Peugeot 3008 Review (2009-2016)

Peugeot first revealed the 3008 back in 2008, and some commentators were left a touch confused as to exactly what it was. The designers had taken inspiration from several different types of car, from SUV to MPV, and blended them together with a bit of hatchback thrown in for good measure.

It might not have a large list of styling awards to its name, but taking the best bits of different body styles has its advantages: the 3008 did a brilliant job at transporting a family and all their stuff around in comfort. As a used buy, it now represents a lot of car for the money.

The 3008 was given a facelift in 2014, with some tweaked looks, extra equipment and revised engines, yet the car’s core appeal remained the same. In 2016 an all-new 3008 arrived, ditching some of the origninal’s versatility in favour of greater style and upmarket appeal.

Inside is where you’ll spend most of your time, and there’s plenty of it to enjoy. The space is considerable, with a large boot space compared to rivals and lots of headroom in both the front and the back. Legroom for rear passengers could be slightly better, but if you’re using the car for family purposes – and most people will be – then rest assured that children will have no issues.

Build quality for the time is very good and while the various instruments have aged in comparison to more modern cars, they’re perfectly competent against contemporary rivals. In fact, the 3008’s wraparound dashboard design and metal-finish switches have more than a hint of Audi R8 about them. Or maybe that’s just us.

One clever feature is the Peugeot 3008’s split opening tailgate, where the lower half can drop down to sit on, or just make for easier access for larger items, just like a Range Rover. The rear seats fold down flat very easily, and there’s a movable boot floor that you can position in different ways for different sized cargo.

A point worth bearing in mind is that some customers have reported issues fitting child seats in the back of the 3008. Though the outer rear seats are equipped with Isofix mounting points, the 3008’s in-floor storage (there are compartments hidden under flaps in the footwells) means only certain designs can fit. Check that your child seat is compatible before you buy.

On the move, the 3008 is set up for comfort rather than agility, but it’s surprisingly competent through the bends for such a tall car, especially if it’s been fitted with the Dynamic Roll Control system (see below). This essentially helps keep physics at bay during cornering but was only included on cars with most powerful engines. The ride is more than comfortable enough for long journeys, although perhaps not quite as smooth as the Nissan Qashqai.

Engine options on early cars started with two 1.6-litre petrol engines with a slightly underpowered 118bhp and a much more muscular, turbocharged 148bhp, but most customers opted for diesels, which were labelled as BlueHDi.

The entry-level 1.6 had 108bhp, and this was the big seller. If you do want more grunt, there’s a 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp as well, and this will be better suited to motorway journeys. This was replaced by a new 161bhp 2.0-litre diesel in 2010, and the 1.6-litre was updated, too, with 110bhp and better fuel efficiency. This engine was overhauled again in 2015, with further efficiency improvements and extra power, taking it to 115bhp.

Also joining the line-up at that time was a punchy three-cylinder, 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol, producing 120bhp, which is the best option if you’re set on petrol power. At the same time the 1.6-litre diesel was given yet another tweak, further improving efficiency and boosting power to 120bhp. Both automatic gearboxes and manual gearboxes were available, but not every option was available on every model. The former has a reasonably precise shift and light clutch, but the latter lacks the speed and smoothness of rival twin-clutch autos.

Peugeot has always been fairly generous with equipment on its cars, and the 3008 was no exception. All versions have all the kit you’re likely to need, while the top spec versions rivalled more expensive brands for gadgets and gizmos, even if the fit and finish isn’t quite up to the same standard.

There were three trim levels to choose from when the 3008 was a new car, starting with Active, which featured air con. Electronic stability control was also featured as standard, and at a time when such tech wasn’t compulsory, as it is today.

The mid-spec Sport model had alloy wheels, cruise control and rear parking sensors, while the Exclusive variant had a panoramic sunroof and a head-up display, which projects driving information onto the windscreen in front of the driver. An Allure model was added in 2012, replacing the Sport and Exclusive versions.

If you’re expecting the latest infotainment, then you’re likely to be disappointed. All versions get a traditional stereo with CD player and radio, while an aux-in socket allows you to plug in external music players. Bluetooth connection was also standard, allowing you to make hands-free phone calls and stream music. There was also a sat-nav option that included a novel pop-up screen, but the graphics are dated and it's fiddly to use.

The 3008 attracted a full five-star rating when it was tested by EuroNCAP, but that was back in 2009. That means you get six airbags, electronic stability control and a programmable speed limiter, but not the advanced driver assistance systems common on more modern family crossover models.

On paper at least, the diesel-electric hybrid 3008 will be the easiest on fuel, with an official economy figure of 74mpg. However, hybrids could be quite hard to find, in which case the 1.6-litre diesel engine is the one to go for. The latest version, released in 2015, is the most efficient, with an official fuel consumption figure of 68.9mpg, but earlier models will be nearly as good. Of the petrol cars, the 1.2-litre engine will give you the best economy, and has an official fuel economy figure of 54.3mpg.

When it comes to Vehicle Excise Duty, all first-generation 3008s will be taxed on their CO2 emissions. That means the hybrid will fetch the smallest bill (nothing), while the petrols will be more expensive than the diesels.

The 3008 requires a service every year or 16,000 miles for the petrol cars, or 12,500 miles for diesels. Get the coolant changed every year as well, and the brake fluid every two years. You can get service plans at Peugeot dealerships if you want them, but as this generation of 3008 is getting on in years, it might be more cost effective to find a local independent mechanic that can keep your car running for far less.

Today, Peugeot’s reputation for reliability is excellent, but it hasn’t always been so, and the 3008 has had several common issues. It generally sat mid-table in independent reliability studies while it was still on sale as a new car. As much as with any used car, it’s worth carefully checking a potential purchase before you buy to avoid headaches later on.

Watch out for front tyre wear, as the 3008 can go through tread rather quickly. It’s the same with brake pad and disc wear, and the brake calipers have been known to stick. Some cars display dashboard warnings of an electronic parking brake failure, even though it’s still working fine. Electrical issues are often reported by owners, so check that all the buttons and switches work. Keep an eye on the front LED running lights, too, as they’re expensive to replace if they fail.

There have been several recalls for the 3008 although none were too serious. Issues include a risk of wipers failing, potential fuel and oil leaks and a danger of rear brake calipers failing, as well as dodgy welds and airbag issues. All of these should have been rectified by now, but it’s still worth checking with any Peugeot dealer to see if the car you’re looking at was affected and, if so, has been fixed.