YOU see them every week day. Mums and dads driving hulking 4x4s with a couple of small kids rattling around in the back.
And, more and more, I’m starting to wonder, do harassed parents really need such a big car just to shuttle their offspring to and from school?
I know all about the attractions of SUV ownership - the commanding driving position, the roomy interior, the big, well-shaped boot and the reassurance of four-wheel drive. But the sheer size of many a 4x4 makes them unwieldy in town and, sometimes, downright awkward. Don’t believe me? Just check how many SUVs are badly parked, wheels half on the pavement, boot sticking out into the traffic, the next time you do the 8.30am school run.
There has to be an alternative.
The Peugeot 2008 looks like an SUV. It has sump guards, an elevated ride height, big wheels and chunky styling.
But it’s actually not much larger than a supermini and it costs thousands less than a full fat 4x4.
Yes, it doesn’t have four-wheel drive (no matter which model you buy) but it does have something else which is almost as good.
ON THE ROAD:
As the name suggests, the 2008 is a spin-off from the 208 hatchback (itself based on the platformed that sired the the 207, 1007 and Citroen’s C2/C3 twins) but there are significant differences.
Visually, the two siblings share Peugeot’s new design DNA - the much-improved chrome grille sans plastic lip, the complex bonnet-pressing and the classy-looking chrome lion badge - but the 2008 has a different swept lights treatment, the grille is higher and the chin spoiler is a two-piece affair. In keeping with the 2008’s rough-rider brief, the lower chin piece is moulded from tougher (non-painted) plastic. In profile, the 2008 has an unusual chrome cutout above the rear door, which accentuates the raised roof line, and lots more fresh air between the wheel arches and the tyres (it’s 100mm taller than a 208).
Designers have been encouraged to let their imaginations run wild on mini SUVs recently and, compared to a crazy flight of fancy like the Nissan Juke, the 2008 looks rather plain, but the more I looked at the Peugeot the more I noticed - and the more I warmed to its style. It looks rather elegant and I suspect it won’t date as quickly as more radical rivals.
The suspension hike has gifted the 2008 an better ride than the 208 at the expense of a bit more roll in corners. That’s a trade-off I could accept if I wanted a cross-over.
Peugeot’s 1.6 e-HDI engine (the latest version of PSA’s acclaimed direct injection diesel) is quiet and very smooth throughout its operating range. It’s also ridiculously frugal. No matter how I tried the fuel computer stubbornly refused to drop below 53mpg. I’d expect to see 60mpg on a gentle motorway canter.
In town, you’ll appreciate the tight turning circle (when most grown up 4x4s have the turning circle of a supertanker) and the compact dimensions which make parking a doddle.
ON THE INSIDE:
I wish I had a franc for every time a French car manufacturer has claimed that the quality of a new model’s interior is a quantum leap ahead of the rattle traps that went before. But, subjectively, the 2008’s cabin really is a major improvement.
It looks nice from the driver’s seat - lots of high-gloss plastic, contrasting surfaces, slush-moulded trim pieces and satin chrome highlights. The Feline trim test car came with a panoramic glass sunroof with an electric blind (which takes an age to close) and subtle blue ambient lighting.
All the touch surfaces feel solid and reassuring, the fascia is simple and straightforward (Peugeot’s designers have gone to war on fiddly buttons replacing them with a colourful touch-screen interface) and the instrumentation is clear and comprehensive. It really does feel more expensive than the £12,995 starting price would suggest and, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hear a squeak, creak or groan from the trim.
British journalists have carped on about the small steering wheel and heads up instruments ever since they appeared on the 208 but we have nothing to feel smug about - didn’t British Leyland once fit a square(!?) steering wheel to the Allegro?
I reckon the fault lies with journos who refuse to drop the steering wheel below their sightline and thus complain that the rim obscures the instruments. Well, yeah it does… if you’re stupid. If you adjust the wheel to the angle it’s supposed to be used at there’s no problem. In fact, lowering the wheel gives you a better view of the road ahead so I reckon Peugeot could be on to something.
Only the palm-operated “aviation-style” handbrake annoys - I couldn’t get my fingers around it and press the release button, but I do have small digits - and the way the rear door frame protrudes beyond the window line means kids have to be careful to avoid catching their heads climbing in and out.
WHAT DO YOU GET:
There are four trim levels - Access+, Active, Allure and Feline. Every 2008 features air conditioning with a refridgerated glove box, electric front windows, cruise control/speed limiter, central locking, heated mirrors and a radio/CD player. The CD goes the journey if you step up to the Active models and above but you do get a DAB radio tuner, Bluetooth streaming and USB connectivity as compensation. The Allure adds direction fogs, dark tinted rear windows, dual zone air conditioning and parking radar while the Feline throws in the sunroof, satellite navigation, bigger 17-inch alloys and an alarm.
HOW PRACTICAL IS IT?
As an alternative to a small hatchback the 2008 wins hands down. It’s got more interior room, a larger boot (the biggest in the class) and the taller driving position SUV owners like. The elephant in the room, for some, maybe the lack of four-wheel drive but the 2008 has that one covered too. Grip Control is a sophisticated traction control system designed to mimic the effect of 4WD in tricky conditions. Fitted with special all-weather tyres, the 2008 really does perform like an all-wheel drive car. Indeed, Peugeot is so confident of the system’s abilities that it rented a ski slope and invited journalists to drive up the icy 14 degree angle. Imagine our surprise when the 2008 romped up without so much as spinning a wheel. How much this is down to the Grip Control (which is selected by a dial on the centre console) or the tyres (which are designed for extra traction in snow, ice and mud) I’m not sure but what I can say is that the 2008 can deal with anything you’re ever likely to encounter on UK roads.
RUNNING COSTS:
The e-HDI engines are very efficient and you’ll pay buttons for your road tax because the exhaust emissions are just 103g/km. Models with Peugeot six-speed automatic are even better, dipping below the 100g/km threshold.
VERDICT:
Why bother driving a gas-guzzling 4x4 when you can have it all, for a lot less, in a 2008?
I expected to dislike the 2008 - generally, I take a dim view of pseudo 4x4s - but the little car wormed its way into my affections and Peugeot’s Grip Control (standard on Allure and Feline models) really does work.
Nice one Peugeot - this Feline’s the cat that got the cream.
Peugeot 2008 Feline 1.6 e-HDI 92
Price: £18,845
Spec:
Engine: 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine
Power: 92bhp @ 4,000 rpm
Torque: 230 Nm @ 1,750 rpm
Top speed: 113 mph
0-62mph: 12.8 seconds
Fuel economy: 70.6 mpg (official combined figure)
CO2 emissions: 103 g/km
Equipment: 17-inch alloys, panoramic glass roof, touch screen infotainment with satellite navigation, two USB inputs, Bluetooth music streaming and phone control, leather trim, automatic dual zone air conditioning.
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