The Peugeot 2008 came as a successor to the 207 station wagon (SW) variant because the company decided not to release an SW variant with the Peugeot 208. The 2008 rolled into the market in 2013, a year before the 207 SW concluded production. The 207 SW was a five-door variant of the Peugeot 207, which remained in production till 2014. However, 2008 did include the electrical upgrades received by the 208.
A Brief History
The 2008 shares its origins with three different car variants. The car variants that the 2008 succeeded include the subcompact called Peugeot 207 SW launched in 2006, the mini MPV called the Peugeot 1007 launched in 2005, and the small MPV called the Peugeot Bipper Tepee launched in 2008.
Peugeot 207 SW (2006-2014)
The 207 SW came as one of the two five-door variants of the Peugeot 207 in 2006, offering a much larger cargo space compared to the other hatchback models. It was the longest car in the 207 range, measuring 163.9 inches in length compared to the 159.3 inches of the hatchback variant. Except for this extra length, the 207 SW shared the same features as all other 207 variants. When the 208 came out, Peugeot decided not to release an SW variant and instead focused on the 2008 as the direct replacement for the 207 SW.
Peugeot 1007 (2005-2009)
Peugeot based the design of the 1007 on the highly successful Peugeot 206 and also the Citroën C3. However, it was modified to be a mini MPV with three doors, including two doors that had power-sliding options. No other vehicle in the brand's portfolio is considered a direct predecessor to the 1007, being the first car of its kind in Peugeot's history.
The car came in five engine versions catering to both petrol and diesel markets, including three with 1.4L capacity and two with 1.6L. The 1.4L TU3 and 1.6L TU5 petrol engines were able to deliver 55 kW and 81 kW with 118 N·m and 147 N·m torque, respectively, while the 1.4L DV4 and 1.6L DV6 diesel engines were able to produce 49 kW and 82 kW of power and 150 N·m and 260 N·m of torque, respectively.
One of the defining features of the 1007 was the semi-automatic transmission called 2-Tronic, which was offered as an optional feature in the vehicle. Citroën (a Peugeot company) vehicles, such as the C2, C3, and C3 Pluriel, also featured this technology.
The car was considered by the market to be a little on the expensive side. Production eventually ceased in 2009 without a direct successor in the market. However, some features were adapted in the later variants of the Peugeot 107 and also in the Peugeot 2008 released a few years later.
Peugeot Bipper Tepee (2008-2017)
In 2005, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Fiat, and Tofas jointly developed a small delivery van that would be called the Peugeot Bipper, Fiat Fiorino III, and the Citroën Nemo, depending upon who manufactured it. They modelled it after the Fiat Fiorino, a LAV (Leisure Activity Vehicle) that Fiat had been producing for two generations since 1977. Tofas manufactured all of the vehicles at the company’s assembly plant in Turkey.
All of the vehicles, including the Peugeot Bipper Tepee, were equipped with the same engine specifications. Peugeot contributed its proprietary1.4L petrol engines called the PSA TU3 and 1.4L diesel engine called HDi DV4, while Fiat shared its 1.4L Fire and Fire Natural Power (petrol/CNG) and 1.3L Multijet diesel engines. As far as transmission is concerned, customers had the option to choose between a five-speed manual or six-speed semi-automatic version.
The vehicles were available in both the passenger and panel van body styles. The passenger version of the Fiorino could carry five individuals. Buyers could choose either a diesel or petrol engine, each capable of delivering 55 kW and 54 kW of power, respectively. The Peugeot Bipper Tepee and the Citroën Nemo Multispace had the same powertrain options as the Fiorino. These two models were the passenger vehicle version of their cargo van counterparts called the Peugeot Bipper and the Citroën Nemo, respectively.
Peugeot intended the Bipper to be a mini cargo van suitable for big as well as small cities. Its design and size allowed for easy parking and made for an excellent delivery van. The Bipper Tepee version was marketed as a spacious passenger vehicle with an impressive cargo space as well.
Although the Fiorino received a makeover in 2016, including design changes and engine improvements, PSA Peugeot Citroën did not update their versions. Production eventually stopped in 2017. The company decided to revert to the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo vehicles as its primary cargo van offerings, while it shifted focus to the Peugeot 2008 crossover as a partial replacement to the passenger variants of the same.
The First-Generation Peugeot 2008 (2013-2019)
Peugeot 2008 belongs in the crossover vehicle category of PSA Peugeot Citroën. It combines various functionalities of vehicles from different classes into one subcompact SUV.
The first generation shares its electrical features with the 208. It has a 1.6L engine capable of producing 122 kW of power and 243 N·m of torque. The model also comes with either 5- or 6-manual or 4- or 6-automatic transmissions depending upon the engine size.
The vehicles come with four petrol and three diesel engine choices. The petrol versions include two engines of 1.2L capacity called e-VTi and e-THP and two engines of 1.6L capacity called the VTi and THP Flex. The diesel engines include a 1.4L HDi and two 1.6L engines (e-HDi and BlueHDi).
The Second-Generation Peugeot 2008 (2019-present)
Peugeot announced the second generation in June 2019. The automaker based the new generation on the Common Modular Platform (CMP), which it has already used in other vehicles under the PSA marque.
The five-door SUV will be available in three petrol and one diesel engine versions. The following are the petrol engines:
- 1.2L PureTech 100 S&S - 75 kW, six-speed manual gearbox
- 1.2L PureTech 130 S&S - 97 kW, six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox
- 1.2L PureTech 155 S&S - 115 kW, eight-speed automatic gearbox
The 1.5L BlueHDi diesel engine is capable of delivering 75 kW of power and teams up with a six-speed manual transmission.
An electric version of the 2008, called the e-2008 has an electric motor capable of delivering 100 kW of power with a 50kW battery and a range of 311 kilometres.