Peugeot 2008 comes with its second generation, it is still a compact SUV, which has its rightful place within the car company's portfolio.
We have already subjected the new 2008 to our editorial test, specifically tested by my colleague David. He got his hands on the top variant with a turbocharged 1.5 BlueHDi engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.
I currently had the opportunity to try a 2008 with a turbocharged three-cylinder 1200 and a six-speed manual. The car also had the highest GT LINE equipment and a very suitable color combination.
The Peugeot car company has recently been churning out one interesting car after another, so I didn't hesitate for a moment and was very happy to test the new 2008 in this specification.
Exterior, quite robust and again very imaginative
The announced frequency of interesting models of the Peugeot car company is clearly visible, let's remember for example the model 508 or the new 208, the modernized models 3008 and 5008 are also on the way. The Peugeot 2008 follows the current trend and comes with a very bold and dynamic external appearance.
As a representative of the crossover car category, the Peugeot 2008 will offer a taller and more robust body structure, which clearly shows the shape of the Peugeot SUV.
The front part will offer a typical concept, which is inspired by the car from which 2008 is based, i.e. the 208 model. Of course, there is a voluminous front mask and Full LED headlights with the now typical "three claws" design. The front bumper has also received a rather dramatic shape.
The robust side profile of the car has a rising line that forms the lower part of the side glazing. Thanks to this detail, the car is quite dynamic and the massiveness of the rear part is visually enhanced. It is dominated by a rather prominent horizontal line with integrated taillights, which once again bear a typical light signature for the Peugeot brand. I praise the chrome exhaust tips, which are integrated into the rear bumper and hide a pair of modest, but real exhaust pipes.
It is a matter of course for cars in the SUV category that the lower parts of the car are coated. This is most noticeable in the area of the car sills themselves, where they are additionally equipped with an elegant chrome line.
Interior, still with 3D i-Cockpit
The interior layout of the Peugeot 2008 is based on its smaller sibling, the 208 model. It is therefore fully in the spirit of the car company's current trends and will offer a large dose of originality and imagination.
The dashboard itself applies the i-Cockpit principle, now with an instrument panel in a three-dimensional design. Its proportions are clearly horizontal, moreover, compared to, for example, the "five-eighth", it is significantly more playful and articulated. The central motif continues to be the on-board infotainment display, which offers a diagonal of 5, 7 and 10″. The display, through which many of the car's functions are controlled, has a fairly familiar environment and good graphics. Its placement in the dashboard is distinctive, clearly oriented towards the driver and ergonomically very well functioning.
Under the on-board infotainment display itself, there are both purely touch and mechanical controls. Their centralization and fairly discreet treatment frees up space for other elements on the dashboard, such as a flip-up box that has space for your mobile phone. The door of the box practically tilts towards you to a horizontal position, after it is folded out, the size of the storage space increases pleasantly. On the sides of this box there are ports for classic USB and USB-C.
The space between the seats offered two drink holders, a controller for the electronic handbrake and a controller for selecting driving modes, as well as an armrest and a classic manual transmission selector. It has fairly accurate, but unfortunately still somewhat longer shifting paths.
The instrument compartment in front of the driver is a separate chapter. Traditionally, this is raised above the small and flattened multi-function steering wheel in accordance with the I-Cockpit principle. Peugeot, however, comes with something new from the 208 model, and the chapel has a 3D graphic treatise. Information about the car and driving is then displayed in 2 levels according to importance and priority. You can then personalize the displayed data as you wish. The 3D i-Cockpit and its functioning are very difficult to describe, but my feelings about its graphic treatment are only positive as a result.
The interior size is based on the width dimensions of the 208 model, so expect less space here. The length dimensions of the interior are much better thanks to the larger wheelbase. The longer wheelbase will therefore be appreciated mainly by the crew in the rear positions. The seats themselves are made of very pleasant and comfortable material in all positions.
The luggage compartment 2008 will offer a respectable 434 liters of volume and a pleasantly elevated loading edge.
Offered motorizations and driving impressions
The Peugeot 2008 is currently available with three petrol and two diesel engines, as well as an electric car. Petrol engines are represented by a turbocharged three-cylinder drive unit with a volume of 1.2 liters available in three power variants (100, 130 and 155 hp). The diesel 1.5 BlueHdi variant will offer 100 and 130 horsepower.
The petrol engine with an output of 96 kW, 130 horsepower has currently passed our editorial test. The tested three-cylinder is quite clearly visible in its sound. However, it is not "that" typical three-cylinder, which can sometimes be quite annoying with its sound. PureTech three-cylinders have a pleasantly "deeper" sound, and the engine is also well soundproofed. Another positive of this engine is its performance, 96 kW in the tested car appeared to be adequate and absolutely sufficient. The tested three-cylinder is not extremely hungry, and during the week-long test it consumed an average of 6 liters of gasoline.
The combination of this engine and the six-speed manual also works very well. Not only this motorization, but also the entire car handles highway speeds with the sixth gear engaged with great overview.
The tested piece also had a drive mode selector. Traditionally, these were Eco, Normal and Sport modes. The sports mode then noticeably revives the car and supports the sporty performance with stiffer steering. In terms of chassis, the car is rather comfortable, but it will still offer enough security when passing sharper corners.
In conclusion
As part of the promotional price, you can buy a Peugeot 2008 starting at CZK 388,000, with the PureTech 1200 petrol engine and the basic Active equipment. The cheapest diesel, i.e. 1.5 BlueHDi, is once again available at a promotional price from CZK 428,000 including VAT.
The car in the specification tested by us, i.e. with GT LINE equipment, 130-horsepower 1.2 PureTech gasoline engine and five-speed manual starts at a price of CZK 515,000, with an automatic from CZK 565,000 including VAT.
Peugeot 2008 comes as a compact SUV of the second generation, which offers a very attractive appearance full of robustness and elegant lines, a timeless interior in the i-Cockpit style, powerful and quite economical engines and interesting purchase prices.
The new 2008 generation follows the current Peugeot car trend. The car won me over personally, just like the "recently" introduced 508 and 208 models.
Source: Author's text
Image source: Author's own photos
