Having owned my Peugeot 3008 Allure for over 6 months and 12,000km, I can safely say that I’m still just as much in love with it as I was when I got it.
After years of driving different model Ford Focus’ I thought it was time for a change. I looked at many different medium SUVs to compare this to, such as the CR-V, CX-5, Sportage, Tucson and Tiguan but each one of them just seemed to be lacking a certain flair that I wanted in my new car.
One look at the interior and I was hooked, and managed to arrange for a one-week test drive which included a trip down to the beautiful Great Ocean Road. This extended test drive sealed the deal for me and I placed my order for the mid-spec Allure model. I did want the GT-Line but at the time the price difference was in my opinion too much to outlay for some LED headlights.
It came very well specified with Sat Nav, Dual Zone Climate Control, Keyless Entry, Push Button Start, Apple Car Play & Android Auto, AEB, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Partial Leather Interior. I also optioned on the automatic tailgate as well which is well worth the $500 they charged.
Since buying the car, I’ve had a number of occasions where I’ve been able to utilise the cars excellent internal flexibility. As standard, the Allure model comes with 60/40 split folding rear seats as well as a front passenger seat that folds down flat for longer items. Combine this with the fact that the boot floor is adjustable in height, it makes it very practical. My favourite part of this is that the cargo cover also fits underneath the boot floor which reduces any chances of it being damaged or lost.
In terms of engine and transmission, the 1.6L turbo engine really feels much more powerful than it is and easily moves the car without any issues at all. Sport mode improves the throttle response quite quickly and really allows you to hear the turbo whistle when you put your foot down, keeping the engine in the sweet spot. The transmission can get a little confused sometimes, but overall it’s a good combination. Fuel consumption is also quite good, averaging about 8.1 l/100km.
What surprised me was how much space this vehicle has inside compared to its outside size. The 3008 is actually 111mm shorter overall than my last Focus hatch was, but it has a longer wheelbase which liberates much greater interior space than the Focus did – seating four adults in comfort.
The fact that it’s front wheel drive only doesn’t bother me, I’m sure most of these wouldn’t venture further than the suburban streets anyway.
The only real negatives that I can come up with is that the accessories are pricey (a tow bar is $1600) and I can’t adjust the settings for the height of the automatic tailgate which is a hassle in my apartment carpark.
Otherwise it’s a car that is really fun to drive around bends, has a flexible drivetrain that encourages you to drive with a bit of fun in mind, and is extremely practical with excellent standard features.
I’ve already successfully recommended it to one of my friends and would happily recommend it to anyone else – give it a try before you buy any other SUV, you’ll come away impressed.