The engine line up is strong, with some of Peugeot’s better and more ingenious powerplants. The most interesting remains the 3008 HYbrid4, which features a 2.0-litre 163bhp diesel engine driving the front wheels, with a 37bhp electric motor powering the rear wheels. The result is a car which can be powered emissions-free in town, or via the diesel engine on a fuel-conserving long run. When conditions are slippery or when in Sports mode, power goes to all four wheels for a total output of 200bhp with the diesel engine and the electric motor working at the same time to give maximum acceleration when needed, for instance when overtaking. It’s no off-roader though.
Otherwise the range is front wheel drive, with 2.0-litre and 1.6-litre HDi diesels plus 1.6-litre VTi and THP petrols. The 3008’s suspension set-up is independent MacPherson struts with an anti-roll bar at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. It’s the sort of arrangement still found in the majority of family hatchbacks. There’s no four-wheel-drive option with the standard 3008. Instead, Peugeot claims to have boosted the car’s ‘outdoor’ abilities by including a special Grip Control traction control system. It has five operating modes, each designed to optimise traction on a particular surface. The more powerful engine options also include the Dynamic Roll Control system which is designed to counteract the body roll that higher riding vehicles can experience when cornered with feeling. Variable electro-hydraulic power steering is also included as standard, as is ESP stability control with a built-in hill assist function.
Prices start at around £17,000 for a 1.6-litre petrol model, with diesels opening at just under £19,000, while Hybrid4s look a bit conspicuous at more than £27,000. Trim levels have been improved in order to offer better value for money across the three trim levels of Access, Active and Allure. Bluetooth connectivity for smartphone and music players is now included on every 3008, while electric folding door mirrors have been added to Active models. The Peugeot Connect Navigation and reversing camera system is standard on Allure.
Rather than increasing in price, the latest Peugeot 3008 has actually had a bit of a haircut there, with on the road asking figures having been shaved by £650 for the entry level car. From a safety perspective, the 3008 makes sense with plenty of airbags, ESP and ABS standard throughout the range. In truth, the whole line-up provides plenty enough bang for your buck, with none of the models under-specified.
The diesel/electric HYbrid4 is a fascinating thing. As with most systems, the car’s Stop/Start technology automatically places the HDI diesel engine in ‘stand-by’ mode when you’re stuck in non-moving traffic or waiting at a red light. The difference comes when you pull away, as the HYbrid4 will always try to use the zero emissions electric motor, before switching seamlessly to diesel as speed picks up. Or you can lock it into the ‘zero emission’ setting with the turn of a knob and it will stay in electric mode until you either change your drive mode or stamp on the accelerator – at which point the diesel will kick in. The quoted economy figure for this model is 83.1mpg and emissions are 88g/km for the Active, but the Allure variant’s not quite so good at 74.3mpg and 99g/km.
Most buyers will look to a conventional diesel model. The 1.6 HDi engine returns 58.9mpg on the combined cycle, while the 2.0-litre unit isn’t far behind with a 53.2mpg showing. The six-speed automatic gearbox dents economy quite severely with a 46.3mpg return from its 163bhp. All of the HDi diesels are equipped with FAP particulate filters which further clean-up the exhaust emissions. In terms of CO, the entry-level diesel manages a competitive 112g/km.
So-called Crossover models like this might be the automotive equivalent of sitting on the fence but they do offer an attractive combination of many of the kind of qualities that a significant number of today’s family buyers are looking for.
If you’re one of those people, uncertain whether to plump for the high driving position and chunky looks of an SUV 4×4 or the handling composure and fuel economy of a family hatchback, then try one of these first. For once, getting cross could just get you exactly what you want.