Here at Motoring, we pride ourselves on giving fair reviews of any and all cars available to you, our dear readers. Yes, the 500hp sports cars and little hot hatches are great fun for us to hoon around the Emirates in, but hey, we realise that there may be some of you out there that need a practical car, too. You know, on those days that you need more seats than the two that are in your Ferrari.
And so it is that I've found myself behind the wheel of a car I've admittedly never even seen before: the Peugeot 3008 crossover. And while it's not normally the type of vehicle I dream about in restless slumber, I've grown surprisingly fond of this not-car-not-SUV people mover.
And this is despite its outward appearance, something that can perhaps be described as "awkward". Looking at the car, it's best to lift your hand to cover the front end from view and take in the rest of it. It's really not a bad-looking vehicle from the A-pillar back, even if it does blend in somewhat with other small crossovers on the road. But Peugeot opted for the family look with the front end, and the gaping grille and straked-back headlights just makes the front look so long. It's not offensive, just ungainly.
But inside is a different experience. Passengers sit high like in an SUV with a commanding view of the road in a cabin that is modern and logical, with nice touches like real metal (both chrome and brushed aluminum) trim. The gauges are almost sporty even, and the line of switches at the top of the centre console gives it a very business-like and driver-oriented feel. Overall, not many complaints, but some areas feel a bit low-quality - for example, the cruise control stalk feels a bit flimsy (not to mention the fact you can't even see it behind the steering wheel when you're driving), and the passenger grab-handle feels like it will break if pulled hard enough. The seats, while being an attractive, contrasting bone colour from the overall black dashboard, are made with a cheap-feeling fabric that looks like it wouldn't wear very well over the years.
But the panoramic glass roof is amazing, giving the cabin such an airy feel and making it feel bigger than it already is. (And the car is roomy - easily swallowing five passengers comfortably.) Another notable feature is the techno-geek head-up display, a pop-up glass instrument in front of the driver that displays the speed digitally. And while it has parking radar alarms in front and back, I would have liked a sat-nav and even a back-up camera as options.
But people who need to haul copious amounts of stuff around will appreciate the 512L of space with the rear seats up and 1,604L with them folded down, which also creates a flat floor.
But the real redeeming feature of this vehicle is the powertrain; for a car this size, 1.6L of engine just doesn't sound like enough; you'd think it would be a dog under acceleration around town and on the motorway.
And you'd be sadly mistaken. It's shocking how powerful this 156hp feels like; the turbocharged engine reminds me of Audi's fantastic 1.8L turbo plant in how well it pretends to be bigger than it really is. On the motorway, it has no problem in keeping up with - and passing - other vehicles, even at the higher speeds found on Sheikh Zayed Road. And in town, it's just downright spritely. Don't expect a muscle car to get the kids to school, but not once did I wish for more power from this crossover.
Equally as impressive, and ideally mated to the engine, is the six-speed automatic gearbox. In normal mode, it's set up for economic, low-rpm shifts, yet you rarely feel like it's working against you. But when you want a bit more peppiness, the sport mode has shifts coming higher in the rpm range, and it makes a huge difference. It works better than the gearboxes on many more-expensive cars.
This combination of engine and gearbox gives it outstanding fuel economy: its combined result is listed at 7.7L/100km, and the real reading on the onboard computer didn't stray far from that number, whether in town or on the motorway. And all this with the power of a larger V6.
Also perfectly matched to the power is the handling. A tall, five-passenger crossover has no right to being this fun in the corners. It turns flatter and with more poise than many sedans, and certainly has less understeer. All this despite having one of the most cossetting rides in its class, soaking up potholes, drainage grates and even speed bumps as if the car actually rides on a soft sponge. Rarely do you get a car that has the combination of ride and handling done so well, especially in this price point. It's a feat made possible, says Peugeot, with a rear suspension system that hydraulically couples the shock absorbers, limiting roll.
It's not absolutely perfect, mind you; at times, it seems just a little wobbly at slower speeds, as if all four suspension points are bouncing slightly on their own. It's nowhere near being a worry, but it's just noticeable enough to mention.
If you can get over the stark snout and the cheaper interior materials, the 3008's rewarding drive, good fuel economy and interior space makes this Peugeot ideal for a family mover. It may not quite soothe having to leave the Ferrari parked in the garage, but you may be surprised at how much you'll enjoy the drive.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh89,900 / same
Engine 1.6L turbocharged four cylinder
Gearbox six-speed automatic
Power 156hp @ 5,800 rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined 7.7L / 100km
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Itcan profile
Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani
Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India
Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce
Size: 70 employees
Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch
Funding: Self-funded to date
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How do Sim card scams work?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards by claiming to be the victim, often pretending their phone has been lost or stolen in order to secure a new Sim.
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Rasi, Harry Bentley (jockey), Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi (trainer).
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m; Winner: Ya Hayati, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Magic Lily, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Eynhallow, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Company%20Profile
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
