Renault continues to stick to its strategy of suppressing the new Peugeot 3008

A defeat makes an impression. Renault will undoubtedly remember for a long time what it suffered against Peugeot when Kadjar and 3008 “2” faced each other between 2016 and 2022. Hard results for the Losange because the Kadjar did not have a bad career, far from it. But its rival from Sochaux was so successful that it overshadowed the competition, with Kadjar in the lead, often with sales twice as high.. Suffice it to say that Peugeot had taken such a lead during its career that all it had to do was wait for the next car. In this case, the arrival of an Austral – which even had to change its name to avoid making any reference to the old model – that was completely in tune with the times, consensual on the outside and modern on the inside. On the other hand, Peugeot has also gone all out to renew its goose that lays the golden eggs, with a completely redesigned 3008 “3”. It relies on an ultra-aggressive look, an SUV-coupé silhouette and an increasingly spectacular interior to prolong the adventure. But this time the match between Renault and Peugeot in this field of compact SUVs promises to be much closer.

Surrounded on both sides

Because the 3008, both thermal, rechargeable hybrid and electric, is now caught between an Austral that is only thermal (hybrid) and… the new electric Scénic! Two different models around the 3008 that, from the beginning at Peugeot, has focused on one body and multiple energies. Pleasant to live with and flattering, the new 3008 will have no trouble finding its audience, but it is almost certain that it will not repeat its predecessor’s performance of 1.5 million sales in 8 years. On the other hand, the two opponents have every chance to get more turnovers because they manage to really play their game. On the one hand the Austral is welcoming and modular – much more so than the 3008 – for families and on the other hand the Scénic is more pleasant to drive because it is lighter and lower. Without forgetting to also be habitable. If it manages to demonstrate greater autonomy, the circle will be closed and the future of the 3008 will become even less simple. This time it seems Renault is in a better position to occupy the top step of the compact SUV podium in France.