Technology, elegance and character. The newly updated Peugeot 3008 SUV is a family car that oozes comfort, practicality and style. Our editor recently test-drove one of these newcomers at CMH Peugeot Umhlanga.
Without sounding like too much of a cliché, I’ll admit I am one of those women who doesn’t know an awful lot about cars. That being said however, I do spend a substantial amount of time driving them. Whether it’s going between Umhlanga and Ballito for work, the back-and-forth of my ‘soccer mom’ gig or, my absolute favourite, long road trips to wonderful destinations – many hours of my life are spent behind the wheel of a car.
Which is why, when I first sat down in the Peugeot 3008 SUV, I was instantly impressed. Comfort and space are key when you are a busy, working mom, as are access to technology, convenience and just about anything that will make your life easier. And that’s exactly what this vehicle does.
Impressively, it still manages to be stylish, sexy and functional. Did I mention comfortable?
After a little research, I discovered that the Peugeot 3008 was first brought to market in 2017 and at that time it won numerous awards around the world. It’s not hard to see why.
The newly-updated 2021 version seems simply to have enhanced and updated a few key areas and in so doing, moved this vehicle up in the ranks even more.
The exterior of a car generally all comes down to personal taste, but there is no denying that the Peugeot 3008 has a modern, assertive, no-nonsense look and feel. And I love it. It oozes character, especially the front and back lights, which, apparently, were inspired by felines.
I was given a beautiful ‘celebes’ blue (dark navy) car to test-drive and I tend to think a darker colour suits this particular vehicle more than a lighter hue. Again, though, it’s a matter of taste.
I love that the driver’s section of a car is called the cockpit. It seems especially apt in this instance, because the Peugeot 3008 feels super technologically-advanced with its modern ‘i-cockpit’, featuring an eight or 10-inch touchscreen and elegant chrome toggle switches, which offer easy access to the various functions.
It also has a fabulous 12-inch head-up display instrument panel, which you can customise using the toggles, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road. It took me a little while to play around with and work out all the functions, but once I had it figured out, it was remarkably easy to use.
The additional two USB ports for rear passengers are fantastic features and there are a number of driving assistance systems, which add to the safety of the Peugeot 3008 SUV. These include: extended sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and even automatic emergency braking (which can be triggered if pedestrians or cyclists are near the vehicle).
The red Nappa leather seats are quite a statement and, although I wasn’t sure how I felt about them at first, they definitely grew on me. They actually give the vehicle a luxurious, opulent and somewhat ‘premium’ feel, but one can opt for black Nappa leather as well.
The passenger space is significant (important when you have a family) and the boot, which opens electrically, is large as well. The car is petrol powered and automatic and (I’ll admit I had to find this part out because I know nothing about engines), it has a 6-speed automatic gearbox and a 121kW THP turbo petrol engine with a high level of torque (240 Nm @ 1 400 rpm). Fuel consumption is measured at 7,3l/100km for a combined urban/rural (53l tank).
In layman’s terms, this means that while it is a great family car to get around town, it also has enough power to get you to your holiday destination with a fully-loaded car!
What stood out for me, more than anything, was the comfort of this vehicle and the drive it offers. It feels luxurious, yet still practical and, I’ll admit, I was a little sad to hand the keys back at the end of the day.
The Peugeot 3008 ranges from R539 900 (for the Active) to R679 900 (for the GT Line which I drove).
Details: CMH Multi Franchise – 89 Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe, dealer principal Paul Francisco : [email protected], https://cmhpeugeot.co.za, 031 580 7900, 082 446 6584
Text: Leah Shone
