The peugeot 3008 reveiwed

"Crossover" isn't a particularly nice word in English; in French it's just stupid.Yet they have no other way of describing their new 3008. Except, at considerable corporate discomfort, "Nissan Qashqai rival".

The Nissan, you'll remember, is a vehicle that carries heavy hints of SUV in its styling, but – because it's lighter in weight, cost and environmental impact than an SUV – is pitched as a mildly adventurous rival to regular compact family hatchbacks.

Likewise the 3008., but it will be listed at just a few hundred euros more than an equivalently equipped 308 hatchback. It looks a bit rugged, especially from the front and rear, and its height gives it the tall eyepoint and easy access that SUV buyers enjoy. Yet, says Peugeot, because it's built on the chassis of the 308 hatch, it drives with all the agility of a car. Oh, and it features a long, glassy cabin and versatile interior storage, so bagging some of the advantages of a people-carrier or estate car. Hmmmm: SUV, hatchback, MPV, estate: have we changed enough yet?

From the outside it rather fails as anthing. There's a lot of well-worked detail styling, but in search of MPV-like interior room, the body is bubble like and spills out over the wheels. Ah well, its better once you climb in. The cabin and especially the multi-configurable boot are a lot more roomier than they are in the sleeker Nissan.

It's also a pleasant and even quite plush place to be. Peugeot cabins have tended to have all the workmanship and expense of a milk carton, but this one is nicely made from well-chosen, upmarket materials. The controls and switchgear look good and feel exact, and the instrument cluster has a striking three-dimensional design and chrome decoration. The centre console runs high between driver and front passenger, putting the gear lever in easy reach and incorporating a giant storage box that is ideal for losing objects inside.

The top-trim version has a little vertical see through panel above the main dials; it works like one of those politicians' autocues and gives a head-up display of speed and cruise-control setting. You can also switch it to give a warning if you're too close to the car in front.
On the move, the 3008 turns out to be very accomplished for a high-riding vehicle. The steering is accurate and gives a good feel of the road, giving you the confidence to explore its grippy and progressive-acting cornering behaviour.

The upper engines (1.6 turbo petrol and 2.0 diesel) come with an elegantly simple "roll control" device on the rear axle that allows the suspension to absorb bumps with its usual suppleness on straight roads, but stiffens against sway once you're in a bend. The result is that you can take corners even more ambitiously and still enjoy precise reactions from the steering.

Of course, certain other high vehicles corner well – the Qashqai among them. It's just that they tend to have a harsh, unyielding ride. The 3008 defies this compromise and lopes over bumpy roads in brilliant comfort. In fact, take a test drive with your family.
The 1.6-litre diesel engine is civilised and reasonably economical, but this is a heavy vehicle at about a ton-and-a-half so it's slow. We also tried the turbocharged 1.6 petrol. This is smooth, responsive in all gears and gives a surprising turn of speed which is always good.

Well, that's the hatch and the MPV taken care of. What about the SUV element of this vehicle? Well, unlike the Nissan, which is optionally four-wheel drive, the 3008 is available only as front-wheel drive. Peugeot reasoned that if they'd engineered for 4WD they'd have compromised weight and space in the FWD as well as the 4WD versions. But a €200 optional dial lets you control the programming of the electronic traction and slip-control system according to the slipperiness of the surface. Together with the mud-and-snow tyres bundled with the option, and the standard high-ground clearance, it should get you through most muddy tracks or snowy lanes.

Which, for the majority of people, crosses- over far enough. Hense the word crossover

A test drive of the new Peugeot 3008 which peugeot hope will launch them in the suv/ big car Market.I think they might be right as I really enjoyed the test drive.

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