What's the difference?
Looks are subjective but Peugeot’s updated 2008 small SUV is good looking from every angle.
The update brings a raft of design tweaks and some tech upgrades, but mechanically there isn’t anything new.
It’s not a cheap car and its diminutive size might scare off some buyers who can cross-shop cheaper and more value focused alternatives from mainstream Japanese and Korean brands.
We are driving the range-topping 2008 GT variant to find out if it’s more than just a pretty face.
Long the domain of first-car buyers and suburbanites winding down on their driving years, the Toyota Yaris is now hybrid-only, and is a far cry from the $15,000-or-so cheap and cheerful staple it once was.
But with its fourth generation a few years into its lifespan, the Yaris is trying to be more than just a basic A-to-B runabout. In fact, the ZR we have on test is more expensive than an entry-grade Volkswagen Polo.
Does more than $30,000 of light hatch really feel worth it once you’re behind the wheel, or are you better off pocketing almost $10,000 to save on one of the thinning pack of rivals?
The Peugeot 2008 is a handsome and accomplished little SUV that’s fun to drive and has a cabin that feels a little bit special.
In reality the 2008 is too expensive and isn’t as practical as most of the mainstream compact SUVs.
This is the car you buy with your heart, not with your head.
The Toyota Yaris is as much car as many people should really need, and it's a refreshing antidote to the largely unnecessary shift towards SUVs as the ‘default vehicle’.
In the case of the ZR grade, the pricing could understandably be a reason you might consider an SUV instead. There are plenty of options for a similar price.
The problem with an SUV though is it will likely be less efficient and, due to physics, less agile and fun to drive.
Given the price and the fact that a couple of features are missing, the ZR probably isn't the variant to go for, but the Yaris is an overall solid foundation for a very convincing hatchback.