Peugeot 2008 review

Fortune favours the brave, and setting your sights high is never a bad thing – just imagine if NASA had decided that going to the Moon was too much of a lofty goal. That’s why we like that the Peugeot 2008 has high ambitions.

How so? Well, for decades Peugeot has been duking it out with the so-called mainstream brands (and is still doing so today), but the upper end of the 2008's engine and trim range gives this small SUV a price tag that strays into the territory of the more premium Audi Q2 and Lexus LBX.

Peugeot 2008 video review

Does it justify setting its sights on those types of rivals? That's a question we'll be answering in this review. We'll also tell you how we rate the 2008 against rivals from fellow Stellantis brands, as well as models such as the Ford Puma, Renault Captur, Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Roc.

So, read on to find out everything you need to know about the petrol-powered Peugeot 2008. Or if you're interested in the fully electric version, check out our dedicated Peugeot e-2008 review.

The Peugeot 2008 engine line-up starts with a 99bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol (badged PureTech 100). We haven't tried it in the latest car, but it's our top choice for the closely related Peugeot 208 so it should be up to the job.

The 129bhp 1.2 PureTech 130 petrol is the most popular engine, and it's a great fit for the 2008. It offers impressively flexible performance, meaning there's plenty of oomph when you put your foot down at low revs. 

Both engines are available with a six-speed manual gearbox, but the PureTech 130 is also available with an eight-speed automatic. We’d stick with the manual, though – the auto box can be hesitant as you pull out from junctions or when you need a sudden turn of pace.

The 2008's relatively soft suspension means it wafts along A-roads and motorways very smoothly. In fact, apart from a bit of bounce over larger undulations, it’s a comfortable companion on a long drive. 

At slower speeds and around town, the news isn’t quite as good. You see, the 2008 can struggle with larger surface imperfections, and if you hit a pothole you’ll feel a shockwave ripple through the car. 

Don’t get us wrong, it's not truly uncomfortable, but if you spend more of your time in town than on flowing back roads and motorways, the Skoda Kamiq and the VW T-Roc are more comfortable options.

There’s a downside to the 2008’s soft suspension: if you’re looking for country-road entertainment, it won’t do much to put a grin on your face. Instead, there's a fair amount of body lean through corners and the tiny steering wheel means small inputs deliver comparatively big responses. It takes some getting used to and ultimately robs you of some confidence.

The Audi Q2 and the Puma are much more agile and feel better tied down, plus they have more communicative, naturally weighted steering, making them more suitable if you want an engaging car. Still, the 2008 inspires more confidence through faster bends than the Citroën C3 Aircross.

When you’re pottering around in urban environments, that quick steering and tight turning circle are useful, and the 2008 is an easy car to park.

With smooth, hushed engines and very little in the way of tyre roar, the 2008 is a pleasingly relaxing car to drive compared with many of its rivals. Only a bit of wind noise at motorway speeds blights an otherwise glowing report.

The six-speed manual gearbox doesn’t have the slickness of the boxes you find in the Puma, the Kamiq and the T-Roc, but it's not unpleasant to use. 

The automatic gearbox isn't smooth at all, though – particularly in slow-moving traffic. There are far better small SUVs to pick if you don't want to change gear yourself.

“The jerkiness that you get with the automatic gearbox can be a pain, but for me it's made worse by the abrupt nature of the 2008's engine stop-start system.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Like most small SUVs, the Peugeot 2008 isn’t that much taller than a regular hatchback. However, the seats are mounted quite high up in the car, so you do get a genuine SUV experience. You certainly sit further from the road than you do in the rival Skoda Kamiq.

There’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and driver’s seat, although it's a shame adjustable lumbar support is available only as part of a costly package.

It’s annoying, too, that the air-conditioning controls are accessible only by using the central touchscreen (as is the case in many other Peugeots). Physical buttons and knobs, like those in many other small SUVs, would be less distracting to use on the move.

Peugeot’s iCockpit layout forces you to look over – rather than through – an unusually small steering wheel to see the instruments. Although the dials are set higher than on most cars to make that easier, some drivers will need to jack up the seat unnaturally high or live with a restricted view of the instruments.

The 2008’s high driving position helps to give you a decent view of the road ahead, although the chunky windscreen pillars can get in the way at junctions. Likewise, over-the-shoulder visibility isn't great.

Mercifully, rear parking sensors are standard across the range, as are bright Eco LED headlights to help you see where you're going at night. Full LEDs (for the main bean as well as dipped headlights) come with range-topping GT trim, which also adds a reversing camera.

Every version gets a 10in colour touchscreen set into the dashboard, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. There’s a touch-sensitive home button that’s useful for reverting to a page where you can store your own shortcuts.

If you go for Allure trim or above, you'll get higher-definition graphics for the touchscreen and a wireless phone-charging pad. However, even if you choose range-topping GT trim, you'll still need to pay extra for a proper built-in sat-nav (we'd instead suggest linking up your phone using smartphone mirroring and running a navigation app).

