By Otsile Kadiege

Bold, allure, emotive, posh and a touch of sportiness. Those are the words we would use to describe the updated Peugeot 3008. We recently spent some time with the 2017 Car of The Year award winning SUV which has been given a fresh new look and new technology.

Restyled design

Off the bat, we like the modern French design. It’s unique and turned quite a few heads when we drove it in Cape Town. Updates to the exterior of the Peugeot 3008 include an instantly recognisable front-end design thanks to a distinctive frameless grille that seamlessly integrates with the front bumper. In GT guise, the 3008 features adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assist and Sabre-tooth-like day time running lights which double as turn signals. Contrasting wheel arches, side skirts, roof rails, chrome roof trim GT monograms on the front fenders and 19-inch wheels on the GT guise (17 and 18-inches on the Active and Allure respectively) are note worthy styling features.

Three claw LED tail lights with 3D effect and sequential turn signals are the highlights of the rear end. Consumers will have the option to choose between 7 different colours like the Ultimate Red and Celebes Blue colours which looked stunning underneath the African sun.

Premium interior

At launch, only the GT derivative was made available for us to sample. Stepping inside is made easy thanks to keyless entry available on Allure and GT derivatives. The driver is greeted by Dark Lime Wood trim and premium Nappa leather seats which needs more bolstering. We were blown away by the unique styling, impressive quality and attention to detail. The uniquely styled flat top and bottom steering wheel felt good to touch but, depending on the positioning, it can block your view of the configurable 12.3-inch digital cluster. The Active and Allure get an 8-inch display unit while the GT has a capacitive 10-inch touchscreen which is tilted towards the driver and has crisp graphics but it’s let down by the low quality of the Visiopark 360° vision camera.

Its infotainment featuring Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity is intuitive. GT derivatives get an impressive 10 speaker Focal Premium Hi Fi Audio with 515 watts while the Active and Allure are fitted with a 6 speaker audio system.

The rear seats are comfortable and have ample knee and head room. The 3008 has a decently sized boot at 591-litres which can be extended by folding the rear seats availing 1,670-litres of luggage capacity.

Driver assistance and safety features

Here are a few of the driver assistance and safety features: Blind Spot Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, Advanced Emergency Brake System, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Brake Assist, ABS with EBD, Hill Assist, Driver and Passenger Front Airbags to name a few.

Powertrains

All 3008 model derivatives are powered by a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine delivering 121 kW and 240 Nm. They’re paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission, will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and have a top speed of 210 km/h. The French automaker claims a combined fuel-consumption of 7.0l/100 km.

How does it drive?

During our limited time with the updated 3008 we drove through heavy Cape Town traffic and Franschoek Pass. The 3008 managed to filter out noise coming from the buzzing streets of Cape Town. The engine has ample power when the need to overtake on the highway arises and it has a smooth shifting the 6-speed automatic transmission. The car felt planted and has a good suspension that soaks up imperfections of bumpy roads.

Verdict, pricing and warranty

The 3008 is a great SUV, especially in GT guise. It has enough space for a small family; a premium interior and quirky exterior that is likely to make you feel special, and a good engine. We cannot wait to spend more time with the award winning French SUV.

The 3008 is priced from R514,900 for the active, R574,900 for the Allure and R644,900 for the GT derivative. All 3008s come with a 5 year / 100,000 Km service plan, 5 year / 100,000 Km manufacturer’s warranty, 5 year / 100,000 Km roadside assistance, 12 year anti-perforation and 3 year paint warranty.