Family cars are rarely about straight line speed but are more about affordable running costs. Peugeot 3008 performance is dependent on which diesel or petrol version you opt for.

Petrol engines

There’s a decent choice of engines in the Peugeot 3008 line-up and the entry-level model is a 1.6-litre VTi petrol with 120bhp, co-developed with BMW. It covers the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 11.8 seconds while economy is a useful 42mpg when fitted with the standard Michelin energy saving tyres. However, it is the only model fitted with the five-speed manual gearbox which is a dated and disappointing transmission with a slack and lifeless shift.

All other engines get the far superior six-speed manual as standard, including the 1.6 THP with 150bhp. This uses a turbocharger to boost power and is much more urgent (0-62mph takes 8.9 seconds) yet thanks to its small size, returns 37mpg.

Diesel engines

The diesels are more popular in the Peugeot 3008, starting with the 1.6 HDi with 113bhp. This has a decent turn of pace and is relatively quiet on the move, but it rarely feels especially quick. It’s available with an automatic gearbox known as EGC (which stands for electronically-controlled manual gearbox) which has paddles behind the steering wheel allowing you to change gear manually while also offering a standard automatic mode. Unusually for an automatic, it offers the same 0-62mph acceleration time as the manual (12.2 seconds) and actually improves economy with an average of 67mpg.

The top diesel is a 2.0 HDi that offers impressive pulling power and is ideal for motorway driving. It can be a little noisy on start-up, but on the move is fairly quiet. The standard six-speed manual version has 150bhp and manages the 0-62mph benchmark in 9.7 seconds, but feels much quicker in everyday driving. It also returns an impressive 53mpg.

An automatic version is available with power boosted to 163bhp, but it’s slower than the manual and less economical too.

This 163bhp turbodiesel is also used on the 3008 Hybrid4 that has an electric motor and Peugeot’s EGC (electronic gear control) transmission. It’s not the smoothest gearbox in use, but the Hybrid4 can run in electric-only mode for short distances and it also has the option of four-wheel drive at the rotation of a dial.

Parkers recommends

Despite the Hybrid4’s economy and emissions benefits, we’d plump for the 150bhp 2.0-litre diesel with six-speed manual gearbox for the most rounded driving experience.

While the 3008 may look like a people carrier, it actually drives very much like a hatchback. It’s composed and safe with well weighted, responsive steering, making it relaxing on long motorway journeys.

It’s reassuring in corners with not too much body roll, although it’s far from sporty and never feels especially engaging to drive.

The 1.6-litre THP and 2.0 HDi models come with Dynamic Roll Control, a hydraulic system that automatically softens or stiffens the suspension depending on whether you’re tackling corners or cruising on a straight road.

As a result, the ride is very good and soaks up bumps impressively (although in pre-2011 Sport trim variants this becomes harsh and crashy).

One negative is rear visibility, which is a little restricted and can make parking in tight spaces tricky.

All cars come with ESP stability control as standard while there’s an optional system called Grip Control that has five modes including snow, sand and all-terrain. It’s not a four-wheel drive system but does come with ‘Mud and Snow’ tyres suitable for both on and off-road use.

The various settings, accessed via a dial by the gear lever, alter the traction settings and can direct more power to the front wheel with the most grip.