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 quite 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.

Does it justify setting its sights on those types of rivals? That's what this review will tell you – along with how we rate the 2008 against other rivals, including the Ford Puma, Renault Captur, Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Roc.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Peugeot 2008, including what it's like to drive, how smart the interior is and whether or not it's good value for money. There's also an electric car version, which you can read about in 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 favourite 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, as 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 Kamiq and the T-Roc are more comfortable options.

There’s a downside to the Peugeot 2008’s soft suspension: if you’re looking for country-road entertainment, it really 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 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.

However, 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 petrol 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 some of its rivals, such as the Puma, Kamiq the T-Roc, but it's not unpleasant to use. 

The automatic gearbox isn't especially smooth, though, so there are better small SUVs to pick if you don't want to change gear yourself.

Peugeot 2008 driving overview

Strengths Punchy petrol engines; comfortable high-speed ride; relatively hushed cruiser

Weaknesses Not the sharpest handling; ride comfort could be better around town; automatic gearbox can be jerky 

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 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 with other current Peugeots). Physical buttons and knobs, like those in many rivals, 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 usual 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 and roundabouts. 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 come with range-topping GT trim, and you'll need to go for that top trim level to get a a reversing camera as standard, too.

Every version gets a 10in colour touchscreen set into the dashboard, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 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 or GT trim, you'll get high-definition graphics on the touchscreen.

Significant software updates brought in with the 2008's 2023 facelift have made the screen quicker to respond and easier to navigate. It’s generally a better system than before, so while it’s not the best in the small SUV class, it's perfectly fit for purpose and won't cause you many headaches.

The Peugeot 2008’s interior really looks the part, holding its own with premium-badged rivals. It outclasses the T-Roc and gives even the Q2 a run for its money.

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 2008 interior overview

Strengths High-quality interior; feels like an SUV from behind the wheel; decent infotainment system

Weaknesses Driving position won’t suit everyone; climate controls are fiddly; rear-view camera only standard on top trim

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 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 Kamiq, the Captur and the 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.

Peugeot 2008 practicality overview

Strengths Ample room in the front; decent-sized boot; height-adjustable boot floor on most trims

Weaknesses Access to rear seats could be better; rear seats don't do anything particularly clever

The Peugeot 2008 is priced towards the more expensive end of the small SUV class, so its closest rivals are the Audi Q2 and the 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 Puma, Kamiq or Captur. 

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

In our True 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. To find out what your car really does to the gallon use our True MPG calculator.

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 a wireless charging pad, keyless entry and some more upmarket interior finishes. It’s quite expensive, though; if you want to spend that much money you'd be better off buying an Audi Q2, 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 2008 costs overview

Strengths Relatively frugal petrol engines; mid-rung Allure trim gets you plenty of standard kit

Weaknesses Entry-level trim a little stingy on kit and safety tech; higher trim levels push price into territory of much better cars