Skip advert
Advertisement

Peugeot 2008 - Engines, performance and drive

The Peugeot 2008 is good around town and a surprisingly refined motorway cruiser, but it isn't fun to drive

Engines, performance and drive rating

3.7

How we review cars
RRP
£28,405 £37,350
Avg. savings
£5,447 off RRP*
Find your Peugeot 2008
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

From the start, you’ll realise that the Peugeot 2008 isn’t the sharpest-handling small SUV. That honour still goes to the Ford Puma, which feels far more rewarding and confidence-inspiring to drive.

Model 

Power

0-62mph

Top speed

2008 1.2 PureTech 130

128bhp

9.7sec

122mph

2008 1.2 Hybrid 136 e-DSC6

134bhp

8.3sec

128mph

E-2008 54kWh 156

154bhp

9.1sec

93mph

What is the Peugeot 2008 like to drive?

In town

Around town, the 2008's light steering makes it a great car for low-speed manoeuvres. We’ve noticed that petrol automatics have a strange vibration through the interior if you try to reverse park while controlling your speed with the brakes.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The ride can be a little fidgety at low speeds, with the Renault Captur offering much better cushioning from potholes and speed bumps

On A- and B-roads

At higher speeds, the 2008 has a decent level of grip to enable you to carry some momentum along a twisty B road. But hit a mid-corner bump, and it can be knocked off your chosen line because the suspension is unable to dampen the initial blow.

Body lean is much more pronounced than in a Puma or an Audi Q2, both of which provide a much more settled driving experience. The electric Peugeot E-2008, with its weighty battery pack mounted low in the car along the floor, does help to counteract the lean of the standard car, although it still isn’t the most agile of its kind to drive.

Weird gear selector shape aside, the auto is great to use, shifting smoothly once on the move. In recent times, Peugeot’s manual gearboxes have been vague and rubbery, but the unit in the 2008 is a significant improvement. It’s still not as joyous to use as the manual gearboxes we’ve used in the Puma or Mazda CX-30, but it does the job.

On the motorway

Hit the motorway, and the fidgety low speed ride settles down. Despite a little door mirror-induced wind whistle at 70mph, refinement is impressive overall, with low road noise levels.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

The 128bhp 1.2-litre petrol is our preferred version of 2008, with an acceleration time of 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 122mph. The 1.2 hybrid with 134bhp is presently the quickest 2008, with a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds, and it can continue up to a top speed of 128mph.

The electric E-2008 range starts with the 134bhp model, but its heavy 50kWh battery means it isn’t as quick as the hybrid, needing 9.8 seconds to get to 62mph. The more powerful 154bhp version cuts this time down to 9.1 seconds. Both electric models have a top speed of 93mph.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Our latest car deals

Peugeot 2008

Peugeot 2008

RRP £24,830Avg. savings £5,447 off RRP*Compare Offers
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £18,395Avg. savings £2,743 off RRP*Compare Offers
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £31,535Avg. savings £4,034 off RRP*Compare Offers
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £25,530Avg. savings £2,588 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
New BMW 3 Series to pioneer German brand’s bold design change in 2026
BMW 3 Series 'Neue Klasse' render (watermarked) - front

New BMW 3 Series to pioneer German brand’s bold design change in 2026

The design of the EV and ICE 3 Series will remain true to the show-stopping Vision Neue Klasse concept revealed last year
News
20 Nov 2024
Best used cars to buy 2024
Best used cars 2024

Best used cars to buy 2024

From city cars to large SUVs, here’s our annual pick of the star performers that’ll save you thousands when you buy them used instead of new
Best cars & vans
22 Nov 2024