The new Peugeot 3008 SUV has arrived in South Africa and we attended the local launch this week to give the stylish French newcomer a drive. Take a look at our first impressions below…

The new 3008 has entered a very crowded SUV/crossovermarket andat this rate, consumers may begin to feel claustrophobicas there are a plethoraof products to choose from. The new 3008 has a challenging task ahead of it to sway buying decisions in its favour against strong rivals such as theVolkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson andKia Sportage, to name a few. Let's examine what this new 3008 brings to the party, shall we?

Practical French Flair

The 3008 features a futuristic-looking interior with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display and all-digital instrument display.

One thing that the new 3008 has in bucket loads, is style. It has a unique look,completely different from its competitors, which may intriguebuyers who are looking for something more chic and sophisticated.

The exterior is unusually pretty, with angular sections creating a space-age visage. The new 3008 is larger than its predecessor, offering more space for passengers and luggage and is perfectlysuited to a family that places priority on practicality. The luggage bay is sizable at520 litres and with the rear seats folded down, space increases further to 1 670 litres. Interiorbuild quality is of a high standard andhaving recently experienced the lovely i-Cockpit interior innewer Peugeots such as the 208 and 308, the 3008 does not disappoint.

Apple smartphone users will be pleased to know that Apple CarPlay is offered on the new 3008.

In fact, it encourages the driver and passengerto touch and feel the various switches and surfaces. All the action happens on an 8-inchinfotainment touchscreen and although it takes care of most functionality at a touch, alternative switches are present, which some users may prefer to use.Apple CarPlay is offered andApple users will jump for joy as there is no need to pair a device to the car. Android usershave the option of Android Auto, but it's not yetfully available in South Africa. 3D navigation is offered as standard on the GT Line derivatives. One can’t help but feel like a character from the Jetsons whilesitting in the new 3008, it’s all very modern.

In terms of safety, the 3008 is equipped with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control and traction control, driver attention alert, lane departure warning and road sign detection. ISOFIX child seat mounts are also fitted across the range. The GT Line+ derivative adds features such as advanced brake assist, front collision warning and active blind spot detection.

The Lineup

A 1.6-litre turbopetrol engine will power the 3008 range initially, with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine coming early in 2018.

The new 3008 is offered with 3 trim lines to choose from including the entry-level Active, mid-spec Allure and Allure+and the range-topping GT Line and GT-Line+. At launch, we had the opportunity to sample theAllure and the GT Line+. The Allure offerscloth seats on the inside and rides on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. The GT Line+ is much more visually appealing and comes fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels,leather seats with massage functionand a sunroof.

Look at detailed specification for the new Peugeot 3008 here!

All 3008 derivatives are equipped with a1.6-litre turbopetrol engine with 121 kW and 240 Nm of torque and only a 6-speed automatic transmission is currently offered. Peugeot will introduce a 100 kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine in the first quarter of 2018. Thankfully, the turbocharged 1.6-litre unit has adequate power and torque and although it's not particularly fast,it seems to be well suited for open road driving andcommutes within the city.

Customisation is something Peugeot has focused on in the new 3008 andthe sound of the engine changes depending on the driving mode you choose. In standard mode, a somewhat normal engine tone is apparent with a hiss apparent underharder acceleration. This sound changes when the Sport button is pressed, giving you a completely synthetic growl whichis meant to make you feel more excited, apparently.I personally feel that this feature is unnecessary fora car in this segment, as it's not meant to be overly sporty. The focus should rather be on comfort, which is something the 3008 does do very well.

Anothercomfort feature offered is the choice of different scents you can have in the car. Through the infotainment system, you’re able to select between 3 different scents, some of which are better than others. Again, this may not seem necessary, but for buyers looking for a unique-smelling cabin, this feature may be of interest.

How does the 3008perform?

The 3008 offers high levels of refinement and on-road comfort, but it is also capable of tackling dirt roads if need be.

On the road, the new 3008 is highly refined, giving you a quiet driving experience, barring the slight wind noise you hear coming offfrom the side mirrors at highway speed. With the radio on, however, the noise is drowned out, so there's no need to fuss over it.The ride quality is sublime, especially in the GT Line+ variant fitted with the leather seats. The 1.6-litre engine is responsive enough to initiate overtaking with ease and the gearbox is never too busy. Since the new 3008 is called an SUV, Peugeot included a gravel section on our route to demonstrate its off road capabilities. With its raised ride height, the 3008 will navigategravel roads with ease but it's not a fully-fledged 4×4, so those more challenging off road routes are best avoided.

Overall, the driving experience of the new 3008 lives up to Peugeots aim to provide a premium offering in this segment. It ticks many boxes and is a complete, quality package. In light of recent events surrounding Peugeots sister company, Citroen, one would think consumers would be nervous to buy the product. This is not the case according to the Peugeot marketing team, who have apparently filled their order books for the new 3008 despite enteringthe market amidst stiff competition. That being said, consumer brand loyalty will ensure that Peugeot gets market share through a loyal customer base as well as new business. The 3008's packaging is somewhat unique in this segment and buyerslooking for a more retro SUV offering will in all likelihood find the new 3008 quite tantalising.

We will have the new 3008 on test soon, so be sure to look out for a thorough evaluation coming your way soon.

Peugeot 3008 – Price in South Africa

3008 Active 1.6 THP A/T – R399 900

3008 Allure 1.6 THP A/T – R444 900

3008 Allure+ 1.6 THP A/T – R464 900

3008 GT Line 1.6 THP A/T – R499 900

3008 GT Line 1.6 THP A/T – R569 900

The new Peugeot 3008 is sold with 3-year/100 000 km warranty anda 4-year/60 000 km service planwith the option to upgrade to a full 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan. 3-year/100 000 km Roadside Assistance and a 12-year anti-perforation warranty is also included.

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Find a new or used Peugeot 3008 on Cars.co.za

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