The Peugeot 2008 has a reputation that precedes itself. One glowing review after another in Europe, it looks like the sort-of vehicle that Peugeot needs to revitalize itself in the local market. It also represents a new way of thinking—a thinking that aims it towards the premium mainstream crowd where it’ll do battle in a segment populated mostly by Japanese models. Ultimately, being different, in both its country of origin and execution works to both its advantage and disadvantage something that’s made clear after a week’s worth of driving.
One thing that works to the Peugeot 2008’s advantage is its design. It’s a head-turner—something everyone agrees on. Whereas the previous Peugeot 2008 looked like a hatchback that put on some lockdown weight, this one invested in a home gym. The lines are unmistakably familial, and as a result, feline, but compared to its bigger brothers, this one’s gone for definition. The use of sharp angles is refreshing in a segment dominated by those that look like suppositories.
It’s also well-kitted outside too. LED lighting all around, standard roof rails (a rarity in its class), door handles, and mirrors in fancy gloss black, and even 17-inch alloy wheels that look an inch bigger than they are. It checks all the boxes. It’s a shame it doesn’t take on the Peugeot logo, but that’s a very minor gripe.
Inside, Peugeot tries to double-down on its i-Cockpit nonsense, and in the Peugeot 2008, it just doesn’t work. The high-mounted instruments (literally mounted atop the dashboard) and small diameter steering wheel are supposed to give drivers a decent view of the gauges, but here (at least in my preferred driving position), restricts them even more. This odd layout also compromises exterior visibility, especially when you consider the chunky windshield pillars. Ditto the rear, so it’s a good thing it’s got parking sensors all around and a rear camera as well.
Equally annoying is Peugeot’s insistence on cleaning up the cabin of knobs and buttons by relying on a central touchscreen. Perhaps it’s forgivable if the infotainment system itself responds with a level of urgency, but here, it does with a hint of laissez-faire. Tap the climate control button, and sometimes it’ll bring up the menu where you can adjust the fan speed and temperature; sometimes it’ll decide to let you cook in Manila’s midday heat first. The same goes with its implementation of Apple CarPlay. One moment you’re loving the convenience of Waze and Spotify, the next, it’ll cause the entire touchscreen to freeze. The only solution would be to disconnect your iPhone and try your luck the next time you plug it in. At the worst case, it’ll require you to turn off the car and re-start it again.
The responsiveness (or lack thereof) of the Peugeot 2008’s electricals is a shame really, because if they got them to work, the gauges are a lovely piece of work. Granted they don’t exactly promote legibility, the double-layered holographic feel gives it a strong Star Trek vibe. It’s also customizable in at least five ways, with each one looking more confusing than the last. Still, you’ll have to give them credit for trying, right?
Material-wise, the Peugeot 2008 is a solid piece of work. Although you won’t find any plush plastics in here, Peugeot has managed to hide that by successfully by adding elements like the carbon fiber pattern on the dash, gloss black accents, and even aluminum-like trim. Oh, and at least the controls are crisp and well-finished. Equally commendable are the seats—they pass muster on what’s a P 1.55-million car.
In terms of dimensions, the Peugeot 2008 isn’t a large SUV, but they’ve made good work of carving up usable interior space. The front passengers, in particular have nothing to complain about with the excellent head- and leg room. There’s also enough shoulder room (with a padded center arm rest console to boot) to prevent crossed arms from clashing. Surprisingly, the same can be said about the rear occupants. The door opening’s on the narrow side, but once cleared, you’ll find ample legroom. The middle portion of the bench’s softly cushioned too. However, seating three abreast is a challenge, and Peugeot seems to accept this by not offering a middle headrest.
Typically, European brands tend not to equate to usable cubby holes and storage spaces, but the Peugeot 2008 can easily stand toe-to-toe with most Japanese brands in this regard. Not only are there usable door pockets, but there’s a deep cubby hole between the front seats (it’s actually L-shaped in that it tunnels beneath the cup holders) and a two-tier shelf that’s conveniently located next to the USB charging ports. The same’s true for the back where have their very own door pockets. There’s also a small netted bin at the center, but no rear AC vent or charging ports. Trunk space is also sensible enough, and offers the versatility of a 60/40 split-folding mechanism; take note though that it doesn’t lie flush with the cargo hold.
Another evidence of the Peugeot 2008’s European-centric thinking comes in the form of its powertrain. Under the hood, you’ll find a small turbocharged lump; in this case, the brand’s 1.2-liter 3-cylinder PureTech. Don’t let the miniscule displacement fool you—with 130 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque, it pushes numbers comparable to the best that the rest of the world has to offer. Most impressive is that peak torque is just 10 Nm shy of the HR-V Turbo’s output and couple that in a body that’s lighter results in impressively flexible performance. There’s always plenty of shove whenever you put your foot down, even at low revs. Peugeot says the century mark’s reached in 9.1 seconds, and while those numbers are believable, a more important fact is that it cruises politely.
It’s a shame though that the 6-speed automatic that engine is attached to could use some polish. Even when driven sensibly, it’s hesitant in its shifts. Upshifts are quite alright, but the downshift quality is poor. It almost always causes the Peugeot 2008 to shudder, especially when you’re about to grind to a halt. This is pretty evident at the lowest three gears where they engage unusually hard.
Yet another inherent weakness of the Peugeot 2008 is its suspension tuning. Best described as jelly-like, it makes for a great long drive companion, but around town, the news isn’t as good. It struggles to glide through any sort of pockmarked roads, jiggling and wiggling the car, sometimes to the point the steering snaps making you momentarily lose control. There are also numerous rattles too emanating from the chassis. It begs the question if some bushings have already gone, but with less than 1,500 kilometers on the clock, that’s highly unlikely. Hit a pothole hard enough and it’ll send a shockwave that’ll ripple and reverberate throughout the cabin.
Naturally, the putty-like body structure and soft ride equals to a fair amount of lean when pushed. Granted crossovers aren’t meant to be corner scalpels, this one doesn’t offer the same amount of confidence at the limit. Moreover, because of the tiny steering wheel, small inputs are translated into big responses making it feel unwieldly. In fairness though, if used for strictly puttering about in urban environments, that quick steering and tight turning circle—5.2 meters—make life incredibly easy.
Coming from what was essentially a bloated-up hatchback, Peugeot has re-engineered the Peugeot 2008 into a nice little SUV. Now, buyers aren’t really short of options for a compact crossover, especially at this price point, but this one makes a name for itself chiefly for its design, better-than-most interior space, and genuinely good straight-line pace. Unfortunately, the questionable ergonomics and poor on-road manners weigh it down. In the end though, it still manages to give a fresh feel in a dizzyingly crowded segment. However, it also gives off a whiff of being too much haute couture where it’s impeccably high fashion, but can be low on substance.
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2022 Peugeot 2008 |
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Forward Collision Warning Active Safety Brake Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist Blindspot Detection Driver Attention Warning |
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Stereo USB Bluetooth |
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Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
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Keyword: Review: 2022 Peugeot 2008