Review: Tom Mooney
Test driving a new car, whether you have it for a week, a weekend, or just a day, the challenge before you return the keys, sometimes reluctantly and sometimes not, is to achieve much in a short span.
At the very least you hope that the car will engage you, that – despite what you may have read about it in trade reviews – it leaves a lasting impression so that when you set about putting pen to paper, your recall is a positive approximation of your experience behind the wheel.
My homework prior to driving the Peugeot 2008 onto the welcome embouchure of the open road didn’t at all prepare me for the horse power and speed purring under the bonnet.
It is said that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, and my preconceptions about the 2008 Crossover didn’t survive our first half a mile together. This is a smashing car, with a bag full of surprises from the moment you plant your butt.
Surprise No. 1: the steering wheel is noticeably smaller.
Surprise No. 2: because the wheel is small, you hold it with both hands, and never let go.
Surprise No. 3: it accelerates like a Kingfisher.
Surprise No. 4: its size is deceptive. Inside, thigh support, front and back, is ample.
The 2008 left the lasting impression of being a fun car. Easy to handle and easy to fall in love with, the 2008 (which comes in Access, Active and Allure, with a single petrol engine and four diesel alternatives) has an exceptional ride quality.
The Peugeot DNA is ever present in the aforementioned steering, so well weighted when you get aggressive with the throttle, but because the feedback is exceptional, from the transmission to the brakes, everything you touch has an immediate bite. In other words, the 2008 inspires confidence.
The 2008’s floating grille is scissored from a solid block and sculpted headlamps, with LED daytime running lights blending seamlessly into the nose. Stylish matt-finished alloy wheels, black bumpers and body sills, stainless steel front and rear scuff-plates and chromed side mouldings all add to its sharp appeal.
From the side, the car presents a strong yet elegant profile, enhanced by roof bars which hint at the car’s practicality: the wide tailgate and low loading lip, just 60cm off the ground, mean exceptional ease of use.
The 2008 is also available with Peugeot Connect Apps, to include traffic and parking information, tourist attractions and weather updates.
The interior of the Peugeot 2008 has a spacious and flexible cabin, a cockpit-style instrument panel and a polot-type handbrake. A satin chrome finish to the air vents, handbrake lever, steering wheel, gear lever and touch-screen trims adds to the level of luxury and creates a premium feel.
The boot is exceptionally spacious considering the car’s compact dimensions. The floor comes with five recessed rails which run from the sill to the front seat backs. Six chromed hooks allow items to be secured safely. There is a storage area on each side, with a retaining strap and net. Folding the 60:40 split rear seats boosts storage volume from 360 to 1,194 litres, (22 litres under the floor). One press of the button at the top of the rear seat back is all it takes to fold the seat, as the base cushion retracts automatically.
Safety on the 2008 is at the highest level. Cruise control with speed limiter is standard on all versions, as are six airbags, ESP with Anti-Skid Regulation (ASR), Stability Control, Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD). Isofix mountings for child seats are found in the rear.
Park Assist is also available on the 2008. Ultrasound measures an empty space and steering is then controlled by the vehicle to position the vehicle perfectly. The engine line-up for Ireland is as follows:
• 1.2 VTi 82bhp petrol engine (114g/km CO2: Tax Band A4 €200 road tax) • 1.4 HDi 68bhp diesel engine (104g/km CO2: Tax Band A3 €190 road tax) • 1.6 HDi Stop Start Ecomatique 92bhp diesel engine (98g/km CO2: Tax Band A2 €180 road tax) • 1.6 HDi Stop Start 92bhp diesel engine (103g/km CO2: Tax Band A3 €190 road tax) • 1.6 eHDi Stop Start 115bhp diesel engine (105g/km CO2: Tax Band A3 €190 road tax)
