Peugeot 3008 (2009 – 2017) Review

The Peugeot 3008 was one of the first cars to capitalise on the demand for SUV-style crossovers, arriving soon after the sector-defining Nissan Qashqai. As the name suggests, it’s based on the Peugeot 308 hatchback, but the taller, bulkier and more rugged body delivers more interior space, while the raised driving position gives a commanding view of the road ahead. Launched in 2009, but facelifted in 2014, the Peugeot 3008 is a well-priced and practical crossover, with the earliest models available for less than £2000.

You know the drill. Take a family hatchback, raise the ride height, give it funky SUV styling, but retain the efficiency of the donor vehicle. The result: a family crossover. This is precisely what Peugeot did when it launched the original 3008 in 2009.

It’s based on the 308 hatchback, so you get similar driving characteristics and the same broad range of engines. It was one of the first of the new breed of crossovers, following in tyre marks of the Nissan Qashqai, and rivalling other cars like the Kia Sportage and Ford Kuga. Today, almost every carmarker has an SUV in its stable, but things were different a decade ago.

Not that we’d recommend buying one of the early cars. A 2014 facelift introduced smarter styling, an improved cabin and more efficient engines. The result is a car that, while hardly exciting, should be easier to live with, not to mention slightly easier on the eye.

Practicality is a real strong point. The boot is large enough to rival some estate cars, especially if you fold the rear seats. There’s also enough space in the back seats for two adults – three at a push – with plenty of headroom and legroom throughout the cabin.

This practicality is enhanced by a clever split tailgate design, which allows for easy access to the boot. The lightweight upper section can be opened independently, or you can fold the lower half of the tailgate to support up to 200kg in weight. It can function as a place for a family picnic or somewhere to sit if you need to change your shoes. You also get a handy three-level boot floor for extra flexibility.

Throw into the mix the split-folding rear seats, flat-folding front passenger seat and clever storage options, and it’s not hard to see why so many people were turned on by the idea of a family crossover. Even today, a used 3008 is more appealing than a contemporary 308 hatchback.

On the road, the driving experience is a tad forgettable, but by majoring on ride comfort, Peugeot ensured that the 3008 would appeal to as many people as possible. The soft suspension and raised driving position combine to make this a great car for long distances, especially once you factor in the efficient engines.

The 1.6-litre diesel – badged e-HDi or BlueHDi – is a particular highlight, offering a terrific blend of punchy performance and fuel economy.

The 2.0-litre diesel feels less refined, and we’d also avoid the 1.6-litre petrol, preferring the later 1.2-litre PureTech engine. This three-cylinder unit offers fizzy performance in the city, surprisingly punchy acceleration on the open road, with the fuel economy to rival some diesels.

A budget of £5000 is enough to secure a post-facelift model, but you don’t need to spend more than £10,000 on a 3008.

If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Peugeot 3008 review. 

Peugeot focused on ride quality, with the 3008 doing a brilliant job of isolating occupants from the worst of Britain’s roads.

It helps that you sit higher up, cushioning you from potholes and imperfections. The soft suspension doesn’t come at the expense of handling, which is surprisingly good for a car of this type. Body-roll is kept in check, while the ample grip ensures you don’t get the feeling that the car is about to let go. It’s not razor-sharp, but it’s thoroughly pleasant.

It’s just a shame that the steering is so dull and lifeless. You should also avoid the larger alloy wheels if you want to preserve the excellent ride quality.

Our advice is simple: buy a Peugeot 3008 with the 1.6-litre diesel engine. It was called e-HDi before the facelift, but BlueHDi in later models, but either way this is a smooth, refined and efficient engine. Sure, it’s a little underpowered when travelling with a full load, but not enough for us to recommend the 2.0-litre diesel, which is gruff and unpleasant to use.

Avoid the 1.6-litre VTi petrol engine. Instead, opt for the 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder petrol engine, which is both responsive in town, punchy on a long trip, and surprisingly efficient.

You might be looking at the Hybrid4, which pairs an electric motor with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. It’s relatively economical, especially considering it’s an all-wheel-drive car, but it comes with the nasty EGC automatic transmission, so is best avoided.

The Peugeot 3008 was awarded a five-star safety rating when crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2009. That was a long time ago, so the five-star rating is worth less in 2020.

There are front and side airbags, but no knee airbags, and the chest airbags only cover the front seats. There’s no airbag cut-off switch for the passenger seat as standard, and while stability control is standard, a speed limiter was optional (most 3008s had one as part of the cruise control system).

