2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport long-term review: Around town

We spend some time getting to know our little Pug in its natural environment, the urban jungle.

What we love

Utterly charming and willing 1.2-litre three-cylinder
Smooth and seamless eight-speed auto
Supple and comfortable ride

What we don’t

We’re sounding like a broken record, but the small steering wheel…
… and the dinky tiny cupholders
It’s priced at the upper end of the segment

Nothing highlights a car’s around-town driving credentials better than spending four months of lockdown running the gauntlet of the urban jungle, all within a 5km radius of home.

As the custodian of our long-term 2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport, the large chunk of those four months of five-kay running fell to me. And what I learned is that the Peugeot 2008 GT Sport is an engaging and characterful compact SUV, the perfect accompaniment to the main course of 60km/h driving.

Its perky little three-cylinder petrol is a charming engine, with enough gruff to elicit smiles, and more than enough poke to zip through the inner-city enclaves I call home.

Key details	2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport
Price (MSRP)	$43,990
Colour of test car	Vertigo Blue
Options	Panoramic roof ($1990), Premium paint ($1050)
Price as tested	$47,030
Rivals	Audi Q2 \| Lexus UX200 \| Volvo XC40

Our long-term loan car is priced at $43,990 plus on-road costs, which is getting up there for the segment. Peugeot, though, is keen to play in the premium playground, shaking off the shackles of its ‘French car for the masses’ reputation.

The 2008, in this specification, feels right at home amongst a host of European rivals like the Audi Q2, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, despite being more affordable than all but the entry-level Audi that starts $390 cheaper than the top-spec 2008.

Our long-termer wears a couple of options, however. There’s the $1990 optional panoramic sunroof that enhances an already premium cabin experience. And the striking Vertigo Blue metallic paint looks a million bucks, not the $1050 it asks for on the options list.

As tested? That’d be $47,030 plus on-roads, or around $51,500 to $52,500 drive-away depending on which state you live in. Other available options? There aren’t any, meaning this is as much as you can possibly pay for a Peugeot 2008.

	2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport
Seats	Five
Boot volume	434L seats up / 1467L seats folded
Length	4300mm
Width	1770mm
Height	1550mm
Wheelbase	2605mm

Under the bonnet lies Peugeot’s 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo making 114kW and 240Nm. Those outputs are higher than that found in 2008s lower down the range, despite the Allure and GT models wearing the same engine. So, too, the eight-speed automatic transmission exclusive to the 2008 GT Sport. The Allure and GT are fitted with six-speed automatics.

We’ve driven all three variants and it makes a difference, not just in performance, but also in drivability, the GT Sport hitting the sweet spot.

There’s simply a delightful spriteliness to the way the 2008 moves away from standstill, an eagerness that belies its diminutive cylinder displacement. With 114kW and 240Nm, the latter on tap from a very user-friendly 1750rpm, the little Pug hustles nicely, thanks in part, at least, to its eight-speed conventional automatic transmission that is at once smooth and refined.

It certainly never feels underdone, at least not in an urban environment. Peugeot claims the 2008 GT Sport is good for a sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds. If anything feels underdone, it’s that claim right there. Of course, we haven’t put that claim to the test on the streets of Sydney’s inner west, where speed limits of 40- and 50km/h are the norm. But, the 2008 feels quicker than its 8.7-second claim suggests.

Acceleration is sharp and linear, while the eight-speed auto does a commendable job of keeping things moving smoothly. There’s no hesitation or jerkiness from the transmission (and nor should there be from a conventional auto). Instead, the Pug’s auto works away quietly and seamlessly.

So, too, the Pug’s suspension tune, which around the bumpy and lumpy streets of inner Sydney proved not only compliant, but downright comfortable.

There’s a suppleness to the 2008’s ride. It feels plush and settled, with a firmness that’s just about right, neither too soft nor too hard. Everyday road rash is barely felt in the cabin, while the little SUV settles beautifully over bigger hits such as speed bumps.

	2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport
ANCAP rating	Five stars (tested 2019)
Safety report	Link to ANCAP

The steering too – small steering wheel notwithstanding, which continues to polarise here in the Drive office – is light, while the little Pug’s 10.4m turning circle is a boon in the inner city.

Parking is a cinch, too, not only because of the 2008’s relatively small dimensions (it measures just 4.3m in length), but also thanks to the excellent 360-degree camera that has proven accurate to a fault over our time.

Being restricted in our movements, the 2008 GT Sport has paid the price in terms of fuel consumption. The French manufacturer claims a frugal 6.1L/100km for the little three-banger on the combined cycle.

At a glance	2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport
Warranty	Five years / unlimited km
Service intervals	12 months / 15,000km
Servicing costs	$1433 (3 years) \| $2466 (5 years)
Fuel cons. (claimed)	6.1L/100km
Fuel cons. (on test)	8.3L/100km
Fuel type	95-octane petrol
Fuel tank size	44L

Unsurprisingly, our time with the car has been spent almost exclusively at around 60km/h or under, not the ideal laboratory to test Peugeot’s claims. To be fair, Peugeot claims a purely urban consumption figure of 7.7L/100km.

While our long-termer is returning an indicated 8.3L/100km, we’ve come close to matching that urban claim over the last few months. And we’d expect to see that number drop with more highway running.

Which is exactly what the 2008 will get soon, with the keys handed over to senior road tester, Justin Narayan, who will head out on the highway for a road trip adventure for our next long-term update.

Key details	2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport
Engine	1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol
Power	114kW @ 5500rpm
Torque	240Nm @ 1750rpm
Drive type	Front-wheel drive
Transmission	Eight-speed automatic
Power to weight ratio	90.2kW/t
Weight	1287kg
Tow rating	1200kg braked / 660kg unbraked
Turning circle	10.4m

But, lest the reader think that it’s just me who finds the 2008 GT Sport a charming and engaging little SUV, I canvassed the wider Drive team for their opinions.

Managing Editor Trent Nikolic expressed surprise – “It’s unexpectedly enjoyable to drive” – praising the Pug’s thrummy three-cylinder engine and transmission combo while also highlighting its ride and handling.

And Drive’s logistics guru Paula Nonis (she’s the person you’ll see behind the wheel in almost all of Drive’s photos) summed it up best: “It just puts a smile on my face”.

And she’s right. After almost four months in lockdown, the 2021 Peugeot 2008 GT Sport continues to leave me grinning with surprise and delight.

MORE: Long-term report one: Introduction
MORE: Long-term report two: Cabin comfort
MORE: Everything Peugeot 2008