Paul Jolly: An underwhelming French model

Being immersed in the world of classic cars means I seldom drive new cars, so holidaying in Spain gave a perfect opportunity to test drive a hire car of my choice. 

I chose a Skoda Karoq SUV except what I was given was not one of Germany’s finest but a French Peugeot 3008 SUV. It’s what car hire firms always do in the small print, by saying ‘Or Similar’.

SUV means Sports Utility Vehicle and the 3008 was neither sporting nor utilitarian in the literal sense. Useful, practical and beneficial it was not. 

A tiny and raspy three cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine trying to pull 1.5 tonnes is not easy. 

This wheezing, turbo charged little lump is unlikely to make 50,000 miles before flying apart and belongs in a baby hatchback, not a five-seater executive barge at £37,000. Yes, that is the cost new, with two years old examples fetching less than half that. What IS the point.

The rear floor is so high that only aptly named Springers are likely to leap in unaided. Old retrievers don’t stand a chance and once the lid is down, there is no headroom for their …er heads. 

Forget dogs then and put in two cases and it’s full. No more interior space than a standard hatchback.

Visibility is only possible when looking forward as the side and rear views are severely limited by bulky door frames, screen surrounds, headrests everywhere, and a tiny rear window. You are instead going to get used to cameras and mirrors and forget looking over your shoulder.

On the road, I was positively underwhelmed with apathy and lack of involvement but it gave me time to think, what if the boss ordered me and I HAD to spend £37,000 for replacement wheels. Easy.

I’d have a two year old, top of the range Ford Mondeo S Line estate with pan roof and two litre petrol hybrid engine at just £19,950. And the other £17,000? 

A 2002 Bentley Arnage R of course, with under 60,000 miles. Both currently on Autotrader and available as I write.

No contest.