Pricey but hassle-free
The second generation Peugeot 3008 is much more popular than the first, but the current one is also about to be replaced. Experiences of owners of the 3008, which came onto the market at the end of 2016, have already been discussed in this ‘practical experience’. How did our German colleagues from AutoBild like the 3008 as a Hybrid4, who started using it in March 2021 and have now driven 100,000 kilometers on it? Traditionally, the SUV completely fell apart at that mileage and this was noticeable.
This was noticed when dismantling the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4:
After disassembly, no noticeable issues are visible in the engine, just like with the hybrid system. The pistons and cylinders meet the standards and no negative aspects were noticed while driving.
The gearbox shows heat marks on the friction discs of a clutch pack. During the endurance test, shifting went smoothly and without complaints.
The seats have withstood the 100,000 km long test marathon. There are hardly any traces of wear visible and the seating comfort is good, even after the endurance test.
The axles have emerging traces of corrosion on the edges and weld points. All bearings and bushings are still intact. There were no complaints while driving.
The HV battery still offers the same range after 100,000 kilometers as at the start of the endurance test. The battery casing shows clear signs of corrosion. A recall campaign has been in place for this since March 2023.
The bottom plate shows several abrasions, fortunately none of which resulted in corrosion. In the side beams and sills, beginning corrosion was visible on the welding points and edges.
The measurement of the pistons shows that all deviations are within the margin.
The beginning rust on the edges in both sills is not a nice sight.
Heat marks on a friction disc, but this is not noticeable while driving.
A Stellantis specialist disconnects the high-voltage system. The beekeeper outfit protects him from any flying sparks.
Verdict after disassembly:
This Peugeot also passed an intensive endurance test without too many problems, despite the complex technology. The wear pattern after 100,000 intense kilometers gives no real reason for criticism. However, the 300 hp plug-in hybrid version of the Peugeot 3008 is a pricey pleasure with a starting price of more than 55,000 euros.
What else did the AutoBild editors think of the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4?
In the hands of the AutoBild editors, the French plug-in hybrid had to withstand everything you could use a car for: from everyday trips on electric power – the battery in most cases allows an electric range of about 40 kilometers – to hastily covering kilometers to be on time for an appointment. “Driving to work completely electrically, great!” a colleague wrote in the car’s logbook. “Less great: you always have two drivetrains with battery packs with you, so the car has to carry a lot of weight. During short journeys, the Hybrid4 provides driving pleasure, especially because the 300 system horsepower and all-wheel drive guarantee convincing performance.” By supporting two electric motors – one with 112 hp drives the rear axle and turns the 3008 into a 4×4 – you forget that a turbo petrol engine of only 1.6 liters powers this 1.9-ton SUV. In the logbook we read positive words about the smooth interplay of the engines; the 3008 sometimes makes boasters with sports cars bite the dust, like Asterix did with the help of a magic potion. Even in fully electric mode, the acceleration is quite good. And did you expect this family SUV to reach a top speed of 240 km/h? That is of course not very relevant in our country, but it is special that it is possible. The high level of performance makes driving fast a pleasure, until the small 43-liter tank forces you to visit a gas station again. The heavy hybrid technology increases consumption during long journeys. There has also been criticism of the Peugeot’s reduced loading space; the loading volume of 395 to 1,357 liters is 125 liters smaller than that of the standard 3008. It symbolizes the outside-big-inside-small character that applies to this car.
AutoBild got into a Peugeot 3008 after the facelift in 2021.
The steering wheel on your lap leads to division
Opinions are divided about the Peugeot-typical dashboard with instruments above a small steering wheel. Most fans of this layout are under 6 feet tall; tall people often complain about the fact that they feel like they have the steering wheel on their lap. The interior, with its massive door panels and high, wide center console (“Ideal for couples who have grown apart,” a colleague delicately notes) is seen by some as conducive to the unity between man and machine, while others feel encapsulated and a feeling of suffocation. Opinions differ just as much about the tiny breakfast plate-sized steering wheel in combination with the direct steering – some praise the extreme handling, others find the steering too sharp – as about the operation of the car: digital menu structures, presented via a kind of keyboard consisting of six fixed keys, elegantly finished with cool metal. Some riders miss a real home screen and spend a long time looking for the settings. Other colleagues see the advantage of it. “Digital and analog complement each other perfectly,” we read. As with so many cars of the moment, design often wins over function in the Peugeot. “The style of the cockpit display can be adjusted, but unfortunately no variant without visual effects is available,” noted one of the editors in German service.
4×4 came in handy for winter trips
During winter trips in Austria and Sweden, the all-wheel drive AutoBild has helped out of trouble several times, but like many other car models, the sensor for the distance radar becomes covered by snow under such conditions and then fails. Why is that part not heated? Although the Peugeot always supplies power to the electric rear-wheel drive, you should avoid trips off the asphalt: the ground clearance of 18 centimeters and the long, low overhang at the front prevent it from being used as an off-road vehicle. Most drivers are pleased with the attractive size of the car, the small turning circle, the massage seats that meet the guidelines of the German organization Aktion Gesunder Rücken (AGR seats) and the comfortable suspension. Even elderly people with serious back problems sat in the back seat to their full satisfaction. The situation was very different in the sporty Alfa Stelvio that also stayed in the editorial office.
We also read some other pluses and minuses in the logbook. Let’s start with the negatives: the threshold is high (partly due to the battery), the hybrid drivetrain provides an artificial driving feeling, the automatic transmission with torque converter sometimes shifts indecisively at high speeds on the highway, the range of the petrol engine is limited when driving briskly. only about 300 kilometers, the view diagonally to the rear is downright poor, the control levers on the steering column are too close together, the cruise control is operated with an outdated control satellite, the recalculation of routes is slow, the voice control only works well when Entering navigation destinations and the Apple CarPlay connection do not always work well. Oh yes, and the rear passengers’ feet barely fit under the front seats. And the carpet in the luggage compartment is difficult to clean. A logbook entry concerns the considerable rolling noise of the Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires, while several drivers were annoyed by the hard rolling of the 18-inch wheels. Also annoying: the reading lights no longer come on when the ignition is switched off. And the start button takes its time to do its job.
Hybrid4 can tow 1,250 kilos
Anyone who needs a lot of payload and wants to tow heavy trailers will not be happy with the plug-in Peugeot, which can only tow 1,250 kg (braked) behind it, while you can take a maximum of 430 kilograms of cargo. The brakes are excellent, with braking distances of around 35 meters. In combination with the alert ESP, they inspire confidence.
This brings AutoBild to the plus points: the choice of materials (the plastics and the Alcantara upholstery) are appropriate for the price of the 3008, the AGR seats are perfectly suitable for long journeys (partly thanks to the massage function) and the night vision function (additional cost 1,000 euros). has saved our German colleagues at least one collision with wildlife.
Unfortunately, the Hybrid4 is an expensive way to drive a Peugeot. This version now has a starting price of €55,540. Then there is the disadvantage characteristic of plug-in hybrids that you have to connect such a car to an 11-kW wall box for two hours in order to be able to drive electrically for a maximum of half an hour, not to mention the seven hours of charging time via a 230V socket. If the technology does not suit your driving profile, we recommend that you go for the classic petrol models, which fortunately Peugeot still offers for the 3008.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl