2022 Peugeot 3008 Review | Philkotse Philippines

When it comes to the local crossover market, the most that will probably get mentioned first are models from Asian brands. This is probably because they’re more mainstream and more attainable. 

Peugeot 2008 v 3008 v 5008: What are the differences?

European crossover vehicles do exist in our market though. But while most offer plenty in terms of performance and luxury, they are also often priced above Php 3 million. The cheapest BMW crossover in the local market right now for example is the X1 and that starts above Php 3 million. The same goes for the Mercedes-Benz GLA which starts at around Php 3.6 million.  

Peugeot Philippines had other plans. See, when it launched the 3008 five-seater compact crossover, Peugeot priced it to be the middle ground between offerings from mainstream and premium luxury car brands. Yes, its current Php 2,255,000 starting price is still hefty, but it is more attainable compared to other European car brands in the country.

The question now is, does this relatively more affordable Peugeot 3008 still carry the same level of sophistication as other European-branded models? Find out with this review of the 2022 Peugeot 3008. 

The Peugeot 3008 shares the same design language as its larger 5008 midsize crossover. That said, its front end is a mixture of complex elegant elements and some aggressive lines and angles.  

The front of the Peugeot 3008

Its front fascia is particularly appealing thanks to its sharp-looking LED headlamps. The Peugeot 3008 is also fitted with vertically oriented LED daytime running lamps, which adds swag to the vehicle. The frameless grille is where the complexity begins due to its interesting pattern. The lower front bumper then gets a bit more angular as do the faux vents. 

The 3008 from the rear

Turning to the side, one will see a low-slung stance which I rather like. It also gets an abundance of black-colored side claddings, which is typical for crossover vehicles. The ones on the doors though are decorated with a silver trim breaking the matte-black monotony. The 18-inch alloy wheels and the roof rails add a robust feel to this otherwise elegant ride.  

From the side

The rear of this French crossover gets a lot less complicated than the front end. Although, Peugeot still gave it some eye-candy design details. What I’m talking about is the pair of smoked 3D claw LED taillights, adding distinct appeal to the vehicle. Also enhancing the rear of the 3008 is the beefy lower rear bumper. Looks-wise, the Peugeot 3008 presents an interesting spin on crossover exterior design. It is an eye-catcher that’s for sure, but all the while, it is far from simple. 

The interior of the 3008 is just as sophisticated as its exterior. There are plenty of things that will be pleasurable to the eyes while keeping a logical layout that won’t melt your brain with boredom.  

The 3008's front cabin

The front cabin gets a similar layout to the 5008. The Peugeot i-Cockpit design gives the 3008 a cabin that intends to mimic the cockpit of a fighter jet. 

One feature that shows this is the fabulous design of the buttons on the center stack just below the dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system’s center vents. They look like toggle switches on a fighter jet, which is fitting since Peugeot was involved in aeronautics in the 1900s. Even the gear shift lever feels like you’re pushing or pulling on a plane’s thrust lever. 

The 3008's trunk

The Peugeot 3008 also has a driver-oriented dashboard layout. This is evidenced by how the central touchscreen is angled towards the driver for better visibility and reach. The digital gauge cluster was also positioned just right, so one’s eyes won’t linger away from the road that much. Those are then combined with plenty of soft-touch surfaces and premium materials found all around the vehicle’s interior.

The 3008's rear cabin

The flat-bottom and flat-top steering wheel however can take getting used to for a bit. Usually, I'd prefer a regular old round steering wheel, but this one on the 3008 just adds more to its personality.

Move to the rear cabin and I found it to be quite generous on all accounts for my large 5’11” frame. There’s plenty of legroom to be had, and headroom is likewise plentiful. It also gets a comfy center armrest. 

Getting in or out of this Peugot was also easy

At its default setting, the trunk gets 591 liters of space. I found this more than enough for the usual chores like loading up laundry, groceries, and the like. Fold the rear seats, then it’ll get 1,670 liters, which is great for out-of-town trips.  

