French kissing the lovable Peugeot 3008 MPV

Peugeot and I share a long history together. Years ago, when Peugeot had a different local distributor, its 307, a five-door hatchback, was one of the very first cars I tested, and it opened my eyes to what lay ahead of me, beyond the usual garden-variety Japanese brands.

 

It was amazing, handled like a dream, like any proper European hatch, swallowing copious amounts of cargo, and had the style and zest no other cars at that time had. Sure, Peugeots are quirky, especially to the average Filipino car buyer, but being one of the best-selling brands in Europe, there was something waiting to be unearthed behind the Peugeot brand.

 

Today, with Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (EDI) handling the French lion brand—with it a deeper, more serious and long-term commitment toward maintaining market presence and aftersales service—it’s like a second chance, a new beginning with an old flame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An encounter with a new Peugeot is like meeting an old flame. A little rounder around the midsection, with some baggage. Instead of the svelte 307, it’s the plump 3008 crossover MPV.

 

Interestingly, the 3008 shares its platform with the five-door 307 hatchback I’ve tested almost 10 years prior, as well as its 308 replacement and the larger, seven-seater 5008 MPV. Indeed, critics have been harsh about the 3008’s looks but, personally, I think the quirky exterior simply adds to its charm.

 

Get behind the wheel of the car, and your reservations about its performance simply vanish. The 3008 is impressive to say the least.

 

Power comes from either the 1.6- or 2-liter HDI diesel engines (HDI being Peugeot-speak for common-rail direct injection, in this case meaning High-Pressure Direct Injection) that deliver 112 horsepower/240 Newton-meters of torque or 163 HP/340 Nm of torque respectively. The 1.6-liter HDI engine drives the front wheels via a six-speed, semiautomatic transmission with a electro-hydraulically operated clutch, much like Ferrari’s old F1 System or BMW’s SMG transmission.

 

Smooth, impressive

 

Surprisingly, it’s not as jerky as many thought it would be and  is very intuitive when you really want to make smooth progress; and, ultimately, it helps deliver impressive fuel economy. The larger engine, the 2-liter HDI, comes equipped with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, powering the front wheels as well. Both engines emit a turbine-like hum once warmed up, and you quickly forget you’re driving a diesel.

 

There are three variants available—the 1.6 Active, 1.6 Allure and 2.0 Allure—but, thankfully, all of them get the same safety equipment, like six airbags, ABS brakes, traction, skid resistance and stability control. All three also get the panoramic glass roof and handsome 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 225/50R17 Michelin tires.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside, there’s a multilevel rear parcel shelf: Set it high and the bottom part can hide medium-sized bags from prying eyes. Set it at its lowest level and the split tailgate lets you have a small party or stow large objects  by just folding the rear seats. There’s a heads-up display to view speed without taking your eyes off the road. Seating position is excellent, and there’s ample room inside even for long drives for five average-sized adults.

 

On a long drive up north during the Peugeot Eco Rally Marathon Series, we managed to maintain a very impressive 20 kilometers per liter, considering we were cruising between 100 and 120 kilometers per hour on NLEx, SCTEx and in and around Subic Bay.

 

On a second stint behind the Peugeot during Christmas  2013, despite massive gridlocks on roads, the 3008 still managed an impressive 12 kpl (Yes, 12 kpl, this is not a typo!). By the time I returned the 3008, there was still a quarter-full of diesel in its tanks despite driving through Edsa twice a day, for all seven days the 3008 was with me.

 

Stability, comfort

 

But is it comfortable? Well, during the drive up north, the missus was with me and we enjoyed very good conversation inside, the Peugeot exhibiting high-speed stability and comfort which increases your confidence behind the wheel. On a private stretch of road, even up to 180-190 kph, the 3008 remained cool and composed. In the city, being stuck behind the wheel for 4-5 hours straight thanks to the monstrous traffic jams, the 3008 let my body rest. I’d step out feeling only mildly tired, like I had driven for only 2-3 hours. This makes the 3008 a perfect companion on long stints behind the wheel.

 

The suspension is Euro-firm but compliant, soaking up the bumps and imperfections with ease, yet gives impressive body control, with a minimum of roll, pitch and squat during hard maneuvers. The seats are also comfortable and offer great support for even large-framed drivers like myself.

 

Indeed, during the aforementioned Eco Rally, customers present were very happy to be with us and shared their love for the Peugeot brand; many of them are mothers who believe the 3008 is  the perfect compromise for exterior space and interior grace. There were multiple owners in our group who had two Peugeots, usually the 508 executive sedan and 3008 or the larger 5008 MPV. It helps that the 3008 is significantly priced higher than regular sedans but lower than traditional ladder-frame-based SUVs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, the 3008 offers better “go anywhere” ability and a bit more flood-fording ability compared to normal vehicles; yet it’s easier for the elderly or children to get in and out.

 

For those living in tight condominiums and townhouses, the 3008 requires just a little more space than a regular C-segment sedan, too, which means drivers moving up from the Altis/Civic/Lancer segment won’t have a hard time adjusting to the 3008’s size and driving manners.

 

The biggest question, however, is: Will Peugeot stay? The answer is yes. EDI is allied with Asian Carmakers Corp., distributor for BMW, and Columbian Motors Corp., distributor for Kia. Suffice it to say the people behind the company know their stuff; and having met with French representatives from its regional office in Malaysia, who constantly say they want to be in our market, I am confident about Peugeot’s long-term presence in our country. In fact, EDI is now building a massive technical training center and parts depot down south in Laguna, which will also house similar but separate facilities for BMW and Kia, to help ensure continuous technical training and aftersales support for the brand. A massive investment for long-term benefits surely warrants some confidence in the brand’s staying power, don’t you think?

 

Need something different from  the usual Japanese fare yet want to get the easy-to-drive qualities of a regular sedan and the impressive fuel efficiency? The Peugeot is a very good option that is slowly becoming a mainstream choice. The added cache is that you’ll be driving a European-engineered crossover. And the looks? It will grow on you, as it did on me and the missus.

 

You will love it.