BACK in March the Peugeot 3008 SUV was voted European Car of the Year for 2017 on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show.

With prices starting from just over £20,000 it is already something of a sales success in the UK and I got behind the wheel of one to find out what is making it so popular.

The previous 3008 was frankly not very attractive and was more of an MPV than an SUV/Crossover but this new model is very stylish and much more butch.

It is easy on the eye and is available with a variety of petrol and diesel engines. You can choose from 1.2 and 1.6-litre petrols producing 130 and 165bhp respectively or from two diesels, a 1.6 capable of 120bhp or a 2.0-litre which pumps out 150bhp.

You can also select from a number of trim levels and even the base models are very well specced.

I sampled the 1.6 diesel in GT Line trim with a manual six-speed gearbox costing £27,345 - so not cheap but Peugeot is aiming for the premium end of the market.

The 3008 is now quite a substantial car but the 1.6 was always willing and never struggled on even steep inclines.

With a top speed of 117mph it tackled the sprint to 62mph in 11.2 seconds with emissions of just 104g/km.

The car boasts stop/start technology and that contributes to it being very economical. The claimed combined figure is 65.7mpg but in the real world you won't get close to that. I did manage over 50mpg - not at all bad for a car of this size.

In this front wheel drive form the ride was very good and the 3008 dealt well with all types of road surfaces. There was bags of grip and very little roll on corners.

The steering is sharp and accurate and although I am not a fan of Peugeot's overly small steering wheels I got used to it fairly quickly this time.

As you would expect the 3008 is very practical with a large boot and numerous other storage areas.

The interior is top-notch with quality materials and fabrics and the i-Cockpit is the star of the show and has won many awards on its own.

It features a driver adjustable digital instrument binnacle which offers a huge range of options.Usually only found in more expensive executive models, Peugeot has opted to introduce it to the mainstream and it is a big selling point.

The cabin is spacious and the seats are really comfortable and the high driving position provides good all-round visibility.

Standard equipment on this model includes a multi-function steering wheel, 18-inch two tone finish diamond cut alloy wheels, twin exhaust trim, sports front bumper, a black diamond roof, full LED headlamps and foglamps, scrolling front indicators and door mounted approach lights.

You also get hill start assist, an eight inch colour touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth and a Smartphone charging plate as well as the usual power sockets.

The 3008 is also crammed with all the latest safety features to give you peace of mind and scored the full five-star rating from Euro NCAP.

Metallic paint will cost you an additional £525 and if you want an opening glass sunroof that will add another £990. An electronic tailgate costs £750 and you can also upgrade the sound system for a further £590.