Peugeot 2008 Test Drive.
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I was in Europe for a few days and got the chance to spend a few days driving the compact Peugeot 2008 Crossover.
The current and 2nd generation Peugeot 2008 came out in 2019. It was revised with a mid-cycle “facelift” last year with, mainly a new face.
While it doesn’t seem that small in Europe, the Peugeot 2008 is actually pretty tiny by US standards. Since most other cars are smaller in Europe, at first it seems it would be about the size of a Honda HR-V. But it’s not. It’s actually 9 inches shorter than our HR-V. It is even 6 inches shorter than the Corolla Cross. The Peugeot 2008 is basically the same size as a Nissan Kicks.
The design is pretty angular and quite busy, which has unfortunately been the case for most recent Peugeot designs. It seems to be trying a bit too hard, which I guess doesn’t matter since these seem to be everywhere in Europe. (Over 140,000 of them were sold last year). Although things might be improving since the all-new larger e5008 does look much nicer.
The interior design could be described as “original”. Or just plain “weird”. I guess it’s a mix of both. The dashboard seems all over the place at first, but everything seems to make sense and you do get used to it. The texture on the dash of my GT trim is a bit cheap-looking and rubbery. Although everything feels pretty solid and well put together, nothing comes close to a premium feel.
The stereo sounded very nice and the seats were very comfortable. Not everything is controlled from the center screen and a few shiny toggle switches are placed in a row under the dashboard.
Although everything works fine, the interior has too many styles. As if the whole interior design team never really worked together…
The GT Line version I was driving is powered by a small 1.2 Liter engine with 130HP and an 8-speed Automatic. Which is enough for most uses. It is very similar to what GM offers in the Chevrolet Trax, Trailblazer, and Buick Envista. However, while the GM engine is mostly very smooth and refined, the Peugeot is quite a bit rougher. Especially around town. You hear it every time you push the engine even just a little. And the sound is much more agricultural than anyone would ever want.
Once you get on the highway, things settle down and the 2008 becomes very quiet. The suspension is always very comfortable as well.
I usually don’t notice the brakes, but these were especially hard to modulate at low speed. Another rough spot is the unrefined stop-and-go system. Another pain at low speed around town…
The steering is pretty average, with a bit of an artificial feel.
This was my first time driving a car with a steering that wasn’t completely circular. Many new cars have this feature like the Volvo EX30 and the upcoming Dodge Charger EV. This is nothing like the stupid Tesla Yoke, but I still had my doubts. It actually took no time for me to get used to it, and the flatter top of the steering wheel is actually a comfortable place to rest your hand.
Over a few days, I averaged 33MPG, with at least 80% of my driving done on freeways. Not great MPG for a car that size. I got around 35MPG Highway while driving the larger Buick Envista a few months ago.
The Peugeot 2008 GT line starts at the equivalent of around $ 37,500 in its home country of France. I’m not sure how much taxes are included in the price, but no matter what, this would be more expensive than a similar vehicle in the US.
While many have wished for a Peugeot return to the US for many years, my experience with the 2008 wasn’t positive enough to cry over the lack of new Peugeot models over here.
In my opinion, it’s not a very attractive car, inside and out. And the driving experience isn’t as refined as what we get here. It might be the size of a Nissan Kicks, but for less money than the Peugeot, the small GM offerings are much more enjoyable to drive. As well as roomier and cheaper.