The 3008 is one of two closely related, medium sized SUVs built by Peugeot, the other being the 5008. Both predate the 208 supermini, which began a new design era for the company. Peugeots created since then are noticeably better than ones created before.

An upgrade in early 2014 did not disguise the fact that the 3008 is already in need of replacement, even though it isn't actually all that old. Other cars in the class are more refined, though the 3008 does score well for practicality. It's also available in diesel-electric HYbrid4 form, with lots of power but very low CO2 emissions.

The 3008 is available only with five seats. If you want seven, Peugeot offers that in the longer-wheelbase 5008.

Performance

Power outputs range from 113bhp for the 1.6-litre HDi 115 to 197bhp for the HYbrid4, which is therefore the quickest model in the range with a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds as well as being officially by far the most economical, though also the most expensive.

The less powerful engines, which also include the petrol VTi 120, will be adequate as long as you don't need to get anywhere in a hurry. The THP 156 turbo petrol engine makes the 3008 nearly as quick as the HYbrid4, but if you want similar performance the diesel HDi 150 (manual transmission) or HDi 163 (automatic) are more obvious choices for an SUV.

Ride and Handling

Don't get too excited by the fact that it has four-wheel drive: this is simply because the engine drives the front axle and the electric motor the rear.

On the whole, 3008s are quite good to drive, though we'd avoid those fitted with 18-inch wheels as the suspension wasn't set up to deal with those and the ride quality suffers badly as a result. The exception to the rule is the HYbrid4, which has so many heavy components (a diesel engine, a gearbox, an electric motor and a battery pack) that it feels quite sluggish. Don't get too excited by the fact that it has four-wheel drive: this is simply because the engine drives the front axle and the electric motor the rear. It doesn't handle better on tarmac because of this, though there it does have a slight advantage off-road when both power sources are being used.

Interior and Equipment

The 3008 is built on the same platform as the old 308 as well as the RCZ sports coupe.

Luggage capacity on all versions is 512 litres with the rear seats in place and 1604 to roof level when they're folded down. The folding down bit is easy, as they're heavily spring loaded in that direction, but getting them back up again takes more effort. The tailgate is in two halves, and the lower part is strong enough to be sat on at sporting events, picnics or what have you. There's plenty of room in the front seats but less in the rear. The 2014 upgrade made the interior more attractive (and included a switch from monochrome to full colour for the head-up display) but the diesel models sound gruff on the inside, and the electronic handbrake makes an extraordinary racket when it's being switched on or off. Rear visibility is quite inadequate due to the form-over-function philosophy of the window design. Along with the Crossway special edition, there are three trim levels called Access, Active and Allure. The last of these has the most equipment, including satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, an aluminium-finish exterior pack, front parking sensors, parking space measurement, tyre pressure sensors, an alarm, a panoramic sunroof and sun shades for the rear passengers.

Cost

It's worth noting that HYbrid4s are the most expensive 3008s by some way, with prices starting at over £27,000.

The star performer here is the HYbrid4, simply because it can run on electric power only. In the best case (meaning the version in the relatively modest Active trim level) this means 85g/km of CO2 emissions, so Benefit In Kind taxation is in the third lowest band and there's no Vehicle Excise Duty to pay. Official fuel economy is 85.6mpg, but that's going to be very difficult to achieve. Other HYbrid4 CO2 ratings are 99g/km for the Allure and 104g/km for the Limited Edition. It's worth noting that HYbrid4s are the most expensive 3008s by some way, with prices starting at over £27,000. Among the more conventional models, the best figures are 65.7mpg and 112g/km for the e-HDi with the EGC electronically-controlled manual gearbox, which we don't like very much.

Our Verdict

The 3008 isn't a bad car as such, but we'd prefer it to be more refined than it is, and the rear visibility is simply unacceptable. A new model built on a more modern platform (presumably that of the current 308 hatchback) is already overdue.