Peugeot 3008 wins Car Of The Year
Compact SUV catches judges’ eye as a family car to enjoy driving
Europe’s Car of The Year is the Peugeot 3008 family car which won judges’ votes in a tight race ahead of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
It is the fifth time Peugeot has won the COTY and the team of 58 judges – which included just two women – praised the 3008 for its design, comfort, safety, performance and driver satisfaction.
Other cars in the final were the Volvo S90/V90, Citroën C3, Toyota C-HR and the Nissan Micra. In all, 21 of the judges chose the compact SUV 3008 as their outright winner, with many judges praising its interior. It was the first time in the contest’s history that an SUV won.
However, none of the six UK judges voted for it - with three opting for the Mercedes, two for the Alfa (the company’s first SUV) and one for the Micra – while only three of the French judges backed the Peugeot with two going for the Alfa and one the Merc.
Nearly 100,000 buyers have already placed orders in Europe for the car when it arrives in summer and the Sochaux-built car has received the Origine France Garantie (made in France) label. The five-door SUV comes only in two petrol versions and four diesel but there are plans for a plug-in petrol hybrid.
Peugeot chief executive officer Jean-Philippe Imparato said: “I am particularly proud and very pleased. This trophy is the culmination of five years of incredible work by the brand's teams and our group."
The Peugeot win came as its parent company PSA announced it was buying Opel/Vauxhall.
