Peugeot have come a long way in recent years. One of the first stand out Peugeot’s I spent time with was in 2018 with the 3008 model, and I must say it was just light years ahead with the design and interior fit and finish (Read about it here). If you had asked me 15 years ago if I would consider a car from this French manufacturer I would have told you “how nice the seats are designed” but that’s about the only appeal I had for them. Nonetheless here we are in 2021 and Oh Boy, how things have changed.
Here are my thoughts on this latest update the Peugeot 2008 Gt-line.
We have been eagerly awaiting the 2008 to show up at our office to spend time with it. The 2008 was after all awarded the Red Dot prize in March 2020 in Germany for its sporty design and exceptional build quality so we knew it was going to be something special and it absolutely is just that with its distinctive styling! We were lucky enough to receive it in Vertigo Blue which just accentuated the sculptured body lines.
Iterior design
When you walk up to the 2008, you’re greeted with the flashing of the lion’s claw design headlights and the car unlocks itself like its excited and ready to go thanks to the keyless system that’s standard on the GT line. When you open the door your eyes immediately take in the carbon fibre look wrap around dash which has a futuristic design with large centre screen and the very impressive i-Cockpit 3D instrument panel all of which are standard on the Gt line. The mood lighting is also eye-catching and I did enjoy the effect the mood lighting had on the interior of this car, it has eight colours to choose from on the centre touch screen, and definitely adds to the premium feel of the interior which is done tastefully and not over the top. You might be a little taken aback with the look of the small steering wheel but it’s all very functional and gives for a more direct feel and grip, it also only takes 10mins to get used to it and is most enjoyable.
The 2008 has increased in length by 141mm over its predecessor. It offers decent room inside with a wheelbase that is 65mm up on the 208 hatch, the legroom has increased too. Rear occupants benefit from plenty of foot room under the front seat, and there’s enough headroom for all occupants.
Performance and economy
The 2008’s petrol engine range which is the range we will get in SA is made up of a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit offered in two power outputs. Whether you choose the 75kW or the 96kW version they’re both great units. The GT line is equipped with the 96kW and it is linear in its power delivery. The Gt line feels lively with maximum torque kicking in at just 1,750rpm, so there isn’t the constant need to shift down gears on long climbs or at motorway speeds. It gives the impression of a bigger capacity motor with the figures of 240Nm, 0-100km/h in just over 9 seconds, 9.1 to be exact!
Safety Features
On-board safety kit is much improved with the Active Safety Brake system (ASB) included on all versions, as well as Distance Alert (DA), which offers progressive visual and audible driver warnings of the risk of potential collisions. Other safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Active Lane Assist and Auto High Beam which is nice to have if you do a fair amount of long- distance night drives, all available on higher GT-spec cars.
The reason for the smaller steering wheel is so that you have an unobstructed view of the information which is placed in the driver’s field of vision. On the Gt Line the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® 3D instrument panel projects the information like a hologram. The indications are dynamic and animated, they appear closer to the eye according to their degree of importance or urgency with an increase in reactivity of around half a second.
Another Great Safety Feature is the Road Sign Scanning. The camera will capture the road sign boards and post them on the dash display so your always aware of the speed limit of the road you are on. It will also display a warning if you attempt to access a no entry or one-way street or if you miss a STOP street.
Verdict
What will make the Peugeot 2008 so attractive to the potential buyer is its design and exceptional build quality. The 2008 Gt-line is the highest priced model and if you are shopping in that price range and don’t need a premium badge like an Audi or BMW then I would definitely give the 2008 a look you might be surprised at just how good they are. Peugeot has come back into SA in a big way with lots of solid support under the Stellantis name and have opened new dealerships and expanded their footprint significantly. It might feel like a risk initially but I think once you are a year or two into the ownership you’ll find that it wasn’t a risk at all and you’re in a much safer and happier place for taking the initial risk on the brand. At least visit a dealership and just compare build quality, comfort and Tech with the other brands on your radar. The 2008 has some of the most up to date tech you’ll find in a compact SUV as well as a fantastic driving experience.
Peugeot 2008 GT Line in summary:
Power/torque: 96 kW / 230 N.m
Top speed: 198 km/h
0-100km/h: 9.1 seconds
Service plan: 3 Yr / 60 000 km Service Plan
Warranty: 5 Yr / 100 000 km Warranty
Recommended retail price:
2008 SUV ACTIVE 1.2T 75kW MT: R359 900
2008 SUV ACTIVE PACK 1.2T 96kW (AT): R399 900
2008 SUV ALLURE PACK 1.2T 96kW (AT): R429 900
2008 SUV GT 1.2T 96kW (AT): R479 900
