In anticipation of its August arrival, Australian prices and specifications have been announced for the 2018 Peugeot 3008 SUV. With a four-tiered range, the French medium SUV will start from $39,990 driveaway, which punches into relatively upmarket territory among a set of competitors that start closer to $30,000 – including the Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda CX-5, and Hyundai Tucson. Chasing Cars exclusively broke in April that the Peugeot 3008 had a certainty for Australia, having spotted the model testing in Sydney on the back of receiving a variety of European motoring awards.
The Peugeot’s higher price of entry is partially offset by a generous helping of equipment and an especially impressive cabin. The prices also recognise that most buyers in the medium SUV segment select a second- or third-tier model around the $40,000 mark – but the lack of a circa-$30,000 model to tempt shoppers into dealerships will affect the 3008’s competitiveness.
A further issue is the limitation of diesel power only to the lavishly-equipped $49,490 GT model. Additionally, the front-wheel-drive-only 3008 will turn off some rural buyers but realistically, all-wheel-drive is wholly unnecessary for the vast majority who use their SUVs for the school pickup and the occasional road trip – on tarmac. A semi-off-roading system, called Grip Control, is optional, which beefs up the front differential and includes specialised mud and snow tyres.
A four-cylinder turbo petrol engine is the sole offering in three of the four 3008 models. The 1.6-litre THP 165 engine drives the front wheels through a six-speed Aisin automatic gearbox, producing 121kW of power at 6,000rpm and 240Nm of torque at 1,400rpm. Solid numbers, though more powerful and torquey petrol models are offered in many of the Peugeot’s rivals.
The high-spec BlueHDi S&S diesel rates at 133kW of power at 3,750rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2,000rpm – a near even-match with the Volkswagen Tiguan 140TDI and Hyundai Tucson CRDi.
Peugeot will rely on the 3008’s impressive i-Cockpit technology suite across much of its marketing, with every car in the range featuring a 12-inch digital driver’s display – replacing traditional analogue dials – plus an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, DAB radio, and smartphone mirroring.
Further standard kit highlights include the automatic headlights and wipers, alloy wheels and a full-grain stitched leather steering wheel and leather shifter that feature on every 3008. But the 3008 falls short in not offering autonomous emergency braking across the range – as a Mazda CX-5 does – and in lacking keyless entry and start on all cars, as the new Honda CR-V offers. A hands-free power tailgate is optional across the range, is a panoramic sunroof.
The range kicks off with the $36,990 3008 Active, which will be marketed at $39,990 driveaway. The Active bundles 17-inch alloys with two-tone fabric seats, dual zone climate control with rear air vents, LED daytime running lights and ‘claw effect’ taillights, front and rear parking sensors, driver fatigue detection and a lane departure warning system.
From there it’s a $2,500 step to the 3008 Allure ($39,490). The Allure adds 18-inch two-tone diamond-cut alloys, grey exterior trim, fabric and artificial leather seats, beautiful fabric inserts for the dashboard and doors, a 360-degree parking camera, and keyless entry and start.
The Allure can also be optioned with leather seats, or with a safety package that adds AEB, plus active technologies like active cruise control, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring.
AEB – and the rest of the advanced safety technology – only becomes standard fare on the GT Line ($43,490). It’s here that the aesthetics become slicker: the GT Line adds a black roof, black mirrors, a chequered grille, stainless steel scuff plates, twin exhausts and 18-inch ‘Detroit’ matte two-tone diamond-cut alloys. You get scrolling LED front indicators and LED puddle lights in the shape of the Peugeot lion, too.
Inside, the GT Line includes a black headliner, and a perforated steering wheel. A nappa leather package is optional, which upgrades the upholstery from a fabric/artificial leather mix to quilted cowhide. The package also adds 8-way electric adjustment plus massaging for the driver, heated front seats and extendable legrests for the driver and front passenger.
Plus the GT Line – and the range-topping GT – allow buyers to option Peugeot’s extroverted ‘Coupe Franche’ two-tone paint schemes, as illustrated below.
The full-fat 3008 GT is $49,490. It’s here that the engine switches to the 2.0-litre BlueHDI, 133kW BlueHDI diesel but further changes are aesthetic, rather than mechanical. The GT is identifiable by its chrome mirrors, satin copper GT badging, extended wheel arches, and 19-inch ‘Boston’ matte diamond-cut alloys.
Inside, the GT has manual alcantara and artificial leather seats, which can be upgraded to the nappa leather package. Alcantara is used for the trim inserts on the dashboard and door tops, while the perforated leather wheel scores a GT emblem.
While we’ve published the basic pricing of each 3008 trim level above, we await pricing for the options mentioned – notably, the safety pack, nappa leather package, hands-free tailgate, and panoramic sunroof.
These details will likely become available before the Peugeot 3008 launches in Australia in early August; Chasing Cars will be there with a first drive review to follow.
