The Peugeot 3008 Facelift launched - Driven
I attended the launch of the face-lifted Peugeot 3008 (Pronounced Three thousand and eight) and on first impressions, this might just be the most premium C-SUV I’ve ever driven. A car that has been designed brilliantly, while offering a premium interior, a comfortable ride quality and a punchy engine.
Initially Launched in 2016, the 3008 has done incredibly well throughout the globe scooping awards all over the world.
The new 3008 has been thoroughly designed, upfront, a new grilled which is integrated into the body of the car gives it an immense look upfront, the “ Claw-like “ LED DRLs which also work as indicator lights give the front a meaningful appeal. There are also some shiny black scoops that emphasize its sportiness.
The wheel designs are just as great, starting with the 17-inch aluminium wheels which are on the Active Trim to the 19-inch wheels on the GT Line.
At the rear, the vehicle features new, upgraded headlamps with full LED technology (including reversing light), and displays the 3D claws as well. The rear indicators are also sequential giving it an all-around premium feel on the exterior.
The Peugeot 3008 will be available in a choice of 7 colours namely:
- Celebes Blue
- Vertigo Blue
- Pearl White
- Artense Grey
- Platinum Grey
- Perla Nera Black
- Ultimate Red
Look, the exterior of this car is brilliant from the front to the rear. It is impossible to fault.
Inside, a spaceship on wheels! Open the doors of the GT Line and you’re welcomed by exquisite Nappa leather in black (red is an option), wood trimming as well as chrome inserts which finish off the premium look.
The seats have a massage function for the driver and can be electrically adjusted. However, my highlight is the 12.3-inch digital driver's display which has clear and crisp displays. Drivers are able to switch between various menu on the display to see various driving data as well as navigation. The steering wheel looks great, there is a column-mounted paddle shifter however I felt that they were not big enough and could’ve worked better if they were mounted on the steering wheel. users might also feel that the design of the steering wheel hinders the vision of the driver's display but this is not the case.
The central touch screen is 10 inches in size and is also of high definition. It features Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto and comes with a series of seven elegant piano keys - the "toggle switches" - allowing direct and permanent access to the main comfort functions: radio, air conditioning, navigation with voice command, vehicle settings, telephone, mobile applications, and hazard warning lights.
The drive?
I took the new 3008 on the outskirts of Cape Town, drove via the N2 towards Simons town and I took some twisty roads to test out the steering response and body roll but the 3008 stayed planted. The 19-inch wheels on the GT Line I was driving also made a perfect fit, the right was not bumpy nor stiff in all drive modes (Eco, Normal and Sport).
Road and wind noise is non-existent, driving the car on a windy day in Cape Town, I was surprised at the fact that I did not notice any wind noise.
Powering the Peugeot 3008 is the 1.6 Petrol engine which is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox and produces 121kw and 240nm of torque, these figures see the 3008 sprints from a standstill to 100km/h in just 8.9s and in actual fact, it feels quicker. Overall, the drive feels solid and frugality is just as great with the 3008 returning a fuel consumption of just 7l/100km.
Some of my favourite features.
- The 515 Watt FOCAL® high-end Hifi system, with French-style high-fidelity sound.
- The multi-point massage seat for the driver with various intensity levels.
- Speed sign recognition and warning.
- Lame assist, lane warning and blind-spot detection.
- 360-degree camera.
- Adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go function.
- The sequential turn indicators.
Verdict.
Peugeot has shown just how premium vehicles should be, we saw this initially in 2008 and I am impressed at how they have carried this out onto the 3008 and even improved on it. With most manufactures cutting corners, Peugeot has gone and done everything right to ensure buyers get value for their money. The pricing of the 3008 is also a good thing to look at and I hope that I can see more of the 3008s on the road.
Pricing
PEUGEOT 3008 Active R 514 900
PEUGEOT 3008 Allure R 574 900
PEUGEOT 3008 GT R 644 900
