Should you buy one?

If you’re adamant you want a new Peugeot 3008 as your family SUV, this mild-hybrid model is without doubt the version to go for. It’s £11,000 cheaper than the electric e-3008, drives much better and yet it’s still frugal and should be quite inexpensive to run. The interior is also among the best in this class in terms of look and feel. 

But we think the 3008 fails to deliver overall in what is a hugely competitive segment, especially on the practicality front, which is vital for a car of this type. The rear seats have a disappointing lack of space and it generally lacks the flexibility of the best family SUVs. It all just feels like a case of style over substance. 

What’s new?

Let’s start with the looks. It’s certainly eye-catching, with a striking front end that does away with a conventional grille and moves to a trendier coupe-like bodystyle – Peugeot calls it a ‘fastback SUV’. Moving inside, the cabin is dominated by a touchscreen merged with a digital instrument cluster in one crisp piece of curved glass. Peugeot is by no means the first to implement such an interior design (BMW, Vauxhall and Nissan also deploy it), but the 3008’s cabin arguably looks the best of the bunch.

However, the most noteworthy aspect of the new model is the option of having an electric e-3008 for the first time. That’s something enabled by it being built around a brand-new platform (called STLA medium) that was first and foremost built with EVs in mind. The Peugeot 3008 is the first model from Stellantis to use the new underpinning, which will underpin two million new cars each year when all future cars produced with it are up and running. Others to use it include the new Vauxhall Grandland and replacement for the Citroen C5 Aircross. 

In the first few months of sale,  only the electric version of this family SUV was available. However, we were left disappointed by it on the original international launch and when driving it extensively in the UK due to its harsh ride, expensive price and compromised practicality. 

You can read about it in our separate Peugeot e-3008 review, but our focus here is on the new hybrid versions of the regular 3008 that are now available. These include a fresh mild-hybrid setup, while a plug-in hybrid model will follow in 2025. 

Peugeot is selling the new 3008 in two trim levels – Allure and GT – with prices starting from £34,660 and £38,160 respectively, putting it at the top end of the segment, and not far behind models from more premium brands such as Audi and BMW. 

Standard equipment is impressive, though, including 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and wireless smartphone charging. The GT adds an electric boot, heated front seats and matrix LED headlights. 

The Peugeot 3008’s list of rivals is extensive as it competes in the most popular new car segment – best-sellers including the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson. Other excellent choices in this class include the Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Karoq, while if you fancy something a touch more premium, we strongly recommend the BMW X1. Read more about how we test cars at Parkers. 

But is the new Peugeot 3008 worth considering, and is it a better car than the electric e-3008? Over the next few pages, we’ll assess its practicality, interior, engines and running costs to give you the definitive verdict.