Peugeot 2008

Like the more premium and more expensive Peugeot SUVs, the 2008 also features Peugeot’s refreshing 3D i-Cockpit design that looks very unique and concept-car-like. The compact SUV also has all-black upholstery with contrast blue accents on the door panels and satin chrome surrounds for the housings of the instrument console and touchscreen infotainment system. 

The unique-looking driver’s cockpit of the Peugeot 2008 consists of a tilt and telescopic adjustable multi-functional steering wheel, which has flat upper and lower edges and an elevated 10-inch full-TFT instrument console behind it. The upper layer of the dashboard has a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system within a trapezoidal housing in the middle, while the lower dashboard layer has hexagonal AC vents in the centre console.

Below these AC vents, there are toggle-like switches for various functions. There are gloss black highlights around the transmission lever and switches for drive modes and an electronic parking brake in the lower centre console. The cabin of the Peugeot 2008 also gets a few other notable features like driver seat height adjustment, USB charging ports, engine push start-stop button and a 6-speaker audio system, though we would have loved to see more features in the cabin.

Taking a leaf from the design books of the larger Peugeot SUVs, the 2008 has a bold design language with some eye-catching elements that make it look like a fresh-looking SUV, despite its existing for quite some time now. 

The bold-looking front end of the Peugeot 2008 has a wide trapezoidal grille with tiny horizontal chrome inserts. There are trapezoidal headlamp housings placed beside the upper edges of the grille, which have LED projectors within their inner corners and triple LED DRL strips on the other corners. There is an additional LED DRL strip that flows down towards the lower corners of the front bumper, which has blacked-out faux air vents beside the lower edges. 

The side profile of the Peugeot 2008 looks stylish with unique character lines over the front and rear door panels. The gloss black finish for the door handles, rearview mirrors and fender garnish adds a premium touch to the side profile of the SUV, and so do the 17-inch machined alloy wheels. The Peugeot 2008 looks equally stylish from the rear too, with the SUV having clear-lens combination tail lamps with triple-slat LED inserts and a black garnish between the tail lamps. 

Peugeot has kept things simple with the mechanical architecture of the 2008 SUV, which comes with Macpherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear for its suspension setup. Oriented towards comfort, the ride quality of the Peugeot 2008 feels even more direct with three driving modes on offer – Eco, Normal and Sport – which also deliver differentiated response from the engine.  

The 2008 SUV comes with Peugeot’s smallest petrol engine under its hood – a 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission as the standard powertrain. This engine delivers a maximum power output of 130 PS and a maximum torque output of 230 Nm, giving it enough punch for both city and highway driving. 

The Peugeot 2008 is decently armed with all the safety features one can expect from an SUV of its size, including essentials like six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability program, dynamic stability control, anti-skid regulation, hill start assist, reverse parking sensors and reverse camera, and a few ADAS inclusions like high beam assist, blind spot monitoring, active lane keeping assist, active safety brake and driver attention warning. 

Given the current trends in the auto industry, the Peugeot 2008 might be missing out on a few features, which are gradually becoming common in other SUVs of its class. However, when it comes to mechanical finesse, the 2008 is a well-sorted SUV with punchy performance, comfortable ride quality, and a spacious cabin.