Peugeot 3008 Review 2024

Even though the latest Peugeot 3008 has been on sale since 2017, it's still a very competitive choice in a market awash with very impressive SUVs. If you're looking for a stylish family SUV with an impressive interior, the Peugeot 3008 is an excellent choice. The extensive engine line-up means there's a Peugeot 3008 to suit every buyer, too.

With no billy-basic Peugeot 3008, you don't have to look far in the Peugeot 3008 range to find one that's well-equipped as standard. The now-entry-level Peugeot 3008 Active Premium will more than cover the basics for the majority of buyers.

In terms of engine, it's a matter of finding one which suits your needs best. We rate the 1.2-litre Puretech petrol as a general all-rounder (with or without the mild-hybrid tech added in 2023). Those who cover a lot of miles or looking for a capable tow car should consider a diesel, while the plug-in hybrids will work for those with a short commute.

You have endless choice if you're in the market for a family SUV like the Peugeot 3008. The latest Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are two of our favourites, while the Nissan Qashqai is a solid alternative. We like the Volkswagen Tiguan, too, while the Skoda Karoq is a very versatile choice for the money. And the SEAT Ateca will appeal to those looking for a stylish choice that's good to drive.

The Citroen C5 Aircross is an exceptionally comfortable SUV, while the Vauxhall Grandland is another one for your radar. Don't forget the new Honda ZR-V, too, while the Mazda CX-5 is a very pretty family SUV.

We know what you’re thinking: it’s a French car so the interior is going to be flimsy and cheap. Think again. This is an interior that would give premium rivals a scare. Thankfully, the Peugeot still has plenty of character that helps it stand out from its rather drab German rivals.

The Peugeot 3008 is handsome and stylish. The ‘piano keys’ that sit underneath the infotainment system control shortcuts to the most-used menu items: navigation, music, phone… um, hazard warning lights. They’re a great idea most of the time. Although you will be faced with the odd situation (mainly at night) where they create a weird 3D effect that messes with your depth perception and you end up jabbing at them and swearing.

But, hey, it’s not all bad news. There are cloth inserts on various panels for a classy touch, and that gear lever is chunky and rather satisfying.

Do you ever find yourself bored in a traffic jam? Then the Peugeot 3008 is the car for you. The infotainment has an overwhelming array of menus and sub-menus and we guarantee that you will never find what you’re looking for in the first attempt. It’s either genius or massively frustrating, depending on your point of view. For example, some dashboard configurations are stored in the main vehicle settings menu, while the others are on a button on a stalk. Fun times.

There’s other mad stuff, too. Like the optional Amplify button. This is your way of turning the car from mild-mannered Dr Jekyll to the ill-tempered beastly (but still worthy of a gentlemanly prefix) Mr Hyde. Or at least choosing between ‘Relax' or 'Boost' - basically sports mode, so the throttle and steering are sharpened up. And that’s not even the best bit. The cabin lights go red and a ‘high energy’ fragrance is squirted into the cabin to allow you to settle in and really enjoy your new mood.

Other stuff includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. This allows you to use your smart phone’s sat-nav, as well as a limited selection of other apps, via the car's touchscreen. Alternatively, the 3008 comes with a built-in sat-nav if you go for Allure trim or above. Overall, the basic infotainment is fine but perhaps a bit laggy at times and starting to look dated compared to newer alternatives (like the latest Nissan Qashqai).

If you get your tape measure out, you'll find that the Peugeot 3008 is 4447mm long, 1841mm wide (not including the door mirrors) and 1620mm (not including the roof rails). That's broadly similar to alternatives like the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq.

More importantly, when it comes to putting things somewhere, the 3008 is all over it. Well, unless you count the glovebox which is useless because it also houses the fuse box. But wait a minute, what’s this? That’s right, it’s a centre binnacle that is deep enough to store an iPad (other tablets are available). There’s even an optional phone storage tray and charger which – shock horror – is actually big enough to store your phone. Don’t laugh – it’s a serious point. Those pesky smartphones keep getting bigger and bigger.

As you’d expect for an SUV, the 3008 is a practical car. With the seats up, there are 520 litres of boot space, which drops to 395 litres for the plug-in hybrid versions. As with most cars, though, you won’t be able to use all of it unless you install some kind of cargo net to stop objects flying over the back seat and hitting the driver on the head (newer models got a net as standard from the middle of 2022). 

Pop the seats down and you’ll have access to 1482 litres of space (or 1357 litres in the plug-in hybrid models). Ikea, here we come. Set the boot floor to its highest point and you’ll have a flat load bay – although the car is tall so lifting heavy items in can be tricky.

There’s plenty of space for driver and passengers. Well, unless you get the panoramic sunroof. It’s great for keeping the kids occupied spotting planes while you’re stuck on the M25 - but it does eat into headroom, so taller passengers in the rear might be uncomfortable. If we were being picky, we could do with a touch more rear legroom, but at least the floor is flat, so you’re not perched on a bench.

The engine line up has been streamlined quite a bit since the car was first launched, so we’ll take you through the various guises – just remember they might not be currently available, but the information is useful if you’re looking at used cars.

