The Peugeot 2008 was one of the first small SUVs on the British roads and in the five years it’s been around it has done well in a busy market where all the manufacturers are fighting for a piece of the pie.

Peugeot has also been pushing its way upwards on the market front and they are by way the best of the French manufacturers.

To keep up with the times the 2008 has been refreshed a number of times and is now available in the high-spec Allure Premium trim level, with more than £1,400 of additional equipment at a price increase of just £800.

This isn’t a bad deal because for a small premium over an already generous spec, customers can enjoy plenty of luxury and technology enhancements.

These include a full roster of tech and connectivity including a seven inch colour touchscreen with Connected 3D Satellite Navigation, voice control and TomTom live updates, as well as Peugeot Connect SOS & Assistance.

There is a panoramic glass roof with an electric blind and ambient lighting adds to the high-quality feel of the car’s widely praised interior.

Then there’s a black interior trim and Peugeot’s innovative i-Cockpit® with a trademark compact steering wheel trimmed in leather.

On the outside there are colour-coded door mirrors and door handles; rear sports spoiler; front & rear scuff plates; wheel arch extensions and roof bars which give the car a commanding road presence.

There is a reversing camera and rear parking aid offers assistance for those tight parking spaces.

There are two engines; the 1.2L PureTech 82 petrol and 1.6L BlueHDi 100. The three-cylinder 1.2L PureTech 82 petrol engine delivers strong performance with an impressive 57.6mpg on the combined cycle.

The 1.6L is brilliant using unique technology to reduce nitrogen oxides by up to 90 per cent, also removing 99.9 per cent of particulates.

On top of that the 1.6 can achieve 76.3mpg combined with CO2 emissions of just 97g/km.

While there is no four wheel drive available Peugeot have the versatile and adaptable Grip Control which provides a choice of appropriate mode (Standard; Snow; Mud or Sand) for the surface you encounter. A central dial allows drivers to select one of the modes.

Using electronic components that are already installed in the car there is no extra weight added and therefore no excessive fuel consumption, unlike a traditional 4x4.

Based on the old Peugeot 208 the 2008 has the same chassis and it is a good driving experience. It certainly is practical although a little tight for four adults on long journeys.

Against other small SUVs the 2008 handles itself well. The driving is tight and not fussy, the lovely Peugeot small steering wheel is great for drivers and the suspension is reasonable.

The boot has 360 litres of space with the seats in place and 1,172 litres when the rear seats are folded. The back seats fold in a 60:40 split and leave a flat load area. There is space under the boot floor, which offers extra room.

The Peugeot warranty is for three years/60,000 miles and you can extend the standard warranty at extra cost.

The Allure model top of the range has a five or six speed gearbox depending on the engine and comes in at £21,000. It has a top speed of 112mph with 0-62mph in just over 11 seconds.

The four trim levels are Active, Allure, Allure Premium and GT-Line and the GT line costs £23,300.

For servicing, Peugeot has a monthly payment plan which works out at less than £500 for three services while insurance groups vary from between 11E to 22A.

Peugeots tend to hold their prices better and even more now their products have improved enormously.

For more than 200 years Peugeot has been producing durable products of excellence and since 1858 all are branded with the Lion logo – chosen to demonstrate strength, suppleness and swiftness to personify the durability of its products.

As one of the earliest automotive producers, the Peugeot brand can trace its roots back to 1889 when it began producing automobiles and since then more than 65 million vehicles have been produced, advancing technology with style and efficiency to enhance the customer experience. The company is present in 160 countries, with 10,000 franchised dealerships and is recognised for its quality and design excellence of its products.

The UK is the third largest market for Peugeot with its UK Headquarters located in Coventry.

The current line-up includes the 108, 208, New 308, 508, 2008 SUV, 3008 SUV and All-New 5008 SUV.