The infotainment operating system is reasonable easy to use and you don't have to wait too long between pressing an icon and the system responding. So, while some rival small SUVs (including the Audi Q2, the Lexus LBX and the VW T-Roc) have better infotainment systems, the 2008 is pretty good.

The 2008’s interior really looks the part, holding its own with premium-badged rivals. It outclasses the T-Roc and gives the Q2 a run for its money. Indeed, the LBX is the only small SUV that's noticeably classier inside.

But is it all style and no substance? Nope. Those swish looks are backed up by plush-feeling materials and (mostly) good build quality. The dashboard surfaces are pleasantly squishy and it’s only on the doors that you’ll find some cheaper-feeling plastic.

"Peugeot's infotainment isn't the most intuitive set-up to use, but I found I learnt my way around it fairly quickly.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Even tall people won't feel cramped in the front of the Peugeot 2008. There's plenty of head and leg room along with enough interior width to prevent you feeling too close to your front passenger.

There’s also a decent amount of storage space, including good-sized door pockets, a deep cubbyhole between the seats, a couple of cupholders and a tray at the bottom of the dashboard. Above that, you'll find a hidden compartment that clicks open to reveal an ideal spot to stow your phone.

Getting in and out of the back isn't as easy as it is in some rivals because of the 2008's fairly narrow door openings. Once inside you’ll find enough leg room (although the palatial Skoda Kamiq has even more), but head room is limited by the sloping roofline, and that gets worse if you add the optional sunroof.

The middle rear seat is softly cushioned, but the 2008 is narrower in the back than some rivals, so it's not the best small SUV for carrying three adults in the back. Storage space includes a couple of small door bins, along with map pockets on the backs of the front seats.

There’s nothing particularly clever to point out here. The 2008’s rear seatback splits and folds in a 60/40 configuration, but there’s no option of a more practical 40/20/40 set-up (like you can have in the Mini Countryman), a ski hatch (you get that with the VW T-Roc) or a sliding rear bench (a feature of the VW T-Cross).

With the 2008's rear seats up, luggage space is average for the class. There’s enough for a small holiday, but rivals such as the Skoda Kamiq, Renault Captur and VW T-Cross offer more room. You can drop the rear seats for a trip to the tip, though.

It’s worth noting that entry-level Active trim misses out on a height-adjustable boot floor, which is a shame. However, this handy feature comes as standard on all other trim levels, allowing you to divide the boot into two compartments, and reduce the lip at the entrance when you don't need maximum boot capacity.

“I'm 5ft 9in tall, and when I sat in the 2008's rear seats, having set the driver's seat up for someone of my size, I had just enough leg room, but a good amount of space to get my feet under the seat in front.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

The Peugeot 2008 is priced towards the more expensive end of the small SUV class, so its closest rivals are the Audi Q2 and VW T-Roc. The same goes if you're planning to buy using PCP finance – the 2008 commands a higher monthly rate than an equivalent Ford Puma, Skoda Kamiq or Renault Captur. 

Disappointingly, the 2008 isn't predicted to hold on to its value as well as many rivals, including the Q2, Puma and Kamiq.

In our Real MPG tests, which demonstrate the fuel economy you can expect to see in the real world, the 1.2 PureTech 130 averaged an impressive 47.3mpg. If you want significantly better fuel economy from your small SUV, you'll need to look at a proper hybrid, such as the Lexus LBX.

Despite being the entry-level trim, Active gives you a decent amount of kit, including automatic air conditioning, rain-sensing wipers and cruise control.

Even so, we’d recommend that you take a step up to Allure because that gets you alloy wheels, privacy glass and some extra USB sockets for not a great deal more money.

Range-topping GT trim gets you the most creature comforts. It adds keyless entry and some more upmarket interior finishes. It’s quite expensive, though. If you want to spend that much money, you're better off buying a Q2 or an LBX, or perhaps a larger alternative, such as the Skoda Karoq.

The 2008 didn't feature specifically in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. However, Peugeot as a whole finished a mediocre 21st (out of 32 brands) in the overall manufacturer league table. That's below Hyundai and Kia, but above Audi and MG.

For peace of mind, every 2008 comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty as standard. Kia’s standard warranty is a lot longer, though.

Entry-level Active models have a less sophisticated automatic emergency braking (AEB) system than the posher trim levels. That explains why the experts at Euro NCAP awarded two separate safety scores for the 2008 range: a disappointing four stars (out of five) for the entry-level trim and five stars for those above it.

No version of the 2008 is as good as the best small SUVs, such the T-Roc, in areas such as chest protection and whiplash protection for adults sitting in the rear, though.

Lane-keeping assistance is fitted across the range but blind-spot monitoring is, disappointingly, optional on all trims. Isofix child-seat mounts on the two outer rear seats are standard on all trim levels, and you get them on the front passenger seat as well on GT trim.

“Peugeot simplified the 2008's trim line-up in 2023, which was welcome. But I think it's a pity that the price jumps between the three that remain are so significant.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

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