Peugeot 3008

• The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine is better than many naturally aspirated engines and gives you decent power for daily use. It pairs with a 6-speed automatic transmission on both Active and GT variants.
• The 300 Nm of torque means you get a nice pull when you need to accelerate. In traffic, it works smoothly. On highways, overtaking is possible without waiting too long. The engine runs quietly when you drive normally, but it gets louder when you push it hard.
• The 6-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly during normal driving. You will not notice the gear changes when driving calmly.
• Ground clearance is about 165-175 mm, which helps with Saudi speed breakers and rough roads. The suspension uses MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear. 
• On smooth roads, the ride is comfortable and quiet. But on broken roads, you will feel bumps inside the cabin.

Some Realities:

• When you accelerate hard, the car moves well but does not feel very fast. If you know, competitors like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 feel stronger.
• Once the turbo starts working, acceleration improves. But in city traffic with many stops and starts, this delay can be annoying.
• Only front-wheel drive option
• Fuel economy is claimed at around 15.1 km/L, but expect a little less in real Saudi driving conditions.

• The high seating position gives you a good view of traffic. This helps in busy city driving where you need to see over other cars. Visibility from the driver's seat is decent from the front and sides.
• On smooth highways, the ride is comfortable and quiet. The cabin stays quiet at normal speeds. 
• The panoramic sunroof makes the cabin feel open, but during Saudi summer heat, watch out. 
• Parking is easy thanks to standard front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera on both trims. The light steering makes moving in tight spaces simple. The 4,540 mm length is manageable for city parking.

Things That Matter More:

• The ride gets rough on bad roads; you should check yourself driving on a rough road to get the feel. We find potholes and broken pavement send jolts through the cabin. 
• The steering is light for parking but gives you almost no feeling of the road. This is fine for daily driving but means the car does not feel sporty or fun to drive.
• The thick C-pillars make it hard to see cars in your blind spot when changing lanes. You must rely heavily on the mirrors and blind-spot monitoring.
• The engine takes time to build power, especially from low speeds. This could be a safety issue on busy Saudi highways where quick merging is sometimes needed.
• Noise insulation is acceptable but not great. Tyre noise is noticeable, especially with the GT's larger 19-inch wheels.
• The 6-speed automatic transmission works well most of the time but can be confused.

• Both variants have Peugeot's unique i-Cockpit with a small steering wheel and a curved 21-inch panoramic screen on the dashboard. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on both trims.
• The base Active trim comes with fabric seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and taillights, 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, keyless entry with push-button start, and a 10-speaker sound system. The GT trim upgrades to full leather seats with heating and massage, LED matrix headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and a powered tailgate.
• The driver's seat has electric adjustment on the GT trim, while the Active uses manual controls. Both trims include adjustable lumbar support, which helps on long drives.
• As far as boot space is concerned, there is between 520 and 591 litres with the seats up. This is good for the segment and bigger than many compact SUVs.

What's Missing:

• The i-Cockpit design is very different from most cars. The small steering wheel sits low, and the curved screen sits high on the dashboard. This looks modern and futuristic.
• Interior materials are a mixed bag: the top parts of the dashboard use soft materials that feel nice. There is special fabric covering many surfaces, which looks different and feels good. But lower parts use hard plastics.
• If you choose the panoramic sunroof, headroom gets even worse. Legroom is okay for two adults but depends on how far forward the front seats are. Three adults across the back seat will feel cramped.
• The 21-inch curved screen looks impressive and modern. The climate controls are inside the touchscreen instead of having physical buttons. 

• Both variants come with six airbags (dual front, front side, and curtain airbags). ABS, electronic stability programme (ESP), electronic brake distribution (EBD), traction control, brake assist, hill-start assist, and tyre pressure monitoring are standard.
• Both trims include ISOFIX anchor points for child seats, seat belt warnings, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, driver attention alert, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, cruise control, and keyless entry with push-button start.
• The GT trim adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a powered tailgate. Active parking assist is available as an option.

Things to Consider:

• Six airbags on both trims are good and better than many competitors who only offer two or four airbags on their base models. 
• Advanced driver assistance systems are included on both trims, which is excellent. But adaptive cruise control is only available on the expensive GT trim. For a car priced at SAR 121,900-165,025, adaptive cruise should be standard across all trims.
• The 3008 has not been crash tested specifically for the Middle East market.
• Peugeot's dealer network in Saudi Arabia is limited.
• The warranty is 3 years/unlimited mileage for the first two years, then 3 years/100,000 km for the third year.

Like most new brands, resale value is a serious problem buyers could face. Most of  you know this, and so that is a key factor in the buying decision. Let's just say the 3008 will lose much more value than a Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, or Toyota RAV4. If you plan to sell within 3-5 years, but if not, then it should not concern you.