Peugeot 2008: Blending different worlds [video]
The compact SUV market or crossover market is all the rage at the moment. Every manufacturer is trying to get its piece of this segment-pie. And Peugeot is no different. Peugeot’s aim with this car is to blend different worlds, it wants you to be able to have your urban crossover but be able to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and go off the beaten track. The new 2008 is Peugeot’s first crossover entering this B-Segment and it impressed me more than I thought it would.
I flew up to the Windy City to experience the 2008 and as we made our way to Port Alfred I grew more and more fond of it. It’s a great looking car with its standard roof rails, 17-inch alloy wheels and chrome detailing. It is based on the 208 hatch platform but has a slightly longer wheelbase and of course a higher ground clearance (so a dirt road is more fun). It is also slightly taller than that of the 208 hatch. It will definitely appeal to those who want to sit slightly higher on the road. Just think of its rivals such as the Ford EcoSport and Nissan Juke to get an idea of size.
This is a compact and practical car. Inside you are instantly met with the Peugeot design stamp which is not a bad thing. It boasts a quality feel and it has a great list of standard specification including electric folding mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter (which is great on those long roadtrips), dual climate control (so no one has to fight over temperatures), electric windows, hill assist (no more clutch control), a digital touch screen and bluetooth.
If safety is your main concern, the 2008 has it covered. Standard on the safety list is ABS with EBD, automatic drive-away locking, curtain airbags, driver and passenger front airbags, side airbags, electric child locking system, emergency brake assist, a rear parking sensor and Isofix anchorage points so no more fussing with the baby seat.
It is powered by a 1,6-litre petrol engine and produces 88 kW of power. It has enough low down torque to get you out of tricky situations, especially when overtaking. It is not super quick, but who needs it to be? It is mated to a five speed manual gearbox which when on the open road could have done with a sixth gear, but modern Peugeot gearboxes have a much nicer action than older-generation ones and the 2008 benefits from this.
With this 2008, Peugeot is targeting a broad mixed audience from young active/sporty couples to a family with one or two kids living in the city to the not yet retired who are 50 years and over. There is only one model available, the Allure 1,6 petrol manual, which is priced at R269 900. It come standard with Peugeot’s five-year/60 000 km maintenance plan and three-year/100 000 km warranty.
It is the nicest modern Peugeot I have driven with all the advantages of the 208 but with a raised ride height giving it more presence.
Here is a closer look at the Peugeot 2008