is an emphatic thump to be heard with small bumps. The suspension, on the other hand, is fine,” writes one owner. This comment about comfort, especially on cars with 19-inch wheels, is often made. “The 19-inch wheels on the Business Pack GT are nice, but for comfort and balance in the car, especially on short bumps, 18-inch would have been better.”
The handling receives nothing but praise, for example from this owner of a 180 hp diesel. “It drives surprisingly well, with virtually no understeer and very neutral cornering with plenty of comfort.”
The SUV also convinces at higher speeds, even with the 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 130 hp. “We drove to Germany every week in recent months. It turns out that 145 to 150 km / h is a very nice speed. The car drives fairly quietly and is very stable. Even at normal speeds of 80-130 km/h everything is extremely stable and relaxed.”
Infotainment and assistance systems
As mentioned, the 3008 SUV is always equipped with a digital set of instruments. This offers various display modes and that is appreciated. “The customization options of the display are great. Various options are available, including navigation display.” The readability is also appreciated, while the day/night mode can be improved. “The display is either too dark during the day or too bright at night unless you reset it every time. This is irritating and I did not expect with a car in this class.”
We read few comments about the driver assistance systems. That does not apply to the optional parking assistant, about which the next owner has a clear opinion: “Waste of money, tried about five times and not a single time was the car right.” In addition, this owner also does not appreciate the automatic high beam, in which he is not alone. “High beam assist and rain sensor are worthless. High beam in built-up areas is generally not desirable, but the car apparently likes to startle pedestrians. The rain sensor either switches on much too late or immediately goes to the highest position at the slightest rain shower. Then don’t use it.”
Disturbances and annoyances
Owners do not report persistent malfunctions, but there is a more frequent inconvenience. Several drivers report that the hood moves at a higher speed. One of them went to work on it himself. “It is a known problem, for which the 3008 has been at the dealer for two days and reinforcements have been installed. The result is a lot better, but movement remains visible at higher speeds. Then I glued a rubber strip to the edge of the hood myself so that less wind comes under the hood. As a result, the bonnet no longer moves.”
Other minor inconveniences seem limited to individual cases. For example, a driver suffers from peeling upholstery at the back of the front seats. “You can click it back in, but the dealer will have to take a look at this.” Another owner reports leakage through the panoramic roof and another suffered a recurring malfunction in a door handle.
Engines and powertrain Peugeot 3008
Under the hood of the Peugeot 3008 you can find a number of engines. The most famous is probably the 1.2 PureTech with 130 hp, a modest three-cylinder. This engine can withstand the test of criticism well. “The 1.2-liter three-cylinder is excellent. Not a single moment do we miss the 1.6 from the 508. The car pulls up, if you want it, like a winch. At highway speeds it is even quieter than the 508. The automatic transmission also works excellently.”
This car is still equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. After a model year update, the engine was mated to a new eight-speed transmission. People are also very pleased with the gearbox. “I am really happy with the automatic transmission. Switches silky smooth and at the right times. If you accelerate more fanatically, the car pulls a little longer in gear and the automatic transmission also responds super quickly when overtaking. Nevertheless, it is not all puretech hosanna: “When the engine is starting up, it is quite restless, especially at low temperatures. After ten minutes of driving, that restlessness disappears.”
Diesel drivers have only one serious comment about their car: the tank capacity is too small. “I was able to fill up with 45 liters with an almost empty tank. The result is that I am at the pump every 700 km.”
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl