2023 Peugeot 3008 GT Sport Review

Peugeot has given their second-generation 3008 five-seat SUV a facelift and it’s off to a flying start. The podgy predecessor has been left in the dust with the new frameless grille and aggressive lights both front and rear dialling up the styling stakes.

And if you are a fan of the two-tone colour scheme, it has been dropped. But don’t fret, the range still comes in seven different hues, including the Celebes Blue with a ‘Diamond Black’ contrasting roof on our top-spec GT Sport model tested here.

In Australia, you’ll be pleased to know the GT Sport comes standard with the Black Pack (optional in overseas market) that darkens all the badges, spoilers, and wheels for that properly menacing look. It’s an interesting choice on a family SUV, but we think it looks best with the ‘Ultimate Red’ paint finish.

Step inside and you’ll find the cabin a nice place to be without being overly eccentric as French cars can be sometimes. The interior is spacious and airy, and the 12.3-inch i-Cockpit digital instrument panel is customisable to suit your mood via a simple scroll wheel on the steering wheel. No need to go prodding around frustratingly in submenus!

The infotainment touchscreen has been enlarged to 10.0-inches with a row of convenient toggle switches underneath for quick access to regularly used functions like music, navigation (yes, it has built-in sat-nav), phone, and air conditioning. However, the toggle switches are finished in a metal-look trim which can be quite glary under the strong Australian summer sun.

Most climate control functions are managed through the touchscreen, but pressing the climate control shortcut buttons on the screen only adjust the temperature and fan speed. For full functionality, you’ll need to use the switch on the centre stack to call up the full menu. We also found the air conditioning can be a bit weak in the summer, so make sure to pack plenty of ice-cold drinks.

One thing you’ll notice is the scandalously small steering wheel, but fear not, you’ll get used to it. The materials and build quality are generally good, with soft rubbery plastic for the dashboard, front door tops, and sides of the center console.

3008 GT Sport features highlights:

• Eight-way power driver’s seat with massage function
• Heated front seats
• Nappa leather upholstery
• Black-finish exterior trim and grille
• Lime wood dashboard and door trim finish
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• 19-inch ‘Washington’ alloy wheels

For the full specification, head over to the Peugeot 3008’s official website.

Storage is excellent with front door pockets that fit a 1L bottle and rear doors that can accommodate 600ml bottles. Cupholders are decently sized, and the illuminated centre console is cavernous.

There’s plenty of legroom in the rear although the centre tunnel does eat into the centre passenger’s legroom a little. There are rear air vents, map pockets, two USB-A ports, three top-tether points, and two ISOFIX anchor points for child seats.

The 591L boot space with rear seats in place expands to a generous 1,670L with seats folded (albeit with a space saver spare), and there’s a handy lever in the cargo bay to drop the second row back rests.

All models are powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine in various states of tune but produces 133kW at 5,500rpm and 250Nm of torque at 1,650rpm in the GT Sport.

And while it’s considerably less powerful than some of its rivals including the Volkswagen Tiguan, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda CX-5; all of which produce in excess of 160kW in top-spec all-wheel-drive variants, the Peugeot 3008 weighs just 1,429kg or 270kg lighter than the Tiguan, for example.

The eight-speed torque converter automatic works well with the punchy petrol engine, and there’s plenty of pick-up off the line. It won’t win a traffic light drag race, but it’s more than enough for daily driving without feeling underpowered.

And when you’re on winding roads, the 3008 feels secure and planted. The electric steering is well-weighted, making it a breeze to manoeuvre around the city or take on the highway. The ride quality is impressive, smoothing out even the most corrugated roads thrown at it without feeling floaty. All this from a less sophisticated torsion-beam rear suspension.

The 2023 Peugeot 3008 GT Sport does have its ride and handling down pad and is one of the more enjoyable vehicles in its class to drive.

One downside to the 3008 GT Sport’s driving experience is the exaggerated fake engine note that’s activated in sports mode. It’s a little gimmicky and can be a bit annoying, especially if you’re looking for a more authentic driving experience. But if you’re in the mood for a little fun, go ahead and give it a try. Be warned though as the transmission has a tendency to hang on to lower gears in sports mode, too.

The car’s adaptive cruise control with stop and go is worth noting, however. Operated via a stalk behind the steering wheel, it works well and makes both highway and urban driving a breeze. But one thing that blights the Peugeot is the lack of auto hold for the brakes. The car can sometimes roll back when you take your foot off the brakes to get moving again. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it can be a little disconcerting especially for new or inexperience drivers.

The start button also requires a firm press before the engine kicks into action. During the course of the test, we’ve noticed you tend to have to tap it twice before anything happens.

Don’t go looking for any physical buttons for the active safety and driver assist features, either, as all are controlled via the touchscreen except for the lane-assist system which is crowned with its own button.

Other standard safety equipment includes:

• AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane Positioning Assist (lane centring)
• Driver attention monitoring
• Traffic sign recognition
• Automatic high-beam
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera with surround view

The Peugeot 3008 GT Sport has a claimed combined fuel economy of 5.6L/100km. But in our test, we averaged 8.6L/100km over a mix of inner-city, suburban, and highway driving. While it’s not the most fuel-efficient car in its class, it’s still a respectable figure.

The 3008 comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty along with 5-years roadside assist. It needs a visit to the dealer every 12 months or 20,000km, and is offered with Peugeot’s five year capped-price servicing at $2,639 for the first five years.

Finally, lets address the elephant in the room. The 3008 GT Sport carries a price tag of $63,431 before on-road costs. That’s a bitter pill to swallow given the newer and larger Lexus NX250 2WD undercuts the Peugeot at $61,900 before on road costs.

It makes the 3008’s value proposition relatively poor, particularly when you consider Peugeot is not a luxury brand. It’s also an eye watering $10,000 more than the 3008 GT petrol.

Verdict