Peugeot 3008 (2013-2016)

By Jonathan Crouch

Models Covered

5DR HATCH (1.2E-THP 130BHP/1.6 VTI/1.6 THP/ 1.6HDI/1.6 BLUEHDI 115BHP/ 2.0 HDI 150BHP/ 2.0 HDI 163BHP AUTO/ 2.0 BLUEHDI 150/2.0 HDI HYBRID4)

Introduction

Peugeot’s first attempt at the family Crossover segment, the 3008, provided to be very successful for the Gallic brand when first it was introduced in 2008. To keep this model competitive in the Qashqai class, the French maker significantly facelifted this design towards the end of 2013. That’s the version we’re going to look at here as a potential used buy. How does it stack up?

The History

By now, most of us are familiar with the concept of a ‘Crossover’, a family car providing the best elements of an SUV, an MPV and a conventional hatchback. This one, Peugeot’s first generation 3008, wasn’t the first model of this kind to hit the market but it struck quite a chord with customers following its launch in 2008.

Over half a million buyers chose this car in its original form, despite mainstream variants lacking the 4WD and 7-seat options that some Crossover rivals offered. Why? Well it was well priced, neatly packaged and had a quality feel. Plus, a little ironically, despite the 2WD-only drive layout, it was actually a little more use in nasty conditions than affordably-priced versions of key rivals, provided the owner specified the useful GRIP CONTROL system for extra traction reaction.

All of these attributes were of course carried forward into the significantly improved first generation design launched in late-2013, the car we look at here, along with extra equipment and much smarter looks. The clever eco-minded HYbrid4 flagship variant we first saw in 2012 also continued on at the top of the range, mating a diesel engine driving the front wheels with an electric motor powering those at the rear.

The improved MK1 model 3008 model range got uprated Euro6 engines in 2015, so out went the old 1.6 VTi petrol and 1.6 THP petrol units in favour of a more efficient 1.2-litre e-THP three cylinder 130bhp unit. And out went the old 1.6 and 2.0-litre HDi powerplants in favour of more efficient 1.6 and 2.0-litre BlueHDi units. In that form, the 3008 line-up continued until it as replaced by the more sophisticated second generation model early in 2017.

What To Look For

Many 3008 owners we found in our survey were very satisfied indeed. One said it was the best car he’d owned in fifty years of driving. Inevitably though, there were some that weren’t quite so satisfied. We came across some owners who’d had a few mechanical issues with faults like difficulties with fan belt tensioners and noise from the cam chain and water pump. One said they had experienced a knocking sound from the rear/side area and another complained of a dashboard rattle and a buzzing from the glovebox area. Look out for all these things on your test drive.

On The Road

This car is based on the last generation version of Peugeot’s ordinary 308 family hatchback, but it doesn’t feel conventionally hatch-like once you seat yourself in the commanding raised driving position with its perfectly aligned wheel positioning thanks to a clever three-jointed steering column. As with all Crossovers, the idea here is to deliver everything people like about butch-looking SUVs in a more practical and affordable family hatch-shaped package.

And under the bonnet? At the launch of this facelifted model in 2014, the range soldiered on with the engines used in the original version. At the bottom of the range, that meant a 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi unit, the only variant in the line-up offering only five gears. This engine’s a willing enough unit, making 62mph from rest in 11.8s en route to 115mph. Above it sat a 1.6-litre petrol THP turbo unit with 156bhp, though hardly anyone bought it. Most customers wanted a diesel, usually the 115bhp 1.6-litre HDi variant that offered nearly double the amount of torque available from the base petrol model.

This engine was also offered in a more frugal e-HDi guise buyers had to have with an EGC automatic transmission that was jerky enough to make many want to stick with the manual version. There was also a 2.0-litre HDi derivative that offered 150bhp with manual transmission or 163bhp with an automatic gearbox. At the top of the range was a hi-tech HYbrid4 diesel/electric model that mated the 1.6-litre HDi engine to a hybrid system and only came with an auto ‘box.

In 2015, Peugeot revised the engine range for the last year of this 3008 model’s production life. The diesel variants had their HDi units replaced by cleaner, more frugal Euro6-compatible BlueHDi 120 and 150bhp engines. In the petrol range, the clever e-THP three cylinder 1.2-litre powerplant was introduced in 130bhp form to replace the previous 1.6-litre VTi and THP options. The HYbrid4 version carried on unchanged.

Overall

Peugeot’s 3008 remained a very competitive option in the close-fought family Crossover segment thanks to the changes made in late 2013 that created this improved version. Unlike smaller, more fashion-conscious Crossovers, it’s big enough for a family, yet easy to manoeuvre and relatively affordable to buy.

Smarter, sleeker and more up-market, the revised shape put this car back into contention with more modern rivals in this increasingly image-conscious segment. True, some other Crossovers can offer lower running costs and a bit of extra hi-tech, but many will still be happy with Peugeot’s efforts in this regard. French sense? You’re looking at it right here.