Love Japanese reliability but fancy something foreign in the drive? NEIL DOWLING has the answer
IN a previous life, motocross taught me that Japanese bikes needed lots of modification while European bikes required constant maintenance.
Sure, that was 40 years ago. If the Peugeot 4008 was a motocross bike and available in the 1970s, I’d have the best of both worlds.
But the 4008 – which is a Mitsubishi ASX with an accent, an attitude and a baguette – is hardly a compromise. For lovers of Peugeots, this small-ish SUV ticks a lot of boxes.
VALUE: Get over the fact that Mitsubishi provided the base vehicle and the 4008 is well priced against rivals. The Active model tested added to its $30,990 price plus a $1000 pack of 18-inch wheels and chrome door sills. Yeah, I know – an odd mix. Buyers should look also at the extra $1495 for the sat-nav package. Peugeot has spent time and money on turning Japanese to French and succeeds with Peugeot-esque ride, comfort and character. The capped price service is great. But also in the ring is Skoda’s Yeti that fights hard. Price-conscious buyers may even be just as happy dumbing down with the $25,990 Mitsubishi donor vehicle.
DESIGN: Much twisting and pumping of metal and bolt-on plastic bits make the 4008 appear sufficiently different to the ASX. It looks strong and purposeful and I’m relieved Peugeot has abandoned the confronting gaping-mouth look of previous models. Cabin treatment is excellent and even though it’s simply furnished, touches like the piano-black centre console and quality look of the gauges lift it above its price tag. The boot floor is high, making it easy to load cargo and hide the full-size spare, while rear seat room is good for three adults.
TECHNOLOGY: Simple stuff – a 2-litre petrol engine (no diesel for the 4008) with a five-speed manual transmission and Mitsubishi’s CVT auto as an option. Though the ASX provides the base, Peugeot has done a lot of surgery. The track is widened to make it sit more solidly on the road, the electric steering has been recalibrated to produce a firmer feel and the suspension is more sporty. The doors have more weight and soundproofing has added, so there’s no tinplate clink when the doors are shut. Plasticware includes new trim for the cabin and a new nose and tail.
SAFETY: Peugeot hasn’t published a five-star crash rating though the ASX on which it’s based has this maximum rating. The 4008 gets seven airbags, electronic stability and traction control, rear-view camera in the mirror, auto wipers and headlights, plus a full-size spare wheel.
DRIVING: Initially I though the 2-litre engine as a bit dull and the long-throw manual gearshift a bit unwieldy. Then I put on my beret. It’s not a car to hurry – even though the engine’s maximum power is a reasonable 110kW it’s attained at a high 6000rpm – to high to test in the suburbs. It’s a very easy car to drive thanks to the lightness of the steering, gear shift and clutch. Work on the suspension and the widening of the track (the width between the wheels) make the 4008 sit on the road with more confidence than the almost flighty ASX. The steering wheel, however, feels too big though visibility is fine to all points but the front bumper. This AWD wagon has an electric selector on the console for 2WD (front wheels), 4WD and 4WD Lock – the latter allowing the drive to send up to 82 per cent of power to the rear wheels and designed only for low-speed work. The 4WD selection works well on gravel, wet roads and – of course – for dirt. But remember this is an SUV and not a proper 4WD. Ride comfort is very good but because it tends to feel more meringue rather than Anzac biscuit, it will show bodyroll and understeer when pushed too hard through the corners.
VERDICT: Good value, a sensible service program and French clout give it more driveway appeal points than its ASX donor.
PEUGEOT 4008 ACTIVE
STARS 3.5
Price: $30,990
Warranty: 3 years/100,000 km
Resale: n/a
Service interval: 10,000km/12 months
Safety rating: n/a
Spare: Full-size
Engine: 2-litre 4-cyl petrol 110kW/197Nm
Transmission: 5-spd manual, on demand 4WD
Body: 4.3m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.6m (h)
Weight: 1440kg
Thirst: 7.7 1/100km; 91RON; 181g/km Co2
Three Others to consider.
MITSUBISHI ASX ACTIV
Star: 3
PRICE: $25,990
ENGINE: 2-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 110kW/197Nm
TRANS: 5-spd manual, on demand 4WD
BODY: 5-door wagon
THIRST: 7.7L/100km; 91RON; CO2 181g/km
“Donor car for the 4008 is less equipped, not as sophisticated but just as practical and $5000 cheaper”ql
NISSAN DUALIS Ti
Star: 3.5
PRICE: $29,690
ENGINE: 2-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 102kW/198Nm
TRANS: 6-spd manual, part time 4WD
BODY: 5-door wagon
THIRST: 8.1L/100km; 91RON; CO2 192g/km
“Sensible, well built and practical wagon outdoes the X-Trail in terms of style”
SKODA YETI 112TSI
Star: 4
PRICE: $32,990
ENGINE: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 118kW/250Nm
TRANS: 6-spd manual, part time 4WD
BODY: 5-door wagon
THIRST: 8.4L/100km; 95RON; CO2 197g/km
“Even more practical than the others, great engine package but looks can blunt some appeal”
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