Peugeot 2008 2017 Review

The highlight of the facelifted Peugeot 2008 for 2017 is the new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine residing under the bonnet. This is arguably the powerplant the tiny SUV deserved all along. It’s the same unit we’ve encountered previously in a long-term test 208 hatch late last year.

In the 2008 the new engine is quieter still than it was in the light hatch. The engine rarely made its presence felt in the SUV unless it was under load, accelerating up hill, for instance – when its distinctive three-cylinder warble could be clearly heard.

And the tiny turbo engine proved fairly economical too. During the course of the media drive program to Picton, south of Sydney, the 2008 consumed fuel at the rate of 6.4L/100km. While that’s a long way shy of the official figure Peugeot cites, it’s actually slightly better than the published figure (6.5) for the 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated 2008 automatic this new car essentially replaces.

And while the turbo engine produces about 7kW less power, it’s ahead of the 1.6 for torque, which explains in part how the smaller, less powerful engine completes 0-100km/h acceleration in 11.3 seconds – just one tenth slower than the 1.6 auto.

That acceleration (and the more frugal fuel consumption) is also explained by the 1.2-litre being a lighter engine, and the six-speed Aisin automatic transmission coupled to it offering two extra ratios. All well and good on paper, but how is in the real world?

Quite acceptably good, as a matter of fact. The acceleration time is never going to trouble WRX pilots, but the secret to the 2008 is its exploitable mid-range torque, which makes it effortless to drive. That’s got to be a welcome trait for the 2008’s target buyers.

The 2008 is very pleasant on the open road and around town as well. There’s enough torque on hand to keep up with and stay ahead of traffic in the suburbs. A light bump as the idle-stop system re-starts the engine when the light changes to green is a reminder that the engine is one cylinder short of the optimal number, but the start-up is mercifully quick.

The auto transmission complements the engine’s unstressed performance for comfortable touring, although it did thump on occasions during upshifts. It’s not as refined as the six-speed auto in the Mazda CX-3, but still gets the job done.

If the drivetrain is properly fettled for just loping along at highway speeds – about 2000rpm at 100km/h – then the 2008’s ride properties add to the recipe. There’s little to choose between the two variants tested for ride comfort, either the 2008 Active with 16-inch alloy wheels or the 2008 Allure on 17-inch alloys.

Furthermore, the 2008 turns nicely too, given it’s a small SUV with a raised centre of gravity. Steering was responsive, although slightly less so in the entry-level model, with its higher-profile tyres on smaller-diameter wheels. Feedback through the tiller ensured the 2008 could be placed accurately on the road.

Body control was generally good, although that centre of gravity did have some bearing on weight transfer as the 2008 changed direction. But not necessarily to the extent that typical owners will readily notice. Roadholding was commendable, and the 2008 is a tidy handler for its type, although there were some early signs of torque steer, which may be more prevalent on wet roads.

Over the patchy, coarse-chip bitumen on the way out from Sydney the 2008’s tyres did produce subdued noise. And the wind was audible too, at speed, but overall the Peugeot was better insulated from noise than some of its obvious competitors in the same market sector.

Inside, the 2008’s i-cockpit is a polarising layout that’s common to other models in the Peugeot stable. I frankly like it, having the small-diameter wheel set low and the major instruments mounted just below the windscreen. Unlike other Peugeot models with this sort of set-up, the 2008’s instrument needles all swing in the right direction (clockwise for higher revs and road speed).

Following the current convention, the 2008 has an infotainment screen sitting proud of the centre console. It’s an ergonomic feature that isn’t universally applauded, and frankly I found it unattractive and out of place with the rest of the vehicle’s design. But I could live with it, compensated by the 2008’s virtues.

One of those virtues – and a new one for 2017 – is Apple CarPlay, which worked to specification when I plugged in an iPhone to recharge it.

The 2008 retains the quirky handbrake lever that at least one motoring.com.au staffer disliked in manual variants of the previous model. With an automatic transmission it is more acceptable.

Front seats are quite cushy, but lack a little support and side bolstering to hold occupants fast while the car is cornering. In the rear there’s plenty of headroom for adults, but kneeroom for grown-ups is compromised if the occupant in front is also an adult. That said, 99 per cent of rear-seat occupants in the 2008 will likely be of teenage years or younger.

Those youngsters might appreciate adjustable vents back there on warm days. The 2008 can’t help with that. On the subject of cooling, the manual air conditioning in the base-grade 2008 Active was not as effective as the dual-zone climate control system in the 2008 Allure when it came to keeping the cabin chilled during the moderately warm day the two cars were tested. While $4500 more for the 2008 Allure may seem steep, the climate control is one reason for finding the extra dosh for the mid-range model.

Other reasons for doing so include the standard autonomous emergency braking, Peugeot’s multi-mode traction control (‘Grip Control’), front parking sensors, auto-dipping mirror, self parking, satellite navigation, front fog lights, rain-sensing wipers and auto-on headlights. There are also other features to lift the 2008 Allure’s specification well above that of the entry-level model.

Although the 2008 is exclusively front-wheel drive, it boasts ground clearance of 160mm, which provides a decent hip point for easy access to the interior and the 410-litre boot. Under the floor of the boot is a 15-inch full-size spare – not a space-saver. Unfortunately, since it doesn’t match the 16 and 17-inch alloy road wheels, space-saver constraints still apply.

The minor quibbles aside, however, the 2008 is a much better product in 2017. Adopting the new engine – a class-winning ‘International Engine of the Year’ entry for the last two years – has taken the 2008 from the status of a car all too easily dismissed by consumers to one that belatedly should be on the shopping list.

2017 Peugeot 2008 Active and Allure pricing and specifications:
Price: $26,490 Active, $30,990 Allure (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 81kW/205Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 110g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2013)

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