The Peugeot 3008 comes with a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These connectivity features allow for ease when connecting smartphones to the car’s touchscreen. The screen itself is also responsive and easy to use, and thanks to the physical buttons, it was a breeze to use while keeping one’s eyes on the road. 

The 3008's touchscreen headunit

The same goes for the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster which can be controlled by the buttons on the steering wheel. Of note, it can display a good variety of relevant driving information. In other cars, that might overwhelm newbies by showing a lot of stuff at the same time. But this one on the 3008 can be easily toggled via a scroll switch on the steering wheel to highlight what one wants. Specifically, it can display activated driver assistive programs, fuel economy, a tachometer, among other parameters. 

Charging is also made easy thanks to the presence of a wireless charging dock. It also gets USB ports in case you’re not a fan of wireless charging.  

One safety feature that I personally made great use of was its active blind spot detection system. I found this to really live up to its “active” designation as it was able to keep up with the chaos of Commonwealth Avenue in the morning rush hours. 

Its digital gauge cluster

Also present on the 3008 is active lane assist, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, and advanced driver attention warning. It also has several drive modes for various terrains which can be toggled via a knob, but I only left it in the default setting since I mostly drove it on paved roads. 

The cruise control’s toggle comes in the form of a stalk positioned on the left side of the steering column below the steering wheel, which I find a bit unusual. But in my very low driving position, I found it quickly enough. This crossover’s cruise control is also not adaptive, which is quite a bummer considering the 3008’s price point.  

The heart of the Peugeot 3008 is a 1.6-liter inline-4 turbocharged gasoline engine. At maximum, it can make up to 165 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. This is the same engine that the 5008 uses. Power is then sent to its front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox.  

The 3008's 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine

As one would imagine, the 3008 is quick on its feet. When using its paddle shifters and its “Sports Mode,” the 3008 might be able to dance circles around its larger sibling, the 5008. It isn’t a sports car by any means, but I found it to be agile.  

As mentioned above, the Sports Mode offers real tangible performance gains. The engine is more rev happy in this mode, and it will sing when pushed hard. It also didn’t exhibit much in the way of body roll on corners, and it also didn’t squat when accelerating forwards. 

It gets a unique's looking shifter, and its center stack buttons look eye-catching as well

This made cruising on the highway relaxing and taking on curved backroads fairly rewarding. Also thanks to its grunt, the 3008 makes overtaking other vehicles on the highway feel like a breeze. 

In regular driving in the city, the transmission was responsive and smooth. Its steering might be a tad light for my tastes, but it is direct and it makes navigating tight city roads easier. Noise insulation is also good, as was its forward visibility.  

Its fairly quick on its feet, for a crossover

These are all great for those looking for an exciting or comfy driving experience. But when riding on the rear is concerned, one will find the suspension a bit stiff. It isn’t deal-breaking, but that’s just the price you’ll have to pay for good handling. 

At an average speed of 15 km/h with two passengers on board, I managed to get 9 km/l in the city from this Peugeot crossover. 

On the highway, also with two passengers, the 3008 returned 21.8 km/l at an average speed of 90 km/h.  

Compare that to the 2022 Honda HR-V S that we reviewed, which got 9.5 km/l in the city, and 23.5 km/l on the highway. There’s also the Ford Territory, which we tested out that returned 8.8 km/l in the city, and 13 km/l on the highway.  

So is the 2022 Peugeot 3008 worth its current starting price of Php 2,255,000? That’s a yes for me, especially if you really want to stand out in the sea of mainstream crossovers on Philippine roads. 

The 3008 is a good model to consider when looking for a unique-looking crossover

There are some crossover models that can match the tech and driving experience that the 3008 provides, sure. But as we’ve pointed out, there are only a few European-branded crossovers that come within its price range. Couple that with a distinctive exterior design, a refined interior, and notable handling, the 2022 Peugeot 3008 deserves to be on your shortlist.