New Peugeot 2008 2016 review ~ station of gear

4 May, 2016 7:00pm Richard Ingram

More technology and efficiency for the facelifted Peugeot 2008 crossover but is it enough?

The Peugeot 2008 captured the imagination of small car buyers when it arrived in 2013. Based on the 208 hatchback, it offered style-conscious supermini drivers something a bit different. Pitched directly at the huge-selling Nissan Juke, the 2008 has now found more than half a million homes across the globe.

But three years later, the time has come for a mid-life nip and tuck. The 2008 now warrants a fresh face and updated kit list, along with a sporty GT Line trim. The familiar iCockpit dashboard remains, with the interior of most models based around a seven-inch touchscreen display.

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It’s on the outside that you’ll notice the most significant changes. Up front Peugeot has installed a bold new vertically slatted grille, scuff plates and darkened headlights, while to the side, wheelarch extensions give a more aggressive look. To the rear, a set of 3D tail lamps offer a more distinctive design after dark.

Inside, anyone who has driven a 208 or 308 will feel right at home. Quality is good on the whole, but it’s a shame Peugeot didn’t see fit to upgrade the scratchy plastics atop the dash. The compulsory small steering wheel and raised dials are carried over from the outgoing car, while MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay technology is incorporated for the first time.

The system works well, and the added smartphone functionality will come as a welcome addition to those deeply immersed in our ever-connected world. The lack of physical buttons is still a frustration, though that’s likely to improve on models like the new 3008, which will come complete with Peugeot’s second-generation iCockpit design later this year.

Along with the revised styling, Peugeot has also added a desirable GT Line trim. Already successful on the 208, 308 and 508, our car benefitted from gloss black detailing, 17-inch wheels and special badging. Buyers also get stainless steel tread plates, aluminium pedals and red-stitching across the interior, alongside a full length panoramic roof. Nav and a reversing camera are also included.

However, with GT Line effectively sitting above the Allure trim at the top of the 2008 range, the extra details come at a price. Our test car tipped the scales at almost £20,000, which is a lot of money for what is effectively a supermini on steroids. It’s not available with the best-selling 81bhp PureTech engine either, meaning even the cheapest GT Line model starts at £18,815.

On the road the new 2008 feels much like the old 2008. No changes have been made to chassis, suspension or steering, meaning it remains capable rather than fun to drive. The small steering wheel gives it a heightened sense of agility, but it feels numb through faster corners.

The 128bhp PureTech engine is remarkably refined on the motorway, though. You still get that characteristic three-cylinder thrum under hard acceleration, but it settles into a rhythm at higher speeds. It’s a shame the gearbox has such a long throw, though, as this makes it hard to string together a series of smooth changes – especially when you’re in a hurry.

Practicality is good, too. It’s unchanged from the outgoing car, with decent space in the back for adults and wide door apertures allowing easy installation of a child seat. The boot offers an 350-litre load bay, expanding to 1,194 litres with the rear seats folded flat. Seats up, that’s on a par with both the Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka.

The Peugeot 2008 gains an extra dose of desirability with this mid-life update. It’s more stylish, better equipped and just as cheap to run, and while the three-cylinder PureTech is still our pick of the range, the cheaper (and nearly as fast) 108bhp version should suit most buyers. The new GT Line may look good, too, but a less expensive trim makes far more sense in what is essentially just a pumped-up supermini.

Model: Peugeot 2008 1.2 PureTech 130 GT Line
Price: £19,215
Engine: 1.2-litre 3cyl turbo petrol
Power/torque: 128bhp/230Nm

Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
0-62mph/Top speed: 9.3s/124mph
Economy/CO2: 58.9mpg/110g/km
On sale : Now

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