We review the Peugeot 2008 Urban Cross from price to economy and all its features
Get a grip!
MEMO to John Lewis and Co-op: We get the message.
Show someone they’re loved this Christmas and be kind to old people.
(Unless it’s Rolf Harris, that is.)
[youtube //www.youtube.com/watch?v=n94EurcptEw&w=433&h=300]
Well, I’ve done my bit. I’ve just rescued a kindly old man from the top of an indoor ski slope — in a front-wheel-drive car. And not even a Nissan Navara can do that.
It’s mostly down to the tyres. Any motor with normal “summer” shoes will struggle to make the 25-metre climb, even if it’s 4WD.
But this Peugeot 2008, with “all-season” tyres and something called Grip Control, nailed it.
Full-on winter tyres have three times more grip in snow than normal tyres and work better in wet weather below 7C. They will keep your family safer.
But forking out for a second set of tyres is expensive, right?
And you don’t want the hassle of changing tyres twice a year?
Then go for all-season tyres.
They’re fitted as standard on this 2008 Urban Cross I tested at Tamworth Snowdome, Staffs — and for £16,495, you’re getting a lot of car. The official stats say 78.5mpg from the 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel and with CO2 emissions of just 95g/km, road tax is free.
Kit includes 7in touchscreen, USB, DAB, rear parking sensors, cruise control with speed limiter and folding mirrors.
But the price is worth paying for Grip Control, an electric traction control system that senses if one of the front tyres is slipping and diverts torque to the other.
It has simple modes for snow, all-terrain (mud, wet grass) and sand.
It is surprisingly good and it’s also available on the 3008 and Partner van.
So there’s no excuse to not visit grandad.
BEST DEAL: The Urban Cross is £259 a month on Peugeot’s Just Add Fuel scheme. That’s one fixed monthly payment for the car, insurance, servicing and roadside assistance for three years. You just pay for fuel. Customer deposit £1,885 and Peugeot will bung in £1,200. Optional final payment of £8,116.
Key facts: PEUGEOT 2008 URBAN CROSS
- Price: £16,495
- Engine: 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel with stop/start
- Economy: 78.5mpg
- 0-62mph: 11.3 secs
- Top speed: 114mph
- Road tax: Free
- CO2: 95g/km
Q&A
WHAT’S wrong with my normal tyres? Nothing in the summer. They have a relatively hard compound and provide lots of grip above 7C. But when it’s below 7C (almost half the year, then) they have less grip, meaning longer stopping distances, and they wear 20 per cent faster.
So what do I need below 7C? Winter/cold weather tyres (with a snowflake symbol on the side) are softer and will keep you safer in snow, ice and rain below 7C. They also have a different tread pattern to bite into the snow better. But they don’t work as well above 7C. Dunlop Winter Sports are £60 a corner.
Is there a compromise? Yes, “all-season” tyres fitted to cars such as the Peugeot 2008. They work in cold and mild temperatures but still feature special tread to grip in snow and slush. And it’s certainly less hassle than swapping tyres twice a year. Decent choices include Michelin CrossClimate (from £76).
What would you do? I’d have separate summer and winter tyres and switch them from season to season – especially if I lived in the countryside.
That sounds expensive? Yes, but think about it. You’re paying for two sets of tyres, but they also last twice as long.
Can I just put two winter tyres on my car? No. If it’s a front-wheel-drive car and you only put two winter tyres at the front, the rear wheels are more likely to skid.
Where can I store my second set of tyres? At a Tyre Hotel.
A Tyre Hotel? Yep, it costs £18 a tyre at Kwik-Fit. Vauxhall do it too. They wrap up your summer tyres, store them and then refit them in the spring.
What else can I do? Snow socks (£49.99, Argos) are a quick fix to get you home. Easy to get on and off but they are only a temporary measure. Driving on tarmac will rip them to shreds.
