Verdict
The Peugeot 2008 Mk1 is a fairly roomy small SUV with a nicely spacious boot, so it’s a decent choice if you’re after a practical compact crossover or are looking to downsize from a bigger car without compromising on space too much. It helps, too, that the Peugeot 2008 Mk1 has to its name low running costs and a good reliability record. However, while not an uncomfortable car, the Peugeot 2008 Mk1 isn’t the best car in this class for ride quality and composure, and you’ll also want to look elsewhere if you’re specifically after a small SUV that’s also fun to drive.
Which one should I buy?
- Best Peugeot 2008 Mk1 for fuel economy: 1.5 BlueHDi 100 S&S Active manual
- Best Peugeot 2008 Mk1 for low costs: 1.2 PureTech 82 S&S Active manual
- Best Peugeot 2008 Mk1 for families: 1.2 PureTech 110 S&S Allure EAT6 automatic
The Peugeot 2008 Mk1 went on sale in the UK in July 2013, and was Peugeot’s entry into the small SUV segment that was quickly becoming a major part of the new car market around that time. To help the car appeal to as many buyers as possible, the Peugeot 2008 Mk1 launched with a variety of engine options, ranging from small petrol engines that offered peppy performance in their more powerful guises, and a pair of frugal diesel engines that were better suited to owners who regularly go on longer drives.
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Changes to the Peugeot 2008 Mk1’s engine range would be quite limited across its initial few years on sale. One of the more notable tweaks arrived in March 2014, when some of the engines were given a light rebrand: the 1.2-litre VTi petrol was renamed as a PureTech engine, and the e-HDi diesels became BlueHDi options. Unlike some other small SUVs, the Peugeot 2008 Mk1 was an exclusively front-wheel-drive car, though higher-spec models were available with a Grip Control system that helped improve traction on low-grip surfaces.
Four trim levels were available on the 2008 Mk1 from launch: an entry-level Access spec, a pair of mid-range trim levels in the form of the Active and Allure grades, and a range-topping model called the Feline. All the trim levels came with decent amounts of equipment as standard, although the Active models represent perhaps the sweet spot in the range because they offer a good balance of features and affordability.
As with the engines, the trim levels would remain mostly as is, though there were a few limited-run models: for example, Peugeot launched an Urban Cross version in September 2015, which was based on the Allure trim level and came with visual tweaks like cosmetic changes and larger 17-inch alloy wheels to replace the regular 16-inch items.
In July 2016, the Peugeot 2008 Mk1 was given a mid-life refresh, with changes comprising lightly retouched exterior and interior styling, as well as new features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity for the seven-inch touchscreen and a GT-Line trim level that replaced the Feline spec. One final major update for the Peugeot 2008 Mk1 arrived in mid-2018, when the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre diesel engines were replaced with a new 1.5-litre diesel unit.
The Peugeot 2008 Mk1 would continue on in this form until the following year, when the car was replaced with a second-generation model in December 2019.
What are the alternatives?
The Peugeot 2008 Mk1 dates back to a time when small supermini-sized SUVs were exploding in popularity, so there are plenty of alternatives to choose from if the Peugeot doesn’t tick all of the boxes for you.
Some of those options are cars that were launched around the same time as the Peugeot, such as the first-generation Renault Captur and the Citroen C4 Cactus. For alternatives that don’t hail from French car companies, there are also the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic to consider.
While the Peugeot 2008 Mk1 is a smartly styled car, buyers after something even more striking to look at may want to instead consider the Nissan Juke. Other options worth bearing in mind are the Vauxhall Mokka and Ford EcoSport; these aren’t as stylish as the Peugeot and are a bit underwhelming to drive, but they do offer good value and there are lots of examples to choose from on the used market.
If your budget stretches to pricier models, you could also take a closer look at more upmarket offerings such as the MINI Countryman. A worthwhile choice from the class above is the Skoda Yeti, which offers more space than the Peugeot 2008 and is a great all-rounder.
Peugeot 2008 vs Hyundai Kona vs Mazda CX-3
In or diesel small SUV group test from December 2018, we pitted the Peugeot 2008 against two of its main rivals: the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-3. Despite being one of the older cars in its class at this point, the Peugeot 2008 was able to win this test outright, with its good practicality, economical engine and affordable pricing helping it have an edge over the Hyundai Kona and the runner-up Mazda CX-3. Read the full test…
Peugeot 2008 vs Vauxhall Crossland X vs Citroen C4 Cactus
It was a case of sibling rivalry in our three-way small SUV shootout from October 2017: under the skin, the Peugeot 2008, Vauxhall Crossland X and Citroen C4 Cactus were quite closely related. We reckoned the Peugeot 2008 offered better value for money than the pricier Vauxhall Crossland X, but it couldn’t quite beat the more affordable and comfier Citroen C4 Cactus. Read the full test…
Peugeot 2008 vs Vauxhall Mokka X vs Honda HR-V
In October 2016, we compared the Peugeot 3008 with two alternative small SUVs, the Vauxhall Mokka X and Honda HR-V. We crowned the Peugeot the winner of this group test: the 2008 wasn’t as practical as the Honda and didn’t have as good an infotainment system as the Vauxhall, but was the nicer car to drive and offered a decent blend of style, good equipment levels and low running costs. Read the full test…
Keyword: Used Peugeot 2008 (Mk1, 2013-2019) review