Peugeot 2008 Review 2026

With the second-generation 2008, the car has morphed from something decidedly frumpy to one of the most stylish small SUVs around. Thankfully, there is some substance behind that style, as we'll explain in our full Peugeot 2008 review. 

The Peugeot 2008 is the SUV version of the 208. This means it shares its engines, mechanical platform and much of its in-car tech with Peugeot's popular small car. That said, being an SUV, the 2008 is taller, wider and longer than the 208. Most versions measure 4.3 metres in length and 1.8 metres in width, which means the 2008 will fit in most garages. 

The small SUV market is highly competitive and the Peugeot 2008 rivals some impressive machinery, which includes the Nissan Juke, Ford Puma and Renault Captur. For us, the well-equipped and sharp handling Puma is the class leader, but the 2008 is still worth considering.

The interior of the 2008 takes a similar approach to the 3008, with lots of soft-touch materials and cutting-edge tech that includes Peugeot's fancy 3D i-Cockpit system that combines a small steering wheel with a low-slung digital display, which you'll either love or loathe. 

The 2008 isn't as practical as the Puma with its 'MegaBox' but you do get a 434-litre boot with an adjustable load floor. You also get a load space that measures 1800mm from the boot lip to the back of the front seats when you lower the second row. 

The engine lineup initially included the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine and Peugeot's familiar 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel, although the latter has since been dropped from the range in the UK. Most buyers opted for the turbocharged petrol when both options were on the table, anyway. It's punchy in its more powerful states of tune, yet still very economical. 

The 2008 is one of the best small SUVs for comfort on 17-inch wheels, with its supple suspension and plush cabin doing a pretty good job of insulating its occupants from harsh road surfaces and outside noise. However, despite its soft set-up, the 2008 is pretty good to drive with its nicely weighted steering and responsive chassis providing genuine involvement on a twisty A road. 

Peugeot's small SUV isn't the cheapest option, with prices starting at around £28,500 and rising to over £35,000 if you opt for the 145 Hybrid engine in top-spec GT Premium trim. It's also starting to feel its age, but then again, this segment isn't exactly awash with fresh options, with most of the 2008's rivals being five or more years old. 

A few years ago, we lived with a 2008 for six months – find out how we got on with it in our Peugeot 2008 long term test. 

By small SUV standards, the Peugeot 2008 handles itself very well. The steering's nicely weighted and there's lots of front-end grip, which means you get a rewarding, planted feel on the road. It doesn't feel hugely dissimilar to the smaller 208, and that's a very good thing indeed. 

The ride quality can become a little lively on GT models, with its 18-inch wheels producing a fair amount of body travel over pot holes and speed humps. Things are much better on 17-inch wheels.

We rate the Toyota C-HR and Volkswagen T-Roc as the best small SUVs for comfort, but the 2008 on 17s does a pretty good job of suppressing rough road surfaces and potholes.

Refinement is decent, with wind and road noise kept to acceptably low levels. The caveat is that the engine can get noisy when pushed, as we'll shortly explain. 

The Peugeot 2008 is currently offered with petrol or electric power, although earlier in its life, there was a diesel engine, too. We have covered the electric version in our in-depth e-2008 review. 

All versions are now powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol, which can be specced in one of three forms. The entry-level version produces 100PS and 205Nm of torque for a leisurely 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds, and can only be combined with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Then there's the 130PS 1.2 with 230Nm of torque, which is hooked up to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It'll sort the benchmark acceleration sprint in a much more respectable 9.2 seconds.

Finally, there's a 145 Hybrid, which, despite what the name implies, is actually a mild-hybrid with a very small battery and motor that allows for only minimal electric-only running. It produces 145PS, but no more torque than the 130PS engine. It'll do 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, and is exclusively fitted with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The 145 feels brisk enough, and you can make sufficient progress without revving the three-cylinder engine too hard. That's a good thing, as it can sound a bit thrashy and unpleasant at higher revs. 

During our long-term test of a 2008 a few years ago, we found the eight-speed automatic a bit jerky at lower speeds, making the throttle feel overly sensitive, with a harsh stop-start system further sullying the experience. The newer six-speed dual-clutch unit is smoother, but the setup can be quite clunky when switching from electric power to hybrid, something you'll often experience when crawling through traffic.

If you're doing a lot of miles, you might want to seek out the discontinued 1.5-litre BlueHDI diesel on the used market. It's not massively powerful, producing 110PS, but it's the torquiest 2008 overall thanks to 250Nm, which arrives at just 1750rpm. It comes only with the six-speed manual. 

The Peugeot 2008 received a four-star safety rating when it was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2019. This included a 91 per cent score for occupant safety and 84 per cent for onboard child safety. The Euro NCAP crash safety score increased to a maximum five stars when including an optional safety pack. 

Due to the age of the tests and that they were undertaken using less strict standards, both are now considered expired.

Just be aware that the safety body's crash tests get more stringent over time, so these scores won't necessarily be comparable to a current car achieving the same. Indeed, the 2008's ratings are now considered by the safety body to be 'expired'. 

