Capable city car also good as feisty weekend warrior
Bobby Cheetham
KICKING off the new year we highlight a French beauty which deserves consideration if one's in the market for a family vehicle.
The Peugeot 3008 Allure 2.0 HDI automatic slots neatly into the crossover segment.
Crossover vehicles, by their very nature, tick most of the boxes required by those looking for the complete form of transport.
Capable city cars which hold their own in soft road conditions are sought-after by those who are looking for a weekend warrior without the expense so often associated with this type of vehicle.
Driving pleasure is rarely considered an expected trait of crossover vehicles, but it is very much a key attribute of the 3008.
This has been achieved by equipping the suspension with cutting-edge technology.
As a result, the 3008 sets a new benchmark for road holding in the crossover segment.
Road holding encompasses all aspects of handling, vertical comfort and body-roll control. The vehicle shines in all these areas due to the innovative Dynamic Roll Control system, fitted as standard on the high-performance 2.0 HDi model.
The passive hydraulic system consists of a central module integrated into the rear suspension cross-member, and connecting the two rear shock absorbers.
This module acts like a third shock absorber, and consists of a floating piston and a hydraulic compensation reservoir. It is pressurised to 20 bar.
When taking evasive action (roll phase) while cornering, the system hydraulically links the right and left rear shock absorbers (the module's internal piston remains static).
This increases the damping effect and promotes flat, composed cornering. Body roll is reduced, thereby enhancing stability and active safety.
During straight-line driving (potential bounce phase), the two shock absorbers operate in an identical fashion, but the piston in the central module moves under the pressure of these compressions.
This results in an optimal damping pattern that increases the vehicle's ride comfort.
The 2.0 HDi turbodiesel engine meets Euro 5 emissions standards and boasts significant new developments. The cylinder head, internal moving parts, intake tract, exhaust, timing and crankcase have been entirely redesigned.
The power unit now has a new-generation combustion chamber that forms part of what Peugeot calls ECCS (extreme conventional combustion system).
ECCS is matched to a low-inertia, variable-geometry turbocharger, a high-pressure injection pump that attains a maximum pressure of 2000 bar in the common rail, and solenoid injectors with eight apertures.
Accordingly, the 2.0 HDi is credited with a peak power output of 110kW at 3750rpm, as well as a substantial 340Nm of torque at 2000rpm.
Priced at R366900, the 3008 Allure is a good allrounder that needs to be considered if you are looking for a vehicle in this segment. [gallery link="file" ids="15975,15973,15974"]
