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 posher rivals? That's a question we'll be answering in this review. We'll also tell you how we rate the 2008 against its rivals, ranging from the Ford Puma and Renault Captur to the Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Roc.

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 see our Peugeot e-2008 review.

What’s new?

- June 2025 - New GT Premium trim introduced as range-topper with Alcantara interior, heated front seats and an electrically-adjustable driver’s seat
- March 2024 - Order books open for mild-hybrid 2008, which pairs a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a small battery and motor to reduce CO2 by up to 26g/km

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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 2008 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 our pick of the engine range. It's a great fit for the 2008, offering impressively flexible performance, with plenty of oomph when you put your foot down at low revs.

Then there’s the Hybrid 145, which is essentially a mild-hybrid version of the PureTech 130. It’s similarly punchy but more focused on increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions.

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. 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, you'll probably be more comfortable in a Skoda Kamiq or VW T-Roc.

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 Ford 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 small SUVs. Only a bit of wind noise at motorway speeds blights an otherwise glowing report.

While the PureTech 100 comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, the 130 and Hybrid 145 get automatic gearboxes. The manual doesn’t have the smoothness of the boxes in the Puma, Kamiq or T-Roc but it's not unpleasant to use. The automatic isn't smooth at all – especially in slow-moving traffic.

“The jerkiness 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 hatchback. However, the seats are mounted quite high up in the car, meaning it does feel more SUV-like than the related Peugeot 208. What’s more, you sit higher up 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-con controls are touchscreen-only. Physical buttons or knobs, like the Audi Q2 and Lexus LBX have, are less distracting to use while driving.

Peugeot’s iCockpit lay-out forces you to look over – rather than through – an unusually small steering wheel to see the driver's display. Although the driver's display is 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. Range-topping GT trim comes with full LEDs for the main beam as well as dipped headlights, and also adds a reversing camera.

Every version of the 2008 gets a 10in infotainment 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 sat-nav (we'd instead suggest linking up your phone using smartphone mirroring and running a navigation app).

The infotainment system is reasonably easy to use and pretty responsive. So while some rival small SUVs (including the Audi Q2, Lexus LBX and VW T-Roc) have better systems, the 2008’s 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.

Is it all style and no substance? No – the 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 system is fine but – as with most cars – I went straight to using smartphone mirroring instead.” – 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 seatbacks split and fold in a 60/40 configuration. There’s no option of a more practical 40/20/40 set-up (like you get in the Mini Countryman), a ski hatch (which you get in the VW T-Roc) or a sliding rear bench (a feature of the VW T-Cross).

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

Every trim gets a height-adjustable boot floor, 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 10in 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 and a good amount of space to get my feet under the seat in front.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

The Peugeot 2008 costs from £28,790, which mean it's priced towards the more expensive end of the small SUV class; 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, Renault Captur or Skoda Kamiq.

Disappointingly, the 2008 also loses value faster than many rivals, so it's likely to cost you more in the long run than the Q2, Puma, Captur or Kamiq.

In our Real MPG tests, the 1.2 PureTech 130 averaged 47.3mpg – roughly the official figure. We’ve yet to conduct the same test on the Hybrid 145 but its 57.6mpg official average suggests it’ll do event better for fuel economy – although you'll have to drive many, many miles to see the fuel saving pay off, so our pick is the PureTech 130. For even better fuel economy, consider the Lexus LBX.

There are just two trims to choose from with the Peugeot 2008 – Allure and GT, with the latter not available with the entry-level engine, but costing an extra £2150 on a like-for-like basis.

Allure gets automatic air-con, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control and privacy glass. Meanwhile, GT adds more creature comforts, including keyless entry and interior ambient lighting. We don't think it's worth the extra, though.

If you want to spend that much money, you're better off buying an Audi Q2 or Lexus LBX – or perhaps a larger alternative, such as the Skoda Karoq.

The Peugeot 2008 didn't feature specifically in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. However, Peugeot finished a mediocre 19th out of 31 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.

Safety experts at Euro NCAP awarded the 2008 five out of five stars back in 2019. It’s worth noting that the now-discontinued, entry-level Active trim received only four stars because of its less advanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) system. No version of the 2008 is as good as the VW T-Roc for chest protection and whiplash protection for adults sitting in the rear.

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 the price jumps between the three that remain are so significant.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor

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