Skip advert
Advertisement

Peugeot 2008 1.6 e-HDi

We drive the Peugeot 2008 on UK roads for the first time, as the all-new Juke rival arrives in showrooms

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
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

There's still no outstanding supermini-SUV, but they all offer something distinctly different. The Peugeot’s strengths are its upmarket feel, impressive refinement and low running costs. It has its downsides, but so do the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Skoda Yeti. In its own way, the 2008 is as worthy of your money as each of its rivals.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Nissan Juke has been one of Britain’s top 10 best-selling new cars this year, but it faces a severe threat from the new Peugeot 2008, which has just landed in the UK.

For starters, the 113bhp 1.6-litre turbodiesel tested here is the cleanest car in the class, emitting 105g/km of CO2 and returning 70.6mpg economy.

The Peugeot also has a large 360-litre boot – more than 100 litres up on the Juke’s – and a starting price of £12,995. That’ll interest anyone considering Nissan’s baby crossover, which starts at exactly the same price.

As soon as you slide behind the wheel of the 2008, you feel as though you’ve climbed into a tall SUV, with more room inside than you’d expect from a car with such a small footprint. However, that’s partly down to the large sunroof, which is standard on the top-spec Feline model we drove.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

3 Series

2022 BMW

3 Series

65,462 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £18,287
View 3 Series
Golf

2024 Volkswagen

Golf

14,985 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £16,887
View Golf
ID.3

2022 Volkswagen

ID.3

30,624 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £15,400
View ID.3
A4 Avant

2025 Audi

A4 Avant

41,999 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £23,800
View A4 Avant

There’s not too much diesel rattle from the 1.6-litre engine, and its 10.4-second 0-62mph time feels surprisingly quick. Refinement is a cut above for this class, with a muted engine note and impressively low wind noise at motorway speeds.

The cabin of our top-spec car has plenty of premium touches, too, such as subtle blue LED lighting around the dials and embedded around the edges of the sunroof. Plus, the satin chrome, gloss black and soft-touch plastics all help make the interior feel special.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Questions remain over build quality, though – our car’s central storage compartment lid broke when someone leaned on it. And while we were impressed by the 2008’s grown-up feel, it falls short on fun. That high-riding feeling you get when you step in the cabin works against the 2008 through bends, where it feels more top-heavy than the likes of the Juke. The body doesn’t necessarily roll around that much, but the new car doesn’t corner with the immediacy of the Juke, and the steering could do with a bit more feedback.

On the whole, the 2008 rides well, but over slightly rough roads too much vibration makes its way into the cabin. Still, that could be due to the All-Weather tyres fitted on Allure and Feline models in conjunction with the Grip Control system – a set-up that helps traction on slippery surfaces in the front-wheel-drive-only Peugeot.

The 2008 offers a different proposition from its rivals, with a focus on refinement, and a premium feel where others go for more style and sportiness. It’s not good enough to be called the best in class, but then none of the current crop of supermini-SUVs really stands head and shoulders above the rest. Yet if the Juke is too small for you and the Skoda Yeti too bland, the 2008 is certainly worth your consideration.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,233 off RRP*Used from £15,297
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,700
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,137 off RRP*Used from £15,496
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £1,509 off RRP*Used from £13,195
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring
Baby Nissan Juke exclusive image - rear

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring

Nissan to fast-track development of new battery-powered city car to take on forthcoming Volkswagen ID.1, and our exclusive images preview how it could…
News
18 Apr 2025
Best SUVs to buy 2025
Best SUVs - header image

Best SUVs to buy 2025

There are plenty of great SUVs to choose from, so we’ve picked out the very best
Best cars & vans
17 Apr 2025
Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans
Future of Nissan in the UK - header with Phil McNamara

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans

Nissan is about to go from building the Qashqai hybrid to three fresh EVs in the UK over the next three years – all powered by a new gigafactory
Features
19 Apr 2025