New-look Peugeot 3008 revealed

Peugeot’s best-selling vehicle in Australia, the Peugeot 3008 mid-size SUV, has been thoroughly upgraded along with its seven-seat sibling, the Peugeot 5008.

Revealed in Europe today and livestreamed to the world, the 2021 Peugeot 3008 and 5008 have been improved with a sophisticated new interior fit-out featuring a larger 10-inch touch-screen infotainment system (previously 8.0-inch), improved safety systems and redesigned exterior visuals.

The French-built SUVs will go on sale in Europe at the end of 2020 before arriving in Australia from around February 2021, when they'll bring carryover engines and similar spec levels.

The 1.6-litre turbo-petrol (121kW/240Nm) and more expensive and more powerful 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (133kW/400Nm) engine variants will arrive first, hooked up to six-speed and eight-speed automatic transmissions respectively.

The current three-variant Peugeot 3008 range is priced between $43,990 and $54,990, while the two-grade 5008 line-up is pegged between $51,990 and $58,990.

Popular in Europe, where more than 800,000 vehicles have been sold since 2016, the Peugeot 3008 has struggled to challenge Japanese juggernauts like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 in Australia.

However, Peugeot Australia has confirmed that a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the 3008 will arrive here from around June 2021 as a high-tech hero model for the SUV range, and the more efficient powertrain could focus more attention on the European family wagon.

The petrol-electric Peugeot 3008 is offered in 2WD (168kW) and AWD (223kW) versions that can eke out almost 60km on pure electric power thanks to a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor/s.

It’s not yet clear which hybrid model – or both – will come to Australia next year.

Peugeot Australia will continue its electrification strategy Down Under with its first EV expected to touch down on local terra firma in early 2022, in the form of the smaller Peugeot e-2008 SUV, which has a circa-300km range via a 50kWh battery pack.

Exterior design changes to the Peugeot 3008 can be seen most clearly in resculpted LED headlights with large vertically-aligned 3D ‘claw’ LED daytime running lights that double as indicators and the avant-garde grille design.

The fresh new look that was leaked last month also brings dynamic or strobing LED indicators for a bit of upmarket eye-candy, while the front bumper has been redesigned to include larger air-dams a la Peugeot's large 508 flagship sedan.

Revised LED tail-lights round out the exterior changes.

Inside, the ‘i-cockpit’ cabin design looks even more futuristic now thanks to the adoption of a larger central 10-inch touch-screen, while the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel returns once again with various customisable elements.

Like most modern SUVs, alloy wheels, roof racks, dual-zone climate control, push-button engine start, auto-hold functionality, LED mood lighting, front and rear cameras and sensors, a dual-pane sunroof, wireless phone charging plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be offered.

The Peugeot can be had with high-end features like massaging seats as well.

New safety and technology features for the facelifted Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs include a night vision system that has a detection range of up to 250 metres ahead of the vehicle (beyond the range of the high-beam headlights) and displays a live feed of the road ahead in the instrument panel.

Based on the French brand's EMP2 platform, both SUVs get upgraded autonomous driving functions. The adaptive cruise control with stop function has been upgraded with stop and go, making for a more seamless traffic jam driving assistant. The adaptive cruise control system is paired with a new lane position assist function that keeps the vehicle in its lane on freeways.

It adds the previously available active lane keeping assistance, advanced driver attention alert, active blind spot detection and smart beam assistance systems.

Peugeot has upgraded the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems in both SUVs as well. They now detect vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists both day and night, between speeds of 5 and 140km/h.

There’s also a collision risk warning alert and the traffic sign recognition system has been enhanced for the 3008's and 5008’s mid-life update to understand a wider variety of signs, such as one-way, stop and no overtaking signs.

Audiophiles can now order a 515W hi-fi system supplied by Focal, which delivers “French-style high-fidelity sound for the enjoyment of the passengers” and adds styling tweaks via bronze speakers grilles in the cockpit.

Peugeot has failed to gain a solid foothold in Australia with once-popular models like the 208 hatchback being phased out here.

Peugeot will launch its next-generation 2008 in October, after which the small SUV is expected to dethrone the 3008 as Australia’s most popular Pug.