IT MUST gall the Gauls to have to sell SUVs. After all, the French fancy for such vehicles is but a recent phenomenon. For years they were dismissed as nothing more than the motoring epitome of crass American culture infiltrating our refined European motoring society.
They were yet another symbol of the collapse of western civilisation in the face of US consumerism. They joined Hollywood movies, McDonald’s and MacGyver re-runs in brainwashing the masses.
Yet resistance to the American mainstream was futile. The SUV is as much a part of modern culture as the baseball cap or blue denim.
Ironically, the French arrived in the crowded SUV market just in time to witness its rapid decline in popularity.
Even the most loyal motoring Francophile will admit the 3008 faces an uphill struggle to stand out from the crowd. The Japanese have, over several years, established a foothold in this market that will be hard to dislodge. French brands don’t even enter the picture.
When it came time to take the 3008 for a test, hopes and expectations were not high. A car firm forced to enter a market simply for commercial considerations – not due to any engineering prowess, or even interest – is not a good starting point. We expected it to be the motoring equivalent of Johnny Hallyday’s contribution to rock music.
After all Peugeot engineers don’t exactly have a wealth of experience in creating SUVs, French build quality is hardly the industry benchmark and to top it all this car is powered by a 1.6-litre diesel when rivals opt for 1.9 litres or more. You can see why we had doubts. It had “also-ran” written all over it. What we found, however, was a pleasant surprise.
For a start, the marketing folks have smartly positioned the 3008 amid a plethora of rivals; the 1.6-litre diesel version sits snuggly between larger-engined but similar-sized rivals, and some smaller but similarly powered entrants.
It’s a nice halfway house and the compromises are never big enough to be deal breakers. That gives it a real fighting chance.
In terms of styling, opinions are likely to be divided, largely over the front grille. It’s a love-it-or-loathe-it feature.
For us, the look is far too overbearing and that front grille is like a mobile cheese grater. But it’s certainly bold enough to catch the eye – and perhaps that’s what it’s aiming for. After all, apart from the Kia Soul, most cars in this category are pretty anonymous.
In terms of its stature, while it might qualify under current criteria as a crossover, no one should be under the impression that the 3008 is some dinky little hatchback on stilts. This is no Daihatsu Terios: the 3008 is a big piece of metal.
Last weekend, in a typical suburban car park, we had the opportunity to compare its stature with many other fully-fledged SUVs and it was only when we saw it next to an early generation BMW X5 that we realised how tall this car is.
But that doesn’t mean it’s in any way unwieldy. The 3008 turns crisply in tight spaces and the added height makes it easy for occupants to get in and out of and the high-set roof gives the cabin a really spacious feel.
Unfortunately, while it offers ample legroom in the front and back for adults, the bootspace is not quite as cavernous as we had hoped.
Those thinking that this could perhaps replace a people carrier are going to be disappointed. There is a smart underfloor stowage area, but it’s still not up to the likes of an estate car standards. For family motoring, Peugeot’s own 308 SW is far superior to its extra-numeralled sibling.
Where the 3008 does excel is in the fit and finish of the interior. This car offers quality materials previously unseen in anything carrying the lion badge. This is the sort of interior you expect to come out of Bavaria, not something built by the French.
If we had a complaint about the 3008’s interior it concerns something that has become a French motoring trait: the scattergun approach to placing buttons and switches on the central console.
While each one has a premium feel and the overall effect is quite smart – particularly at night – we’re not all Top Gun fans, and there’s just that little bit too much going on in the middle of the car.
After a few months, the system probably becomes intuititive, but in the week we lived with the car, we found it all rather fiddly. A little motoring feng shui wouldn’t go amiss.
Yet these are minor gripes when considered against the overall quality of the interior offering. The 3008 features the best Peugeot cabin to date.
Another pleasant surprise was the car’s handling. Again it’s a new benchmark for the brand in a car of this size, with the steering offering great levels of feedback and sharp responses.
When you consider its high stature and bulk, it’s a real surprise just how little body roll there is – the car feels incredibly competent through bends. Even up against lower-set rivals like the Kia Soul, the 3008 is as competent and composed as any.
And the good news doesn’t end there. Whatever concern we had over the ability of a 1.6-litre diesel to carry a vehicle of this size was quickly forgotten when we took it out on the open road. It’s an impressively sprightly diesel engine that’s also admirably refined and fuel efficient, averaging 7 litres per 100km (40.3 mpg) during our week behind the wheel.
Peugeot has come up with a really competitive proposition here. It rides and handles surprisingly well, its 1.6-litre diesel ticks the boxes in terms of performance and – equally important – fuel economy.
It pips all of its Asian rivals – notably the Nissan Qashqai – in terms of interior quality, while offering more value than its better-looking rivals such as the Ford Kuga.
Undoubtedly, its main rival here will be the Qashqai, a car that has done well on the back of its 1.5-litre diesel engine.
Peugeot could have chosen to dodge the Qashqai and opt for a higher-priced entry point, justifying this through its better interior finish and adding a few options as standard features.
Thankfully, the French are ready for a fight and have opted to pitch the 3008 right at its Japanese rival. With prices starting at €26,500, it should cause some sleepless nights at Nissan.
Factfile
Engine: 1,560cc four-cylinder common-rail turbodiesel putting out 108bhp @ 4,000rpm and 240Nm @ 1,750rpm with a six-speed manual transmission
Specification: dual front, side and curtain airbags, ESP stability control with ABS, traction control and hill assist, manual air conditioning, radio with ipod/MP3 connection, automatic headlights and wipers, trip computer, 17" alloys; Premium adds: 18" alloys, auto dual-zone air conditioning, Cielo panoramic roof, lumbar support for driver's seat, cruise control and speed limiter; leather a €1,800 option
L/100km (mpg): urban – 6.5 (43.5); extra-urban – 4.4 (64.2); combined – 5.1 (55.4)
CO2 emissions: 137g/km
Tax: VRT – 16 per cent; annual motor tax – €156
Price: €26,500; €29,000 for Level 2 version