PEUGEOT'S 2008 may be seen as the French manufacturer's compact SUV but it's very big on style, character, value and driving enjoyment.

It's deceptively roomy inside and has modern styling to help it stand out in a crowd.

The 2008 looks robust with a number of eye-catching features, including 17-inch alloys, roof rails, a rear sports spoiler, LED daytime running lights, vertical front grille, rear ‘claw- effect LED lights, cornering assist fog lights, front and rear scuff plates and beefed up wheel arches.

Move inside and there's a wealth of on-board technology that cannot fail to impress. The cabin has a premium feel to it and is bright and spacious.

Creature comforts include the likes of automatic dual zone air conditioning, a seven-inch multifunction colour touchscreen with Mirror Screen and CarPlay to keep you connected on the move, plus a DAB radio, Bluetooth, and plenty more besides.

This car also included some optional extras such as park assist, a reversing camera and satellite navigation which bumped up the asking price from £18,470 to £20,565.

It also featured Grip Control - an adapted traction system - that gives the 2008 extra purchase on slippery surfaces. Although it's not quite the same as four-wheel drive, the driver can select from five modes - Standard, Snow, Mud, Sand or ESP Off - and the car can cope admirably with the conditions.

Powered by a three-cylinder, 1.2-litre, 130bhp petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the 2008 can reach from 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds, tops out at 124mph, can achieve combined fuel economy of 58.9mpg with carbon emissions of 110g/km.

The elevated driving position results in excellent all-round visibility and comfort levels are high for all occupants with ample room for two full-sized adults to stretch out in the back. There is room for a third back seat passenger, but it does become a tad squashed.

The 2008 is really sprightly and full of zip and can cope just as proficiently in busy town centre traffic as it does on the open road and fast-paced motorways.

The acceleration through the gears is sharp and responsive and there is always ample power on tap from the lively three-pot engine. The compact sports wheel offers precise steering and the car's road-holding is nicely assured which means it can be pushed hard into bends with confidence.

There is a little of wind and road-surface noise at higher speeds, but generally the car is well insulated.

Another clever feature is the Park Assist. Once activated, the car will notify the driver when a suitable space has been found. The Park Assist system then automatically moves the steering wheel to guide the car into the space while the driver keeps a lookout and controls the acceleration and braking accordingly.

The system also works in a similar fashion when exiting a tight parking space.