CABIN fever has been given a new meaning by Peugeot as the interior of its classy 2008 is hot stuff.

The high tech gadgetry, top-notch materials and daring layout give the second generation of this compact crossover a premium-brand feel.

Far from feeling irritable after a weekend on the nation's highways and byways my family were immediately on the case planning future trips.

I think the opportunity to use their smartphones in a comfortable, stylish environment uninterrupted by friend or foe was the main draw rather than the lure of any eventual destination.

The airy atmosphere they enjoyed was aided by a panoramic sunroof - a £750 optional extra to the otherwise well kitted out £26,580 GT Line PureTech 130 model on show here. I'd say it was worth the extra expense as it lets light flood into the cabin and adds to the quality feel of proceedings.

The cabin design manges to combine sharp angles with a seamless flow throughout.

The seats are supportive and feature natty green stitching - as does the multi-function steering wheel that serves as mission control for the driver who can operate most things from the many buttons that call it home.

There are plenty of cubby holes including a covered storage box doubling as an armrest between the driver and front seat passenger. There are also cup holders next to the electric parking brake as well as a charging plate and docking station for your smartphone hidden behind a glossy panel.

Nifty gloss black piano keys are situated below a 10-inch colour touchscreen which is the centrepiece of the dashboard and home to the digital radio, sat nav and climate control.

The keys look snazzy but when you're driving they can be a bit tricky. So, much like the legendary Eric Morecambe's immortal line to Andre Previn, you can be pressing all the right keys but not necessarily in the right order.

There are no problems with the wide range of safety aids fitted including a plethora of airbags, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping assist, a rear view camera and parking sensors.

The back seats easily cope with two adults as there is plenty of head, leg and shoulder room. A third can be fitted in but a slightly raised transmission tunnel hinders leg room a tad. There are no cup holders in the rear but door pockets and netting on seat backs provide storage space.

The boot is a reasonable size for family life with room available underneath the floor to stow away your more valuable bits and bobs from the prying eyes of the criminal element. The rear seats fold over when more bulkier items need to be transported.

The smart exterior takes its styling cues from the 208 and larger 3008 with a dark chrome chequered front grille with black gloss trim flanked by near vertical indicator strip lights. The 18-inch alloy wheels on this model also catch the eye.

The supermini-sized SUV is a delight to drive - helped by the fact it sits on Peugeot's latest CMP small-car platform so benefits from a more robust yet lighter structure. The ride is pretty smooth - no matter what the potholes masquerading as roads these days have to say - while the handling is sharp with a confidence-inspiring amount of grip in corners.

The driver benefits from Peugeot's excellent i-Cockpit system which boasts a low-slung compact steering wheel and a raft of information via a high-mounted 3D digital dash display.

I found the mid-range 1.2-litre, 129bhp petrol engine an enthusiastic individual while the slick six-speed manual transmission aids and abets proceedings allowing the 2008 to reach 62mph from a standing start in 8.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 122mph.

The three-pot sips fuel frugally achieving a figure in excess of 50mpg under the WLTP test cycle while emissions are pegged at 132g/km.