Peugeot 2008 2020 review

The Peugeot 2008 is playing two key roles in Australia as it’s both an all-new SUV and the temporary – perhaps permanent – replacement for the Peugeot 208 city hatch.

There is a plan for the 208 to return later in 2021 but it’s highly likely to become Peugeot’s first battery-electric car, which takes it in a very different direction.

So the 2008 becomes the starter car in the local line-up and the spearhead for a brand that wants people to focus on its unique Peugeot-ness, from its body design and cabin finishing to the technology in its tiny 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine and its ride and comfort.

“We really needed to focus on how we could compete and stand out from the crowd,” says the general manager of Peugeot Citroen Australia, Kate Gillis. “We needed to look at ways to introduce Peugeot to an entirely different customer. And the 2008 does that.”

This approach explains the premium pricing, which starts at $34,990 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Allure and jumps to $43,990 plus ORCs for the more powerful GT Sport – a lot of money for anything this small.

A plain GT variant is coming around the middle of next year to fill the price gap.

Both the Allure and GT Sport are well-equipped with the usual niceties and the only option on the GT Sport is a sunroof.

Exclusive standard kit on the GT-branded variant includes Nappa leather upholstery, 3D Navigation, eight-colour interior ambient lighting, aluminium pedals, and heated front seats with massage function.

The Allure is more relaxed in its positioning, from tyres to engine tune, and the GT Sport is what it says – with the usual Peugeot tip to the landmark 205 GTI that re-lit passion for the brand back in the 1980s.

One of the cute-but-useful tricks in the 2008 is a landmark 3D instrument display, but it continues with the iCockpit system – high-mounted instrument pod, low-set small steering wheel – that Peugeot loves and many people hate.

Technology is reflected in a panel of touch-sensitive buttons and a 10-inch infotainment display on GT Sport (Allure has a 7.0-inch touch-screen), full Apple and Android smartphone connectivity, two regular USB ports for both the front and rear seats, a USB-C port in the centre console, and a wireless phone charger.

The new 2008 is not cheap, but Peugeot would prefer to sell fewer cars at a higher price to build its brand following than try – as so many Europeans have tried and failed – to play the price game in Australia.

Its natural competitor is the Volkswagen T-Cross, priced from $27,990, but there are literally dozens of other small SUVs and so it could be cross-shopped against a Hyundai Venue or a Mazda CX-30 or a Renault Captur or a Skoda Kamiq or, or, or, or…

The body for the Peugeot 2008 sits on PSA Group’s latest common modular platform (CMP), which is future-proofed for a range of developments including battery-electric cars.

“It makes it very easy to transition into future technologies,” says Daniel Khan, Peugeot Citroen Australia’s product and public relations manager.

Some of the future is reflected in the safety package in the 2008, which he says is better than the standard deal for European buyers.

Even the 3D instruments come with the promise that their fast-and-bold reaction can shave 0.5 seconds from the driver’s reaction time in an emergency.

The Allure and GT Sport both have speed sign recognition and the driver can set the cruise control to match that number.

They also get autonomous emergency braking (AEB) from 10-140km/h, thanks to the radar camera that is only an option in the ‘safety pack’ in Europe, as well as pedestrian and cyclist detection, and lane-departure warning. On the GT Sport, the detection even works at night, for pedestrians and cyclists.

The GT Sport also picks up lane positioning assist, which works in tandem with the radar cruise control for semi-autonomous steering, as well as active blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function.

Notably, Peugeot says there is no need for rear cross traffic alert because rear visibility is fine and there is a 180-degree rear camera with rear parking sensors.

As yet there is no ANCAP score for the 2008, but it promises to do well.

“It has received a five-star rating under Euro NCAP, with the safety pack. It is optional overseas but all our cars get the safety pack as standard,” says Khan.

European cars without the safety pack only rate at four stars.

The French brand likes to talk about “unboring the future” with the new Peugeot 2008, and “an adventure away from the city”.

It is aimed at singles and young couples before kids, and there is a strong emphasis on the design work with claims of class-leading boot capacity and more space inside a body that is much the same in size to the previous 2008.

The engine is a 1.2-litre triple-cylinder turbo with two tunes – 96kW/230Nm (Allure) and 114kW/240Nm (GT Sport) – as well as two gearboxes, but only front-wheel drive.

The Allure puts more emphasis on getaway gear, including settings for the six-speed automatic that include Snow, as well as a hill-descent system and what Peugeot calls ‘multi-purpose’ tyres.

The GT Sport has shift paddles and more traditional settings for its eight-speed auto, including Sport, but the suspension tune is the same despite the Allure rolling on 17-inch alloys with the GT Sport on 18s.

Peugeot says the power from the GT Sport tune is the fifth-highest in the small SUV arena, thanks to a higher-flow turbo and specific fuel injectors over the Allure. It also trumpets maximum torque from 1500rpm.

The engine meets Euro 6.1 emissions rules and economy and CO2 output on the Allure are 6.5L/100km and 148g/km respectively, dropping to 6.1L/100km and 138g/km on the GT Sport.

The new Peugeot 2008 looks good, definitely stepping away from the boring boxes in the SUV class, but neither of the two launch variants really hit the sweet spot.

Our choice would be the performance package and equipment of the GT Sport, but with the softer-riding tyres and smaller wheels from the Allure. Oh, and the shift paddles from GT.

Perhaps that’s what will be coming next year in the ‘Goldilocks’ model, the mid-grade Sport. Fingers crossed.

The preview drive of the 2008 was through the city and outer suburbs of Sydney, over a good range of conditions from freeway to bumpy and narrow getaway roads, but there was heavy rain and that limited the ability to track things like road noise and proper cornering grip.

There was zero chance to drive the Allure on a forest track or sand.

Even so, the GT Sport proves that an SUV can have many of the strong points of a French GTI. It has solid sprinting potential, excellent steering response and strong brakes.

The safety package is impressive, the cabin has an upmarket look and feel, and the boot is as big as Peugeot says, although rear seat legroom is not good.

Switching to the Allure, the entry model immediately impresses with its plush ride and cornering grip. It’s truly the best of Peugeot, which makes suspension that works for France and is beautifully tuned for Australia.

It feels much flatter in the engine, especially without paddles to wake the transmission, but will be fine for most people.

One thing that still proves to be a point of confusion is the iCockpit system, which Peugeot loves and this tester – and a lot of other people – just plain hate.

We find that when you set the steering wheel correctly, you just can’t see any of the (very impressive) 3D display, and when you adjust for a view of the instruments the nifty sports tiller finishes up in our lap.

The all-new 2008 is clearly a Peugeot, from its styling to the compliant and enjoyable ride in the Allure.

It is an “unboring” car and that’s a good thing in 2020, as the rush to replace baby hatches with mini-me SUVs has thrown up a lot of bland boxes.

It’s not cheap but it is good.

How much does the 2020 Peugeot 2008 Allure cost?
Price: $34,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: December
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 96kW/230Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 148g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

How much does the 2020 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport cost?
Price: $43,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: December
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 114kW/240Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 138g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested