Peugeot 2008 Review

There are loads of great small SUVs on sale, but the Peugeot 2008 stakes its claim with bold styling, a practical and well-equipped interior, and punchy engines. It’s a top all-rounder, with more space and a longer list of kit than rivals such as the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Juke and SEAT Arona. If you like the 2008’s styling, it should be on your SUV shortlist.

Unsurprisingly, the 2008 has been a smash hit for Peugeot. So, when the car was facelifted in 2023, little changed on the outside. There were nips and tucks to the car’s headlights, brake lights and grille – featuring the latest Peugeot logo – plus three ‘strakes’ for the LED daytime running lights and some fancy-looking new wheels. As you’ll read, the interior and powertrain range was also updated, making the 2008 even more appealing than ever.

If you’re not used to modern Peugeot interiors, the 2008’s cabin might come as a bit of a shock. Instead of looking through the steering wheel to see the dials, you look over it, as the dials are set high and the small steering wheel is almost sitting on your lap – supposedly to make manoeuvring easier. This proved a little frustrating in the previous 2008 – some drivers found the dials were obscured by the wheel – but the latest car doesn’t have this issue, and you should be able to get comfortable with the 2008’s seat adjustment.

Tech is strong, with all cars getting a large central touchscreen and most cars getting a fully digital instrument cluster. Replacing traditional dials, the digital cluster really modernises the 2008’s interior and is configurable to your tastes.

The current 2008 had quite a big growth spurt over the old car, and practicality is pretty good. Even without the sliding rear seats you get in a Citroen C3 Aircross or Renault Captur, the Peugeot 2008 offers a spacious interior and a 434-litre boot – which is somewhere near the top of the small SUV class. There’s plenty of room for four adults, or five at a push.

There are a few interior storage zones, although we think some of these would be more useful if they were bigger – the glovebox, for example, isn’t big enough to fit the owner’s manual in. But Peugeot does offer a third set of Isofix points on the front passenger seat on selected models, which means you can carry up to three children at once.

Most 2008s come with a peppy 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, while diesel and even fully electric options are also available. The petrol comes with either 100hp, 130hp or 155hp, with the entry-level option being powerful enough for day-to-day life and the 130hp engine making the 2008 quite nippy. In Sport mode, the 130hp petrol gets from 0-62mph in under nine seconds, but it’s also capable of achieving over 50mpg on a steady motorway run.

With the petrol’s fuel economy being so good, many drivers won’t need the diesel’s extra efficiency. The 1.5-litre diesel is at its best on long journeys, where it can manage up to 65mpg, while the petrol or electric versions will be best if you spend a lot of time around town.

The electric Peugeot e-2008 looks almost identical to petrol and diesel-powered 2008s, but swaps an engine for a 50kWh battery and a 136hp electric motor. Quiet and quick off the line, the e-2008 is one of our favourite affordable EVs, and its claimed 226-mile range is up there with the best at this price point as well. Facelift cars also get the choice of a 54kWh battery for a boost in range, breaking the 250-mile mark.

While the 2008 isn’t quite the best small SUV to drive, it runs the Ford Puma and Mazda CX-30 close. Its small steering wheel and quick, responsive steering make fast B-roads a generally entertaining experience, and body roll is largely kept in check. Keen drivers will find it a bit numb – like nearly all its rivals – but most buyers should be impressed with the 2008’s road manners.

You get the impression that the 2008 saw some typically British asphalt in its development, as it copes with a lot of bumps very well. The limits of its suspension are clear on a really poor road surface, where consecutive bumps can cause occupants to be shaken from side to side a little. However, drive other small SUVs on similar roads and you’ll probably find a similar thing happening.

The 2008’s pedals are quite close together, so you might occasionally nudge the brake pedal when you’re going for the clutch if you have big feet. Speaking of the clutch, the way it’s set up makes it a little tricky to change gears smoothly – you might be wanting a little more finesse if a jerky gear change ends up waking up a sleeping child.

Of course, there’s none of that jerkiness in the electric e-2008, which has progressive acceleration and a remarkably smooth driving experience – even if the heavy batteries don’t help the handling or ride comfort.