Are Peugeot’s 208, 2008 and 3008 good enough for the city?
Peugeot has pushed hard on the 208, 2008 and 3008, with 0% finance across the range until the end of September. But do they actually stack up for driving in and around London?
Not every car is suited to London life. Tight streets, scarce parking and low-emission zones all reward something compact, efficient and easy to place, and Peugeot’s smaller range has clearly been built with exactly that in mind. Whether the three cars actually deliver on that promise, rather than just looking good on paper, is worth picking apart properly. There’s also a genuine reason to pay attention right now: Peugeot’s running 0% APR finance across the entire range, including the electric versions, but only on orders placed before 30 September.
Peugeot 208, the most affordable way into the range
The 208 is about as city-friendly as cars get. Small enough to nip down side streets that would make an SUV driver wince, and easy enough to squeeze into parking spaces most cars would just drive straight past. It’s genuinely nice to look at too, which shouldn’t matter but somehow always does when you’re the one parking it outside the office every morning.
The catch with small, stylish cars like this is usually the ride. Skinny wheels and a firm setup can turn London’s pothole collection into a bit of an ordeal, so don’t judge it on a smooth showroom floor and assume that’s what you’ll get on the Old Kent Road. Take it out, find a bad road, and see how it copes before you sign anything.
It’s up against some proper heavyweights here too. The Corsa, Clio and Polo all live in the same £20k to £30k neighbourhood, and if we’re honest, the Polo’s usually the comfier ride of that group. Where the 208 pulls ahead is inside: the 3D digital dial cluster and configurable ambient lighting give the cabin a lift that most rivals at this price simply don’t try for, and it shows the moment you sit in it.
Go electric with the E-208 and you get the same city-sized footprint, minus the fuel and ULEZ costs, plus the £1,500 Government grant knocked straight off the price. Both the petrol GT and electric E-208 GT are on 0% APR right now, from £219 and £249 a month.
Peugeot 2008, more room without losing the parking-friendly size
Step up to the 2008 and you get a higher driving position and a bigger boot, without giving up much of what makes the 208 so easy to live with in town. Sitting a bit higher also means you can actually see over the van in front at the lights, which counts for more than you’d think when you’re stuck in traffic on the school run or the commute.
It’s not a dramatically different drive to the 208 underneath, so before you pay extra for it, worth asking yourself if you actually need the space. If you don’t, save your money and stick with the smaller car.
It’s not the cheapest way into this class, the Mokka and Puma both undercut it by a few thousand pounds, but you’re getting a cabin that feels a proper step up for the money, with sharp 3D instrument graphics and a layout that still feels like Peugeot rather than a rebadged cost-cutting exercise.
Both the petrol 2008 GT and electric E-2008 GT are on 0% APR at the moment, from £259 and £289 a month.
Peugeot 3008, the one for the commute as much as the city
The 3008 makes more sense if you’re driving into London rather than just around it. It’s bigger, comfier over distance, and has enough tech to make the motorway stretch of a longer commute actually bearable, while still being sensible enough to park once you’re in town.
This is the toughest fight on this list, the Qashqai, Karoq and Sportage all start from around £31,000 and have been at this game for years. The 3008 doesn’t quite match the Sportage for outright boot space, but it makes up ground with genuine design flair inside: a curved panoramic screen wrapped around the driver, configurable ambient lighting, and a lower, more car-like driving position than the taller, boxier cabins you get in most of that group.
The hybrid version makes particular sense here, giving you efficient running on the motorway and low-emission running once you’re back in the city. The 3008 GT Hybrid and the fully electric E-3008 GT are both currently on 0% APR finance too, from £299 and £329 a month.
Prices shown are representative examples on Personal Contract Purchase, subject to status, 18+, with a minimum 20% deposit. You’ll only own the car if you pay the optional final payment. Finance provided by Stellantis Financial Services; Peugeot acts as a credit broker.