The 2008's standard-fit safety systems include a driver attention monitor, lane keeping assistance and autonomous emergency braking. Blind spot monitoring is only included on the GT Premium, which also has a 'Drive Assist Pack Plus' fitted. This includes adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go function plus lane centring. 

Most versions of the 2008 weigh in the region of 1700kg and the braked towing capacity for both the petrol and diesel models is rated at 1200kg, with a maximum tow ball weight of 61kg.

The Ford Puma is arguably the best small SUV for practicality, but the Peugeot 2008 isn't far behind; its 434-litre boot is large enough for a pair of bulky suitcases or a big weekly shop. 

Four adults will squeeze inside the 2008 but don't expect many compliments from your rear passengers, with legroom being on the snug side. Things are more manageable with small children, but tall teenagers may find the 2008 to be a bit cramped on a long journey.

On the plus side, the seats in the 2008 are supportive and comfortable. Mid-spec models in Allure Premium trim get leather-effect seat materials and height adjustment for the driver's seat but you’ll need to pay extra for lumbar adjustment or choose the 2008 in the pricey GT spec. 

Comfort from the driving seat will depend on your height. Due to the unconventional i-Cockpit layout, taller drivers may struggle to find a position they're happy with, because it's difficult to position the steering wheel to give both a clear view of the instrument cluster while keeping it clear of your legs. 

The fit and finish of the 2008s cabin is first class. Everything feels solid and upmarket. There are no worrying creaks from the trim when you drive over rough road surfaces or perform a tight turn, either. 

All versions of the 2008 get a soft-touch leather steering wheel that has button controls for the DAB radio. You also get smart carbon-effect panels on the doors and black piano-style keys under the touchscreen for key in-car controls.

There are some hard plastics on the lower parts of the dashboard and door trims but the quality of the 2008’s cabin is superior to anything you’ll find in its small SUV rivals from Ford, Renault and Nissan.

All versions of the 2008 are fitted with a colour touchscreen that includes DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Initially, a 10-inch system was reserved only for the then-top-spec GT version, with all others making do with a seven-inch setup. Now, though, a 10-inch touchscreen is fitted throughout the range.

Navigation is currently only included on GT Premium models, but the system is passable at best, so don't feel too bad if you're opting for a lower-spec 2008 and missing out. You're better off using something like Google Maps or Waze via the wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, which is standard on all 2008s. 

The screen itself responds quickly to touch, but various functions require a frustrating wait before anything happens. It's also a pain having to bring up a separate screen to change climate functions. At least the temperature control is permanently displayed on the screen, albeit on the right side, making for a stretch from the driver's seat. 

Just below the screen, you'll find a pair of USB-C sockets to keep your devices charged on the move. Only the GT Premium gets a wireless charging pad as standard. 

The range starts with the £28,490 1.2 100 manual in Allure trim. That engine option isn't available with any other trim. It's £31,345 to pair the same grade with the 130 Automatic, or £32,120 with the Hybrid 145. 

Upgrade to the GT, and it's £33,495 if you want the 130 or £34,270 for the 145. For a GT Premium, it's £35,045 with the 130 and £35,820 for the 145.

The 2008 does look a little on the expensive side when the Ford Puma range starts from £26,580 and tops out at £33,880, while for a Nissan Juke you'll pay anything from £24,265 to £32,695. The Peugeot does feel a little plusher than both of those options, though.

As you might expect, the 1.5 BlueHDI diesel was by far the best engine for fuel economy when still available, offering up to 65.7mpg according to the WLTP cycle. The 145PS Hybrid isn't all that far behind, though, with 57.65mpg. Judging by our time with that engine, we reckon 50mpg is a more achievable target. The 130PS 1.2 officially manages a more modest 46.31mpg, while the 100PS manual sits between the two at 49.56mpg.

The yearly tax bill is now the same for all cars at £195, and there's no luxury car surcharge to worry about, with all versions of the 2008 coming in comfortably under the £40,000 threshold. Insurance groups range from 16 for all versions of the 100PS manual to 24 for a Hybrid GT Premium.

Peugeot's warranty is a bare minimum affair, lasting three years and 60,000 miles. This isn't reassuring when the brand doesn't have the best reputation for dependability, with the brand ranking 29th out of 33 brands for reliability in the most recent HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index. 

Originally consisting of four trim levels, the 2008's grades have been simplified to consist of Allure, GT and GT Premium.

The Peugeot 2008 Allure comes with the following equipment fitted as standard:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Leather steering wheel
• Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Automatic headlights
• Digital instrument cluster

The Peugeot 2008 GT upgrades the above spec with:

• Reversing camera
• Keyless entry and start
• 3D instrument cluster
• LED headlights with high-beam assistance
• Eight-colour interior ambient lighting

The top-spec Peugeot 2008 GT Premium builds on everything mentioned so far with:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Alcantara upholstery
• Heated front seat
• Electrically adjustable driver's seat with massage funciton
• Front parking camera
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Adaptive cruise control