By Ian Strachan
Peugeot’s 2008 compact SUV keeps picking up awards. This eye-catching car, based on the 208 floorpan – was Best Small SUV in the Driver Power new car survey, and its 1.2 three cylinder turbo engine has picked up the International Engine of the Year award three years running.
The 2008 – particularly in the GT Line spec which I tested – has all the virtues of the 208 in terms of sportiness, handling and performance, combined with the robustness and practicality of an SUV.
This is certainly an innovative car. It may be small but it has a tough appearance and a stable ride which, combined with good ground clearance and electronic grip control, means it can cope with adverse conditions. It also has lots of room inside.
The 2008 GT Line which I tested is powered by Peugeot’s willing three cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine delivering brisk 130 bhp performance. But this is a car that looks at home on a motorway or negotiating country lanes. A traction control system and good tyres give it more off-road capability than you’d expect in a car of this size.
It’s a good looker too. The powerful front end and grille give it an assertive look, as do wheel-arch extensions, scuff plates and chunky 17 inch black alloys.
It handles remarkably well, even in slippery road conditions. Cornering is sure footed with no body roll and the sensible suspension set up ensures a comfortable ride.
The engine provides good performance throughout the speed range, delivering power smoothly but with plenty of mid-range pull. It’s helped by a pleasant-to-use six speed manual transmission.
Fuel consumption comes in at a respectable 58.9 miles to the gallon in mixed driving. A facia indicator tells you which gear you should be in for optimum efficiency, and there’s also an engine stop/start feature to avoid warming the planet while you’re waiting for traffic lights to change.
The high-quality interior is light, with attractive roof graphics and ambient lighting. You also get a panoramic glass roof with electric roof blind on the GT Line. The dashboard is well laid out in a cockpit style and the small steering wheel is pleasant to use. The inside is spacious with plenty of room for five adults. The large luggage area can be further improved with the ability to fold the rear seats flat. There’s also a storage area beneath the boot floor.
Equipment levels on the GT LIne specification are generous. Standard features include those 17 inch alloys, satellite navigation with touch screen controls, a DAB radio and CD player with MP3 compatibility and two USB ports, parking sensors including a reversing camera, daytime running lights, cruise control, electric heated door mirrors, roof rails, an excellent dual-zone air conditioning system, up-rated premium interior trim, and electric windows. You also get automatic headlamps and rain sensing wipers. My test car had metallic paint (£495) and heated seats (£150).
This is a solid and enjoyable crossover vehicle that doesn’t look out of place on a suburban driveway and at £20,995 for this specification on the road it won’t break the bank.
