I will also have to get used to the unconventional i-Cockpit layout, here in its latest form, as in the 208, with an overlay for the digital instrument display that makes key data appear in 3D. It makes a mass-market compact crossover look like a spaceship inside, admittedly, and I’m sure that Peugeot will wheel out the facts that it has now sold more than five million cars fitted with an i-Cockpit and that customer feedback is mostly positive. But I’ve never managed to enjoy the small, almost rectangular steering wheel, nor having it unnaturally low, almost in my lap. I can raise the wheel to where it feels right, but then it blocks my view of the instruments. Perhaps I’ll feel differently after an extended period of use.
That issue aside, the interior of the 2008 does look fantastic – more befitting of a pricier car, in fact. My car’s metallic Orange Fusion paint is contrasted by black-and-grey faux leather and cloth with lime green stitching, plus a carbonfibre-print dashboard insert, which all looks really smart. Nothing I’ve touched so far has felt cheap or flimsy, and Peugeot has listened to past complaints by adding ‘piano keys’ below the 10.0in infotainment touchscreen. A regiment of buttons sit below a row of touch-sensitive icons – something I normally dislike, but in this case they’re easy to learn and then locate by rote.
The touchscreen itself has high-resolution graphics and large icons and comes with all the features you would expect in a car costing almost £27,000, including satnav, Bluetooth, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a wireless smartphone tray inside a lidded compartment below. It’s certainly a lot better than that of the original 2008, even if its menus aren’t always obvious and you have to use it to adjust the air conditioning – a common pet peeve. Thankfully, there are buttons to turn off the fan and to bring up the temperature menu.
The other highlights of the GT Line trim’s equipment list are a reversing camera, heated front seats, 18in diamond-cut two-tone alloy wheels, a gloss-black fake diffuser, twin tailpipes, a diamond-black roof, a leather GT steering wheel, full LED headlights and LED daytime-running lights and eight-colour ambient lighting. To that has been added an opening sunroof, adapative cruise control, blindspot monitoring and parking assistance, so there are plenty of features for me to explore.
The signs are all there, then, that the 2008 will continue Peugeot’s run of sparkling form. So much so that I’m looking forward to discovering whether this should be your compact crossover of choice over the Ford Puma and Nissan Juke – both also new members of our fleet.
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Price comments
It is very relevant!
The lease costs are directly related to the new cash price and trade in value of the car!
Not necessarily Lucy, it's
As an example, the car my wife currently uses lists at around 54k,
The CH agreement states, 'for the purpose of this contract hire agreement the cost of the vehicle shall be 38k' she then pays around around 22k of that in deposit and 36 monthly payments, so her total cost of using the car over the term is 22k, not and nowhere near the 54k list.
It looks smart. It does not
It looks smart. It does not look £28K smart, to me anyway. Nice that PSA allow the manual box with the 130bhp engine. In many cars they force you into the 100 BHP version, or put up with an auto box. One thing that really annoys me though, why do they inflict 'ugly kid' glass on eveyone. Its fine if you need it, but normal window tints all the way around look so much more classy.
However, with peoples love of sitting a bit higher, and good residuals helping the PCP rates, i imagine this will do very well for them.
these car prices are silly should be £18k
I think the car prices have gone up considerably ove rpast few years ,is it to make the ev brigade
prices look as though they are getting lower?
Grassy knoll
The answer to your question is no, it is simply to expensive.
£18K? You are so unrealistic!
The cheapest Ford Fiesta starts at nearly £17K. I think you are out of touch with reality. No way could this Peugeot be £18K.
that is my point the Fiesta should be £12k
Look at one year old ish examples and you will see them well under £10k and 2 yr old for about £8k all over priced and then discounted on pcp to sell the things ,no smart private buyer would buy new with their own money.
Yes, an Lotus Elise should be £14k, afterall it only has two seats.