Peugeot 3008 – crossing the great divide

THE new generation Peugeot 3008 received more than just the key of the door when it scooped the 2017 Car of the Year title this spring.

That award, announced at the Geneva Motor Show, was the 21^st individual honour to be lavished on the SUV in a matter of two months.

But then Peugeot makes no bones about it, the 3008 is the most advanced vehicle ever to be offered by the French brand – it’s the crossover model that’s well and truly crossed over.

Technology, space and dynamics are just three of the elements that contribute to the latest Pug’s compelling appeal and, at the price at least, it is the most enjoyable car I have driven in some time.

Take the 3008’s cabin for instance. Top tech is at the driver’s fingertips courtesy of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit concept with its virtual instrument panel.

You get an appreciably smaller steering wheel than in most SUVs and not only does it ensure a clear view of the multi mode display but it is also nicely balanced.

At the centre of the dash is an eight-inch touchscreen positioned above a line of toggle switches and the centre console is home to the electronic parking brake and a small, neat gear shifter.

Best of all is the feeling of quality that pervades the whole interior – it’s unusual for a car costing from below £22,000 to achieve such indulgence.

And that includes ‘sensory fragrance’ diffusion in Cosmic Leather, Aerodrive and Harmony Wood aromas plus ambient lighting.

As for space, the SUV is longer than the 3008 crossover model it has replaced and also offers a greater ground clearance while from a family perspective there are three Isofix child seat fittings, including one in the front, a spare wheel and a cavernous amount of luggage space.

Cargo capacity ranges from 591 to 1,670 litres, there’s a low load lip and an extendable boot floor which can slide out to double up as a seat.

The 3008 model line-up stretches to 17 variants costing from £21,795 to £32,995 and the engine range includes the award winning 1.2-litre PureTech three cylinder turbo petrol unit as well as the tested1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel.

The latter, a strong and economic unit, works well in the 3008 and over 350 miles of mixed town, country and motorway driving it averaged 58 miles per gallon – not bad given that the official Combined fuel return figure is 64.2mpg.

In Allure specification, which is the second of the four 3008 trim grades, you get the likes of a TomTom Live sat-nav, ambient lighting, a 180 degree colour reversing camera, parking sensors, tinted rear windows, safety features like lane departure and blind spot alerts plus a fabric panel finish along the dashboard.

You have to pay extra for full LED headlamps (3850), advanced grip control (£470) and a Black Diamond Roof (£280) but it still keeps the cost competitive.

And for a car that can genuinely be compared with premium offerings in the mould of the Range Rover Evoque and Audi Q3 it underlines what strides Peugeot has made.