2017 Peugeot 3008 1.2 Puretech UK first drive

If we’re talking about mechanical bits and not about trim level, this is the entry point into the new Peugeot 3008 range. Although the 1.2-litre three-cylinder Puretech engine can be found under the bonnet of all manner of PSA Group products, the rest of the car is a significant departure from the outgoing 3008.

In case you’ve been stuck in a cave on the side of a mountain for the past 10 years, SUVs are very much ‘in’ at the moment. That was something of a problem for the old 3008; it may have had some skidplate-effect bumpers and an elevated driving position, but it looked more MPV than mud-plugger. Not cool.

So to funk things up a bit, Peugeot has turned the 3008 into yet another 4x4-inspired family wagon. The important word here is 'inspired'; unlike most rivals, there’s no all-wheel-drive 3008, just some extra-clever traction control, along with mud and snow tyres.

To round things off, weight is down, the dimensions have been tweaked to make it appear less dumpy and there’s lots of tech to boot. That includes a fully digital dashboard as standard, along with an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system. So, the 3008 impressed us abroad, but what’s it like in the UK?

Before we begin, it’s worth mentioning that although we’ve been trundling around the roads of West Sussex all weekend, the 3008 we’ve been driving has its steering wheel on the left side of the cabin. While you’d hope that this shouldn’t affect road manners, we need to wait for a right-hand-drive car before we can give our definitive verdict.

Caveat over, we can move on to what the 3008 is actually like. You might think that a diddy 1.2-litre lump has no place in a five-seat family wagon, but the 129bhp motor is more than up to the task. It’s not quick, but there’s enough torque to get up to speed without thrashing it.

Four up, you do feel the additional weight, but performance is still adequate. Ultimately, you'd be well advised to think seriously about one of the diesels if you’re going to be lugging loads on a regular basis.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with this engine, coming with well-judged ratios that are tall enough to allow relaxed cruising. It’s a shame the gearbox has long throws and a slightly vague action, but it’s no deal-breaker. Should you need (or want) it, a six-speed automatic ‘box is also available.

As with most other Peugeots currently on sale, the steering wheel is tiny and not quite round. This acts on a quick-acting rack, a combination that can take some getting used to. After a few miles, you get used to making small inputs and it actually works rather well. There’s not much feedback, but the steering is precise, nicely weighted (as long as you keep out of Sport mode) and makes low-speed manoeuvring a doddle. 

As for the handling, body roll is well contained, helping the 3008 to turn in to corners smartly. Push on and you’ll find no nasty vices, with the front tyres always losing grip first and no danger of any surprise oversteer. There’s no point looking for it, either; you can turn off the traction control,but it switches itself back on above 30mph.