Gather 'round, motoring enthusiasts, for a tale of how the plucky Peugeot 3008 has hop-scotched its way through the SUV savanna, evolving its ground clearance from the days of yore when specific figures were as mysterious as the dark side of the moon. Now, like a fine Bordeaux maturing in dusty cellars, the current model towers with a clearance of 198 mm - a number that would make a Parisian cat’s back arch in respect. But that's now, let’s not forget its most recent predecessor, the 3008 2.Generation (1. Facelift) 2021-2023 sitting tall with a titan-like stance of 219 mm. Granted, the previous generations were apparently so embarrassed by their ground clearance, they chose to keep it a secret, leaving us all in suspense with a resounding ‘zero’.
Comparisons are as essential in car talk as cheese is to a croissant. Thus, when we peek over the fence to gaze at other metal chariots in Peugeot’s stable, the 3008 emerges as a true Napoleon. It bests both the Peugeot e-Partner VAN and Partner VAN, which only mustered a modest 145 mm clearance. But ah, there comes big brother, the Peugeot 5008, flexing its 236 mm and peering down from an even mightier vantage point, like an eagle poised on a rock.
Now, let us set the stage for the 3008 to duel with its adversaries, like an elegant French swashbuckler. Against the Talbot Matra Rancho (167 mm), 3008 stands proudly with more room to spare beneath its carriage. It humbly bows before the Citroen C5 Aircross (230 mm), a rival that could hurdle a wine barrel with ease. Versus the Dacia Duster (205 mm) and the Mitsubishi ASX (195 mm), the 3008 flaunts a middle-ground mantra. The Hyundai Bayon (165 mm) and Suzuki S-Cross (175 mm), in comparison, would get their underbellies nicked by pebbles that the 3008 would simply sneer at.
The 3008’s ground clearance can be likened to the heel of a Louis Vuitton stiletto - enough to elevate and elicit gawks, but far from tiptoeing over cobblestones. With a length and wheelbase not straying too far from its comrades in the SUV brigade, it balances poise and practicality. Its battle for superiority in the clearance cosmos against the likes of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (215 mm) and the Volvo XC40 (211 mm) denotes it as a contender rather than a conqueror. Nonetheless, in a world where every millimeter counts, the Peugeot 3008 stands its ground, nimbly stepping through the automotive landscape with a clear measure of French finesse and function.