Peugeot? They’ve been quiet…
Yes, it seems so, but that’s not the case with the French silver lion brand’s Malaysian custodian Nasim. The firm has concentrated efforts on strengthening its local network before the new generation Peugeot 3008 crossover’s arrived last month.
Also, the tiring back-to-back schedule of drives and events led to this first-impressions timely arrival. Bear with us as we do our best to cater to you lot on both our online and printed platforms. Without further delay, here’s the gist of the newest Pug to hit our shores.
So it’s another crossover. What’s special about it?
For starters, the Peugeot 3008 Allure isn’t Japanese, or Korean, or even German. Instead, it’s proudly French, so it boasts some ‘je ne sais quoi’ French styling to the crossover genre, especially with the way it looks on the outside.
By the way, this is a brand new car, not a facelift or improvement over the outgoing 3008. It packs an improved iteration of Peugeot turbocharged 1.6-litre THP petrol four-cylinder mill that makes 165hp and 240Nm of torque.
All that goes to the front wheels through a new 6-speed automatic with paddle-shifters. More importantly though is the fact that Peugeot claims this car will sip just 7.0 litres/100km on average, should you drive it conservatively that is.
Anything else?
Look and oily bits aside, Peugeot also took the effort at revising this crossover cabin with its novel i-Cockpit design approach. Yes, it’s the one with the seemingly small and not very round-ish steering wheel design, but that’s not all.
Get your seat adjustment right and you’ll note the new and interactive fully-digital instrument display panel as demonstrated above. Besides that, there’s plenty of French design magic all-round, namely in the soft-touch trim materials, giving this car a plush feel on the inside.
Get it going and things take on a more dynamic feel almost immediately. Fuelling that first is the perky new powertrain that’s rich with low- to mid-range torque. Also worthy of mention here is that slick new 6-speed automatic’s delivery.
Does it drive well?
Surprisingly, yes. You don’t get that typically loose, floaty feel that most lifted crossover SUVs do with this left-field French alternative. If anything, if feels almost as dynamic to drive as a 308 hatch in fact.
Yes, there’s a degree of muteness with the electric power steering system’s feel, but you’d expect that with most cars brimmed with this system these days. Moreover, it’s accurately precise and makes it less tiring to drive over long periods.
Adding to that last fact is the supple dampers and springs setup, resulting in a very comfortable ride that doesn’t compromise too much. Surely, this new 3008 drives a whole lot better than its predecessor, and we reckon many will welcome this.
Is it well-equipped and practical?
Surely, a crossover of this size and price has to be, and it is. Creature comforts is impressive, especially that novel touchscreen infotainment unit that boasts Apple Carplay and Android Auto functions on top of the crisp-sounding Arkamys six-speaker hi-fi it’s paired with.
On top of that comes dual-zone automatic air conditioning with rear vents, adequate 12-volt and USB sockets all-round, not to mention the generous head- and legroom all-round to create a very pleasant ambiance on board.
In terms of safety, this new Peugeot 3008 covers its angle just as well with its five-star Euro-NCAP rating too. Notable highlights here include six airbags, ABS, ESP, Hill-Start Assist and Hill-Descent Controls amongst others.
And yes, like most crossover in this size and price range, you get a decently large standard boot space of 590 litres, which can be extended to 1,670-litres when you fold the rear seats down. In other words, this crossover’s ready for those annual visits to IKEA too.
Should I buy one?
In this range-topping ‘Allure’ trim line, the new generation Peugeot 3008 does seem impressive for its RM155,888 price tag sans insurance and registration costs. There’s also a slightly cheaper ‘Active’ variant available at RM142,888 instead.
For what it has, the Peugeot 3008 Allure as tested checks all the right boxes should you wish to get such a vehicle that isn’t Japanese, Korean, or perhaps German. In other words, if you’re planning to go left-fielf, this Pug isn’t as bad as it seems.
By the way, said prices includes a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty plan plus 24-hour roadside assistance, as well as complimentary access to the Peugeot Lounge at the Skypark Airport Terminal in Subang. Overall, this pug isn’t a bad deal indeed.
