They believe only 5% of customers will buy the diesel SUV, while 10% will want the green model. We’ll have to wait and see.
Going against the predicted trend we’re testing the car with the 1.5-liter 101bhp diesel engine but will try out the all-electric soon. The 2008’s petrol engines are all 1.2-liter three-cylinder units available with 99bhp, 129bhp, and 153bhp outputs.
Like nearly every car Peugeot has launched in the last few years the 2008 is very good looking. Not as sexy as the 508 saloon or estate, and not quite as fetching as the 208 hatchbacks on which the 2008 are based on, but still a swish design.
So many cars in the compact SUV class are utterly bland – so the bar isn’t set that high.
The GT Line looks the best as it has its own detailing on the outside and also benefits from a bit of extra glitz on the inside.
If you’re leasing the car then the few extra quid a month for this trim level is worth it. The new 2008 is a substantial 150mm longer than the old one and it’s more spacious inside with extra front and rear legroom and a 434-liter luggage space when all the seats are in place. The boot is the same size, even for the EV version, and has a two-story floor so you can hide charging cables away.
What has improved beyond recognition is the quality of the 2008’s interior.
The materials are plusher and nicer to the touch – and in this GT Line version, you get contrasting stitching for the upholstery and some extra brightwork trim.
There’s ambient lighting, too, which is a more subtle and less pole dancing club than what you get with many rivals’ systems.
This trim, and the Allure, also get Peugeot’s natty 3D digital instrument pack which made its debut on the 208 last year. Peugeot boffins reckon the average driver will take in information half a second faster than looking at a conventional two-dimensional digital display.
We’ll have to take their word on that, but it does look pretty cool.
The 2008 also features Peugeot’s now trademark tiny steering wheel. I think I’ve finally got used to it and it does work particularly well when you’ve got the 3D screen.
Obviously, you get a full infotainment system which in this car means smartphone mirroring as standard. There are USB sockets and a USB-C port.