SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Enticing: 2018 Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 162 Allure

Something has changed

Posted 21 March 2018

Pics from Peugeot@Motorpress

The numbers
Price: R459 900
Engine: 1598 cc, DOHC, 16-valve turbopetrol
Power: 121 kW between 5200 and 6000 rpm
Torque: 240 Nm between 1400 and 4000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 8.9 seconds
Maximum speed: 201 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 8.3 l/100 km
Tank: 53 litres
Luggage: 591 – 1670 litres                                                                                       Ground clearance: 215 mm

Warranty: 3 years / 100 000 km
Service plan: 4 years / 60 000 km

It would be correct to say that the second series’ (MY 2017 onwards) Peugeot 3008 looks rather like its predecessor. But “rather like” is as close as it gets.

If you look carefully you will see that almost every detail is different; even its build platform has changed. EMP2, a new modular base, replaced the old PF2 unit. It can be lengthened, widened or adjusted to accept transverse engines with front- or all-wheel drive, different ride heights and various types of suspension. First used under 2013 Peugeot 308 and Citroën C4 Picasso it weighs, on average, 70 kg less thanks to use of high strength steels, aluminium and magnesium alloys and composite materials.

Needless to say the new 3008 sits on a 62 mm longer wheelbase, its body was stretched 82 mm, it is 3mm narrower and it stands 15 mm lower. The interior is markedly different and about the only thing that remained the same is its 1.6-litre Prince-series turbopetrol motor –that now puts out 6 kW (121 vs. 115) more than the last one did. Maximum torque remains unchanged at 240 Nm.

The range consists of seven models, five with the 1600 cc petrol motor and two with the familiar 2.0 diesel. All, except the 2.0 HDi Active with its six-slot manual box, have six-speed automatic transmissions. Our Allure test unit was one step up from the entry-level 1.6 Active. Differences are minor. Allure offers bigger (18”) wheels, folding mirrors, lumbar adjustment for the driver, keyless entry and start, and front parking aid. A more sophisticated music centre with touchscreen adds mirror link, wi-fi and Apple CarPlay. Then there’s the 12.3” iCockpit.

This is sometimes referred to as a heads-up display because it’s right at the top of the dash and you look over the steering wheel, with its flattened top and bottom, to see it. It sounds strange but it works and you get used to it. Said display offers four view-ways. First is “Personal” that shows Dynamics; a fancy name for virtual gauges with power, boost pressure, torque percentage, speedometer and rev. counter. A second offers navigation and digital speed readout; another has dials for speed and rpm; then there’s “Minimum” - a digital speedometer only.

All models provide six airbags; alloy wheels; automatic headlamps and wipers; front fog lamps; ABS brakes with EBD and EBA; ESP; cruise control with limiter; road sign detection; drowsiness alert; hill start assist; lane departure warning and three ISOFix mountings, all with top tethers. When the left front seat isn’t carrying a passenger, it may be folded almost flat to accommodate longer loads.

Performance is pretty good for a luxurious family SUV with1600cc turbo-motor. It deals with the zero to 100-km/h sprint in a shade under nine seconds and will reach 201 km/h if your conscience allows. Its EAT6, six-speed, automatic box from Aisin-Warner works smoothly and kicks down readily without flare or hesitation. It is one of those that reacts to a touch of brake when rolling downhill by shifting down a gear or two to provide engine braking. Unusually, the lever moves fore- and aft only with Park and Manual selector buttons on top. With manual mode selected, actual shifting is by means of paddles.

The rear hatch feels quite heavy to begin with but, once started, a pair of gas struts takes over. Its loading area is 70 cm above ground level and fitted with a light, a 12-volt socket and four rings. The space is close enough to 86 cm long, 104 wide and 52 cm deep, with the full-size (225/55R18 Michelin Primacy 3) spare in a well beneath the floor. Seatbacks, with remote releases accessible from behind, are split 2/3:1/3 with a load-through in the wider part.  They fold almost flat.

Back seat passengers have plenty of headroom although tall riders might find knee- and foot spaces a little tight. An almost non-existent centre tunnel means that three passengers should be able to get comfortable. Convenience items include the usual armrest with cup holders, a 12-volt socket, remote air vents, the ski slot mentioned earlier, two seatback pockets, medium sized door bins and a second courtesy lamp with individual map lights. This does double duty in lighting up the area for parents attaching baby chairs.

The ambience up front speaks softly of ‘quality.’  It’s not easily defined. Some cars have it and others do not. Not even every Mercedes, BMW or Audi has it. Most Porsches and Jaguars do and, if we moved in such circles, we might find that truly exotic supercars have it as well. It’s in the way switches move, how parts fit together, how smoothly things work - even in the sound the indicators make – like expensive heels on Italian tile.

We could get used to this and at just below half-a-bar it was unexpected. Although this new 3008 ‘looks like’ its earlier sisters, something has changed. It’s ‘way nicer.

Test unit from Peugeot SA press fleet



What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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