Our cars: Peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi 110 Sport - November

Peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi 110 Sport EGS
Mileage 24,485


The 3008 is a pretty good fit for my lifestyle. If only it worked both ways. It’s all to do with seat comfort – or rather discomfort.

Things started so promisingly. I appreciated the way the sculpted driver’s seat curved around me on the test drive, but soon after collecting the car I realised that my back wasn’t getting enough support on long journeys. Now, after eight months with the car, my back starts to ache within half an hour or so. Not even a couple of carefully placed cushions help.

At least I was able to cure the ache in my left knee by removing the overly high footrest (easy as it was held on by only one screw), but you shouldn’t have to take bits off a car to get comfortable.

It’s a shame, because the 3008’s cabin looks great. The huge glass roof (a £350 option) makes the interior light and airy, and at night the orange lighting creates an inviting glow. The high-set dashboard makes you feel like you’re sitting in a cockpit, and all the controls are close to hand and easy to use. There’s also loads of storage space, so my favourite choccie bar is always within range, and the large, air-conditioned central storage bin is perfect for keeping drinks cold. The stereo is particularly good, too.

Things are less impressive with passengers on board. My girlfriend’s son, Connor, is seven, so has to sit on a booster seat.

If he’s in the back, the front-seat passenger has to move their seat forward to give him enough space. A bit more room would make the 3008 a better family car.

More engine refinement wouldn’t go amiss, either. The 1.6-litre diesel engine drones when you’re cruising on the motorway, and isn’t helped by relatively short gearing that keeps performance acceptable but the revs quite high. I recently tried a larger 5008 with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and an auto gearbox, and its longer gearing meant the engine wasn’t working so hard.

It also used less fuel than my 3008 does on the same journey. These are minor annoyances compared with the seats, though. I’m starting to wonder if I’ve got a particularly odd body shape so, if you own a 3008, let me know if you’re suffering similar issues.