There are two petrol engines in the range. The smallest is the 1.2-litre PureTech. It’s a three-cylinder, but don’t let that put you off as it’s garnered plenty of awards and praise. It boasts 130PS and can be mated to either the six-speed manual (on earlier models) or the eight-speed automatic gearbox. It’s turbocharged so it’s quiet and it’s ideal if most of your driving is done in town.

In 2023, Peugeot added 48V mild-hybrid tech to the 1.2-litre petrol engine. A small electric motor can now provide a short boost in power when you fully press the accelerator - the difference will be negligible in reality, but might be useful for the occasional overtake.

Next up is the 1.6-litre PureTech petrol. This is more powerful with 180PS but it’s only available with the eight-speed auto. That means it’s quick but it’s also thirsty and has now been dropped from the Peugeot 3008 range. There was previously a 165PS 1.6 turbo petrol with six-speed auto transmission.

There have been a few diesel engines offered in the Peugeot 3008 range over the years, including 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0-litre variants. The 1.5-litre BlueHDi is the best choice of high mileage drivers (and the only diesel now available), providing a decent combination of performance and fuel economy.

Peugeot also added two hybrid variants to the line-up in 2020. These are doing the heavy lifting as the performance models in the range. The four-wheel-drive Hybrid4 model produces 295PS thanks to not one but two electric motors. While the front-wheel-drive Hybrid has 225PS and uses a 180PS petrol along with an 80kW (110PS) electric motor. Both are only available with the eight-speed auto gearbox. The Hybrid4 300 model was dropped from the line-up towards the end of 2023.

Overall, the Peugeot 3008 offers decent levels of refinement and low cabin noise. The smaller 1.2-litre three-cylinder is thrummy but that only becomes intrusive as you head towards the redline, which you will find yourself doing to get the best performance from it. As for the diesels, like most oil-burners there’s a degree of clatter at start-up, but as they warm through the noise reduces and they’re quiet on the go.

Buy one of the latest mild-hybrid models and the engine can switch off as you coast to a halt, which is good news for refinement. For the ultimate in silent running, though, you'll need a plug-in hybrid 3008. These can travel under electric power alone for as much as a claimed 42 miles, although you will notice the engine springing into life if you're heavy with the accelerator (or when the battery is flat).

There’s plenty of safety kit and driver aids on the Peugeot 3008. All cars get automatic emergency braking and speed limit sign display. The 3008 was crash tested and awarded five stars by Euro NCAP in 2016.

In the adult occupant section, the car scored 86%, for child occupants it was 85%, and for pedestrian safety it was 67%. The safety assist category was low – just 58%, but this is partly because Euro NCAP only tests the basic models. 

Make sure you go for a car with the Drive Assist Plus pack then you get lane departure warning and driver attention alert. Other options include blind-spot detection and adaptive cruise control.

Peugeot doesn't enjoy the best reliability record and the 3008 isn't without its gremlins. In the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, it was actually named as one of the most unreliable cars on sale - a disappointing verdict considering the efforts the brand has gone to in terms of improving reliability in recent years.

That said, most of the issues seem to arise from people using the BlueHDi diesel engines for short journeys - we'd recommend the 1.2-litre Puretech if you're planning to use the 3008 around town. Electrical gremlins can also occur occasionally.

All cars are placed into an insurance group between one and 50 - with those in group one generally being the cheapest to insure; those in 50 being the most expensive to insure.

The Peugeot 3008 is pretty middle-of-the-road in terms of insurance costs, ranging from group 22 for the petrol- and diesel-only models to 38 for the Hybrid4 300. The powerful plug-in hybrids are the costliest to insure - which is something to bear in mind if you're an inexperienced driver or have a less-than-perfect driving record.

Buy a petrol or diesel Peugeot 3008 and you'll pay a flat rate of £180/year in tax. This drops to £170 for hybrid models (including plug-in hybrids and the latest mild-hybrid models).

Be careful, though, as those with a list price of more than £40,000 - meaning most of the plug-in hybrid versions - when new will be stung by an extra £390 a year in premium car tax. This applies for five years, from the second time the car is taxed. And as it's based on the list price when new, it doesn't matter how much (or little) you paid for the car secondhand.

There are now three core Peugeot 3008 models: Active Premium (previously with the Active Premium+), Allure Premium (which also used to have a '+' at the end), and GT.

Standard equipment on the Peugeot 3008 Active Premium includes 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels tinted rear windows, a 180-degree reversing camera and rear parking sensors. Dual-zone air con is also standard, as well as an eight-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Peugeot 3008 Allure Premium adds front parking sensors, Peugeot Open & Go (keyless entry and push-button start), ambient interior lighting and chrome interior highlights. The Allure Premium+ also features a bigger 10-inch infotainment display with connected navigation and voice recognition. LED rear lights are standard on the Allure Premium+ as well as half leather effect interior trim.

The top-spec Peugeot 3008 GT is identified by its 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, twin exhaust trim and chrome window line trim. Inside, the Peugeot 3008 GT features USB charging sockets in the rear, a frameless rear-view mirror, Alcantara dashboard and door panel inserts, a perforated leather steering wheel and cropping stitching on the part-leather effect seats.