Over the last few years, the compact SUV market has become crowded. As a result, the market now has offerings from pretty much every carmaker, making it increasingly difficult to stand. The Peugeot 2008, aims to make an impression with eye-catching design and a slightly left-field approach. The model first appeared on British roads way back in 2013, with the current car rolled out in 2019. It was then given a mid-life facelift in 2023, resulting in even sharper styling, updated technology, and a more streamlined engine line-up. It sits below the larger 3008 in Peugeot’s SUV hierarchy and is aimed squarely at urban buyers who want something compact, fashionable, and easy to live with, without sacrificing too many of the benefits that come with larger SUVs.
The Peugeot 2008 is a small SUV that leans heavily on style and comfort rather than outright practicality or driver engagement. Its bold design and high-quality interior help it stand out in a crowded class, while the facelifted model brings meaningful improvements in technology and efficiency. It may not be the most spacious or the most fun to drive, but for buyers who prioritise comfort, image, and everyday ease of use, the 2008 remains a very appealing option.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioThe 2008 is competitively priced towards the middle of the compact SUV market. A look at Peugeot's configurator tool shows the most basic petrol-powered cars getting underway at £29,240, with mid-spec cars starting at £34,425. The range-topping GT Premium model is priced from £35,795, bringing extra power and more advanced technology. When it comes to the electric variant, officially badged as the e-2008, entry-level cars get underway at £35,235, with the most expensive cars creeping above the £40,000 mark. Meanwhile, a hybrid version of the car is available from £37,870. On the used market, plenty of second-hand stock is listed on AA Cars, with older versions of the current car available from around £7,500, while post-facelift cars beginning at just under £15,000. Electric versions of the 2008 get underway at under £10,000, although it is worth noting that used EVs do not hold their value as well as petrol-powered vehicles, making depreciation a very real concern for buyers.
With the automotive industry continuing to transition towards all-electric power, Peugeot has spent the last few years slowly modernising the 2008 line-up. The car is no longer available with any diesel powertrains, leaving motorists with a choice of petrol, hybrid, and fully electric options. The petrol line-up consists of a pair of 1.2-litre engines, the most basic of which is a three-cylinder turbocharged unit producing 100 bhp, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. In hybrid versions of the car, this is teamed with a small electric motor for improved efficiency. Above that is a more powerful, 130 bhp version that can be partnered with either a manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. When it comes to the e-2008, Peugeot has opted for a 54 kWh battery and an electric motor producing 156 bhp.
While the 2008 is never going to win any awards for outright excitement, it certainly comes into its own when it comes to comfort and refinement. In many ways the car is the perfect urban companion, with its light steering and compact dimensions making it easy to manoeuvre around town. It also boasts a strong, raised driving position, which offers excellent visibility out onto the road, and soft suspension allows potholes and speed bumps to be ridden out without any dramas. Of the two petrol options, the more powerful 130 bhp unit feels best suited to the car, especially on the motorway, where the extra grunt makes for confident overtaking and pain-free merging. Both gearboxes are smooth and offer seamless changes, although the automatic can occasionally hesitate when asked to shift down quickly. While all the models of the 2008 feel generally refined, the electric variant certainly sits top of the pile on this front. Not having a petrol engine under the bonnet, it is by far and away the quietest choice, with the car also benefitting from the instant torque and acceleration that comes with electric motoring.
There are some options in this segment that go after a sporty driving experience, losing out on comfort as a result, but the 2008 is certainly not in that camp. The car has been designed to put comfort and relaxation at the heart of everything it does and it shows in both the ride and the handling. As we’ve already mentioned, the soft suspension is excellent at ironing out most bumps, especially on cars with smaller alloy wheels and the whole experience feels languid and unstressed. The trade-off for this is that the 2008 does lack the precision and excitement of some of its rivals. Through the corners, it lacks the engagement of the Ford Puma, for example, with noticeable body roll on show if you try anything too sporty. While this means the 2008 will probably not appeal to pure driving enthusiasts, it does give it more mainstream appeal to families, the majority of whom are not interested in the slightest in the lack of feedback from the steering.
Peugeot has seen a major upward trend when it comes to interior quality over recent years and the 2008 is another strong example of the French brand’s progress. For the most part, the outfit has done away with the cheap scratchy plastics of yesteryear and instead opted for a mix of soft-touch materials, sharp design lines, and stylish ambient lighting. On the dash, drivers get either a 7 or 10-inch screen, depending on trim level, with handy physical buttons positioned underneath for infotainment shortcuts and temperature controls. Everything feels well built and seat comfort is excellent, with plenty of room for adjustment. While space in the front is pretty good, things do start to get a little more cramped in the rear seats, where taller passengers are likely to struggle on longer journeys.
The Peugeot offers a good level of practicality for a car of its size, with a competitive boot capacity of 434 litres, rising to 1,467 litres with the back seats folded down. The space itself is wide, well-shaped and simple to access, with a low loading lip making it easy to load larger items into the back. While some rivals do offer more clever solutions overall, there is still a decent level of storage in the cabin itself. The 2008 comes with deep door bins, cupholders, and a useful centre console, helping the car to strike a good balance between compact dimensions and everyday usability.
Tech is one of the most important things for modern car buyers and brands have found themselves in something of an arms race to offer the best level of equipment for the most reasonable price. In the 2008, even entry-level models get LED headlights, a digital instrument cluster, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, and a central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trim levels add further premium touches including adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, heated seats, wireless phone charging, and a premium audio system. When it comes to the car’s infotainment system, the set-up looks sharp but can prove fiddly, with a few too many menus to navigate while on the move. Peugeot also relies heavily on touch-sensitive controls, which are easily knocked and accidentally activated.
The 2008 is offered in a variety of trims, ranging from Allure, to GT, to GT Premium. Entry-level versions focus on value and essential equipment, while higher-spec cars do get sportier touches including larger alloy wheels, and more advanced technology. Buyers can choose between a number of bold colour options, including Faro Yellow, Elixir Red, Vertigo Blue, Cumulus Grey, Pearl White, and Perla Nera Black, with contrasting black roof options available on higher trims.
The Peugeot 2008 has a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP, after impressing the judges when it came to adult and child occupant protection. The model comes crammed full of standard safety equipment, which includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, speed limit recognition, and driver attention alerts. When it comes to reliability, Peugeot does continue to lag slightly behind many of its rival brands but solid build quality and low running costs do help the 2008’s case on this front.
The 2008 is strong when it comes to efficiency, with petrol cars offering as much as 52.3 mpg, according to Peugeot’s website. This rises to an impressive 62.4 mpg on hybrid vehicles, although this is likely to be lower in real-world conditions. Meanwhile, the e-2008 has a claimed range of up to 247 miles between charges, with energy consumption of around 4 miles/kWh. While electric versions of the car produce zero tailpipe emissions, CO2 emissions for petrol-powered variants start at around 121 g/km, keeping road tax costs relatively reasonable.
London
London
London
Connect with us
