Peugeot 2008 review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

One of the key downsides to the 2008’s styling is that access to the rear is difficult. The sills are high, so you have to climb in over them and, to compound things, you then find the low roofline requires you to stoop in order to get in – rather annoying for anyone strapping children into car seats, for example. Buyers needing frequent access to the rear seats should consider the Hyundai Kona or Skoda Kamiq.

Peugeot hasn’t forgotten basic practicalities, though. There’s still a good level of storage, with cubbies, trays and bins dotted around to hold gadgets and various other items. We particularly like the covered smartphone tray, as it stops you getting distracted by notifications. It’s worthwhile stepping up to mid-range Allure trim because this version has more USB charging ports to keep mobile phones and tablets topped up. 

Finding an ideal driving position can prove troublesome because the 2008 features Peugeot’s i-Cockpit cabin design. Essentially, you get a much smaller steering wheel that you’re supposed to look over to see the instrument panel, rather than through it. The setup doesn’t suit everyone, and we spent quite a while trying to find a natural-feeling driving position when we tested the 2008 and still had to peer over the steering wheel to read the speedo. We highly recommend trying the setup for yourself before ordering a 2008. 

If you do manage to find a comfortable driving position, you'll discover the 2008 has plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room, although visibility isn’t great. Larger individuals may also find the cockpit to be quite cramped, and we found that the small steering wheel and tiny pedals can make you feel a bit like a gorilla behind the wheel. 

Rear parking sensors are standard on every model, but you’ll need mid-range Allure to get front parking sensors, and GT trim for a reversing camera. A 360-degree camera system is available as an option, as is blind spot monitoring to warn you of approaching vehicles along your flanks.

Size

The Peugeot 2008 measures 4,300mm long, 1,770mm wide and 1,550mm tall, making it slightly longer than the Ford Puma (4,207mm), but not quite so wide. The Renault Captur sits between the two, measuring at 4,227mm in length.

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Leg room, head room and passenger space

The 2008 doesn’t offer as much room in the back as a Kona or a Kamiq. While it does boast a surprising amount of headroom, legroom isn’t as generous, so it’s not great for ferrying around adults. It’s a shame the 2008 doesn’t feature a sliding rear bench like you get in the Captur, because that would allow rear passengers the option of greater legroom at the expense of some boot space. There’s also a large hump in the floor that eats up rear passenger foot space, so the 2008 is better suited for carrying four people, rather than five. 

The 2008 comes as standard with two sets of ISOFIX mounting points – both located on the outer rear seats – however GT models come with one extra set on the front passenger seat.

Boot

With 434 litres of boot space, the 2008 offers decent load capacity, but is beaten by the Kona, which offers 466 litres of room. The Ford Puma, with its 456-litre boot, also trumps the 2008 and includes a hidden storage compartment called the ‘Megabox’. The Captur has 12 litres less than the 2008, but as we mentioned, its sliding rear bench seat allows owners to prioritise either boot space or passenger room. Utilise this function by sliding the bench all the way forward, and there are 536 litres on offer, which puts the 2008 at a distinct disadvantage once again.

Go for a mid-range Allure model to get a variable height boot floor to reduce the liftover height and remove the awkward step when the rear seats are folded down. Meanwhile, folding the 2008’s rear seats gives you a total of 1,467 litres of stuff to play with

Towing

All petrol-powered 2008s have a maximum braked trailer weight of 1,200kg which should be enough to tow a small caravan. Like many smaller electric vehicles, Peugeot does not quote towing weights for the E-2008.