Used Peugeot 3008 2017-present review

The French have often been trendsetters both in terms of style and engineering, so it came as no surprise when the original 2009-2016 Peugeot 3008 morphed from an MPV in its first generation into this fashionable SUV in its second.

Indeed its striking look is bang on-trend, eye-catching, raised up and blocky, with tough-looking black plastic cladding all over its handsome exterior. What's more, the interior lives up to the billing supplied by the outside, being equally as innovative, so if Peugeot took any sort of gamble with the styling, it certainly paid off. It's a remarkably good car, too, and not just to look at, and used examples are now proving to be good and very solid buys.

Engines range from a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol all the way up to a powerful 2.0-litre diesel with 178bhp. The higher-powered 2.0-litre diesel (there was also a 148bhp version, later replaced by a 129bhp 1.5-litre version) comes as standard with an automatic gearbox. Furthermore, there's a 163bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine that's also fitted with an automatic gearbox as standard.

Then, in models from 2019 onwards, you have the plug-in hybrid options. The Hybrid 225 is two-wheel drive and offers 222bhp, while the other Hybrid4 300 is all-wheel drive with a whopping 296bhp.

Even the standard Active-spec 3008 is well equipped, with dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, Bluetooth and a DAB radio. It doesn’t come with sat-nav, but you do get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can use a smartphone navigation app instead.

Allure adds blindspot monitoring, active lane keeping assistance, auto-dipping headlights, a driver attention monitor, sat-nav, interior ambient lighting, power-folding mirrors, front parking sensors, a rear-view camera and 18in alloy wheels.

GT Line has full LED headlights and wireless smartphone charging, while GT features adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, a powered tailgate, 19in alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, leather trim, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with a massage function and wood trim to replace the cloth inserts on the doors and dashboard.

Engines start with a turbocharged 129bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol that's very eager to rev and surprisingly peppy. It's more than up to the task of hauling the 3008 around. Next up is a 163bhp 1.6-litre petrol that's fitted with an automatic gearbox as standard. This is a smooth performer but not as economical as the smaller unit.

Of the diesels, the 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 comes with 129bhp and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. It’s a flexible engine that might not make the 3008 particularly fast, but does offer strong real-world pace and will pull the car effortlessly even when fully loaded. The 2.0 BlueHDi 180 is strong, but is very expensive compared to the rest of the range.

The Hybrid4 300 has impressively rapid outright acceleration and is officially able to travel up to 40 miles under electric power alone from a full charge – although you can expect a figure closer to 25-30 miles in real-world driving conditions.

The 3008 has a softer ride than most in its class and manages to soak up the worst of the road furniture with aplomb. Sharp ruts can upset it during cornering, where rivals such as the Seat Ateca seem to perform better. On the whole, though, it’s impressive. The steering is precise and quick at low speeds, too, helped partly by its small steering wheel.

It's inside where this 3008 took the biggest strides. The interior design is a little different from most, but once you get over the initial novelty of it, you settle into what is a very stylish environment devoid of unnecessary button clutter, because all the infotainment and air conditioning controls are taken care of through an 8.0in touchscreen.

Peugeot’s i-Cockpit dashboard design works well in the 3008. Instead of looking at the instruments through the steering wheel, as you do in most cars, the dials are high up on the dashboard with a small steering wheel below. In some other Peugeot models the steering wheel can block the instruments, but in the 3008 this doesn’t appear to be an issue.

All models get a 12.3in digital instrument display instead of more traditional dials, and this is configurable depending on what information you want it to show. It's Peugeot's take on the Audi Virtual Cockpit and helps to set the 3008 apart from its Renault Kadjar and Nissan Qashqai rivals.

There's plenty of space up front and a number of storage options for loose items. Rear seat accommodation isn't class-leading, but there is a flat floor for more foot room. The rear bench splits 60:40 and can lie completely flat, and an adjustable height boot floor is standard, along with a folding front passenger seat to help loading longer loads. The boot itself is par for the course, so it can manage a buggy and a couple of suitcases.

If you're interested in finding a used 3008, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for a Peugeot 3008 can start from as low as £10,000, this for a 2017 car in fair condition with a full service history. Examples with a below-average mileage tend to be found in the price bracket from £11,000 to £15,000, though, for years 2018 and 2019.

Up the folding to £16,000 or more and this should net you a 2020 model, likewise with the full history and average mileage, while £19,000 will put a pre-facelift 2021 model, depending on spec, on your driveway. Expect to pay upwards of £22,000 for a 2022 or 2023 car.

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MPG

Fuel economy is good, with most 3008 variants having official figures similar to those of much smaller cars. The 1.2-litre turbo petrol has an official average figure of 55.4mpg for the manual and 54.3mpg for the six-speed automatic, this as recorded under the older NEDC tests. Under the later, more realistic WLTP tests that's 47.2mpg. The larger 1.6-litre petrol is automatic-only, and its figures aren’t so great, at 48.7mpg on average NEDC, or 39.6mpg WLTP.

The diesels are the economy kings: the higher-powered 1.6-litre diesel has an average figure of 70.6mpg for the manual and 67.3mpg for the automatic under the NEDC. The replacement 1.5 130 has a WLTP figure of 55.1mpg. The larger 2.0-litre diesel is available as a frugal manual with an average of 64.2mpg or as an auto with 58.9mpg economy NEDC, or 47.1mpg WLTP.

Road tax

The majority of 3008s sold were registered after the 1 April 2017 change in the road tax (VED) system. This means you'll pay a flat-rate annual fee, for most versions, apart from some plug-in hybrid models that cost over £40,000 when new that'll incur an additional fee between year two and six. Current charges for VED are £180 a year (£170 a year for hybrids). To find out more about road tax costs, click here.

Servicing

Every 3008 requires servicing every 12 months or 10,000 miles, and (at the time of writing) cost £199 for the first year, and £269 for the second. A minor and major service thereafter costs £199 and £329, respectively.

Reliability

The Peugeot 3008's reliability presents a varied picture according to our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, drawing from real-world owner reviews. Owners have encountered electronic issues, including infotainment glitches and inconsistent warning lights, with petrol versions showing slightly better mechanical reliability than diesels. Diesel variants particularly struggle with exhaust and engine problems.

Dealer service experiences also differ, with many appreciating the prompt, courteous responses and willingness to fix problems under warranty. However, some owners faced slow service and communication gaps, and concerns were raised about the cost of repairs outside of warranty. It suggests the 3008 has strengths, but also areas needing enhancement for reliability and service.

Discover more about the used Peugeot 3008's reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Trims

Our recommended trim level is Allure, because it gets you everything you'll need and a lot of additional safety technology.

Engines

If you don’t need a diesel, the 1.2 three-cylinder turbo petrol is a smooth and punchy alternative. Above 1500rpm, it revs keenly to the limiter and, when you aren’t hustling it, can be reasonably fuel efficient.

Our favourite Peugeot 3008: 1.2 Puretech Allure

The Nissan Qashqai started the whole small SUV craze and refined it further in its second generation. However, its rivals caught up with it, and it no longer offers the best or most comfortable drive. It doesn’t even have dependability to fall back on when you look at our latest Reliability Survey results.

The Renault Kadjar is mechanically similar to the Nissan Qashqai yet has more boot space. It too doesn’t offer the best driving experience, but it is well equipped and rides comfortably when it’s on smaller wheels.

The Seat Ateca is our favourite small SUV. It offers a range of efficient engines, plenty of practicality for a family and class-leading handling. The Ateca is a popular car right now, which means prices for it remain high.

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If you're interested in finding a used 3008, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.