Some versions featured a head-up display, with information presented on a neat-looking screen in sight of the driver.

This isn’t a particularly good tow car, but the 1.2-litre PureTech and 2.0-litre BlueHDi models offer a maximum towing capacity of 1,500kg. The figure drops to 1,300kg in models powered by the 1.6-litre BlueHDi engine.

We have to begin this section with a note about the clever split tailgate. The top half raises on gas struts, but you can flip the bottom half down in a manner that will be familiar to Range Rover owners. It’s a neat touch that improves the practicality of the Peugeot 3008.

We also like the clever three-level floor, which means you load items in sections, rather than stacking everything in a pile.

There’s an impressive 512 litres of space in the boot, which is enough to shame some estate cars. Fold the rear seats and the luggage capacity increases to 1,604 litres. There’s enough room in the cabin for four adults – five at a push – plus two Isofix points in the back. You’ll also appreciate the wide door openings, which make it easier to load and unload children in a car seat.

The new 3008 has one of the most dramatic and stylish interiors in the sector. The old 3008 offers nothing of the sort, but it’s not without appeal.

Indeed, the top half of the dashboard has a pleasingly premium appearance and is finished in a soft-touch plastic. There are other neat touches, such as chrome-trimmed air vents and instrumental panel dials. Post-facelift cars are significantly better, featuring a more pleasant steering wheel and stylish toggle switches in the centre console.

Put aside any thoughts of having a decent infotainment system in the Peugeot 3008. There isn’t even a screen in base-spec models. Instead, you get a basic radio, CD player and a dated red display. It’s like stepping back in time.

On models with an infotainment system, the display is old-fashioned, the control method is awkward, and functionality is limited. Later versions featured a basic form of smartphone connectivity, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were never available. We’d suggest investing in a smartphone cradle and using your phone’s operating system.

In 2016, a year before the new version arrived, Peugeot 3008 prices ranged from £20,000 to £24,500. A relatively inexpensive car, but it was certainly showing its age.

Today, prices have dropped below £2,000, but these cars are best avoided. Sketchy service history, high mileage and battle scars are the hallmarks of cars at this end of the market. These are also the pre-facelift models, which are far less desirable than the later cars.

Upping the budget to £5000 is enough to secure a 2014 model, albeit one with around 100,000 miles on the clock. It’s easy to spot a facelifted 3008 – just look for the larger front grille and revised front and rear lights.

The latest examples top out at around £10,000, but we’ve seen some available with a rather optimistic price tag of £12,000. Don’t spend this much, not least because the new and improved 3008 is available for as little as £12,000. The difference between the two cars is night and day. Even though the facelift helped matters, this car still dates back to 2009.

Finance deals start from around £40 a month for a 2009 or 2010 model, but we wouldn’t recommend this route. Instead, up the spend to around £100 a month for a 2014-on model. PCP and hire purchase deals are available.

The 120PS 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel offers a claimed 68.9mpg with a manual gearbox, dropping to 67.3mpg with an automatic transmission and 17-inch wheels. This drops to 65.7mpg on 18-inch wheels or 16-inch wheels with mud and snow tyres.

There’s not a huge penalty for choosing the 150PS 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel, which could return 64.2mpg. Don’t rule out the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine, which offers 54.3mpg to 57.6mpg, depending on the size of the wheels fitted. The old Hybrid4 offers a claimed 75mpg, despite being all-wheel drive.

Car insurance will be more expensive than the Peugeot 308, but not significantly so. A diesel-engined Allure slots into group 16, but a 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 gets a group 21 rating, which makes it the best choice in terms of blending the cost of insurance with the level of performance.

The Hybrid4 model is zero-rated for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, or road tax), but some diesel models cost just £20 a year to tax. Others are pricier, but the 1.2-litre PureTech costs just £125 a year.

Although the styling hasn’t aged particularly well – especially in light of the new model – the Peugeot 3008 is a compelling used purchase. Peugeot fused the best bits of a hatchback, SUV and five-seat MPV to deliver a practical, spacious and well-equipped family car.

We’d avoid the earlier models, as the facelifted versions benefited from improved styling, a revamped cabin and better engines. It’s not the most exciting option, and it doesn’t drive as well as the modern breed of SUVs, but pound-for-pound, this is one of the best used SUVs you can buy.