Peugeot 2008 Crossover Active 1.2 VTi 5dr Car Review - June 2013

The 82bhp, 1.2-litre petrol engine in the Peugeot 2008 Crossover Active 1.2 VTi is the smallest displacement engine in the new range. Married to a 5-speed manual gearbox it is good for 105mph, with a 0-62mph time of 13.5 seconds. The engine produces 87lb-ft of torque, and it has to be said that whilst this is adequate for urban motoring it feels wheezy and under-powered on longer journeys, especially compared to the diesel-powered models in the range. The steering also becomes unpredictable at higher speed cornering, but is light and manouverable around town, and it is in the city environment where the 2008 is most comfortable. The cabin and interior finish has a premium feel to it and the elevated driving position is excellent, the only notable niggle coming from a small steering wheel which you somewhat counter-intuitively have to look over rather than through.

The Peugeot 2008 Crossover is a newcomer to the mini-MPV market and, despite being based on the French car maker’s 208 supermini, suits its beefier, more upright MPV body style well. The Active trim-level is the next one up from the entry level Access+. As a result, the 2008 Crossover Active 1.2 VTi gets power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, immobiliser, bluetooth, and Mp3 connectivity included on its list of standard equipment. Further options available include satellite navigation for £400, rear parking sensor for £370, and metallic paint for £495.

As a brand new model on the European market, the Peugeot 2008 Crossover is still something of an unknown quantity, but does include as standard driver, passenger, a front side airbags, as well as driver aids stability control, and a 3-year, 60,000-mile manufacturers warranty. Where the Peugeot 2008 does impress is cabin space, with rear head and legroom especially favourable compared to its rivals. There is 360-litres of boot space too, which is flexible thanks to a low boot sill and fold flat rear seats. To put it into perspective, that’s over 100-litres more boot capacity with the seats up than a Nissan Juke, but still short of that found in a Skoda Yeti.

The £13,895 Active 1.2 VTi sits towards the lower end of the 2008 Crossover range. Compared to petrol-powered versions of the rival Nissan Juke, the 2008 Crossover Active 1.2 VTi has favourable running costs. It will return a combined 57.6mpg and with 114g/km of CO2 emissions it falls in the low Road Tax Band C. However, the diesel-powered models in the 2008 range are even more frugal, and that combined with the rather out-of-breath performance from the weedy 82bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine means the diesel option would probably be the more sensible investment. Although the overall performance of the Peugeot 2008 on the used market is still an unknown, the Active 1.2 VTi doesn’t represent the best all-round example of the model.