It's one of the best looking Peugeot cars to come onto the market in a long time but Peugeot will still have to play catch-up to the established names in the medium-sized crossover market, Hyundai and Nisssan being among the dominant ones. However, the Irish car market has gone crossover crazy in the couple of years so there is room for more competition as long as there is a unique selling point.
Peugeot's is going to be a combination of price and an impressive range of standard equipment. In terms of design, the 3008 has the advantage of being distinct. There's a lot more than soft lines going on and the 3008 has a road presence that gives it an edge over some of its competitors. It even puts it up to the the big names in terms of stance and sharp styling.
Note the much smaller than normal steering wheel
The interior of the 3008 is a bold statement. Not everyone is taken with the much smaller steering wheel that is designed to open out the dashboard and the infotainment system. However, after the initial feeling that it is a rather stubby design, its easy to get used to and you certainly don't have the normal sense of a dominant feature as is the case with other cars. The i-Cockpit is standard and has all-digital instrumentation. With an area of 12.3 inches, it looks ultra-modern and multi-
Interestingly, Peugeot joins the likes of Kia in introducing an entry-level model that is petrol-powered as distinct from diesel. Peugeot makes some of the best and leanest diesel engines in the world, but the world is moving away from the diesel option and there is now a growing demand in Ireland for smaller petrol engine options. And it's not just the emissions scandal that has caused the drift. As we have pointed out previously, diesel cars do not make any sense for anyone driving low mileage.
Thus the entry-level 3008 is a 1.2 petrol version producing 130 horse power that costs €25,995. And the list of standard equipment - including safety technology features - is impressive. There's an 8 inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, USB connectivity, an electronic stability programme, six airbags, cruise control with limiter, intelligent speed adaption and lane departure warning. There is also driver fatigue alert. Add to all that a full spare wheel, a chiller compartment, all electric windows, a two-position boot floor, child safety locks, three Isofix child seat fixtures and semi-automatic air conditioning and you have a very good package indeed.
Move up the grades and you get extras such as advanced emergency braking, cameras and automatic headlights.
There are, of course, diesel options. The entry level 1.6 diesel with 100 horse power starts at €26,515 and an extra output of 120 horse power costs €27,915. Both are capable of excellent real-world fuel consumption.
The following is the price list for the 3008 range.
