Buying a Used Peugeot 2008: PureTech Belt, Engines and Prices

The 2008 is Peugeot's small SUV built on 208 underpinnings, and most used examples have the 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder petrol. That engine decides the purchase: its timing belt runs in oil and can break up if the oil is old or wrong. Choose a diesel, a later chain-driven hybrid, or a PureTech with a documented belt change and oil history.

Which 2008 generations and versions exist

The first 2008 went on sale in April 2013 as the successor to the 207 SW, with front-wheel drive only. ADAC's history shows the BlueHDi 120 diesel arriving in January 2015, the turbocharged PureTech 110 and 130 in February 2015, a facelift in April 2016 and revised engines in April 2018, including the 1.5 BlueHDi. Production ended in December 2019. Grip Control, a traction mode for mud and snow, was optional on some versions.

The second generation was launched in June 2019 on the CMP platform shared with the 208, the Opel Corsa and the DS 3 Crossback, and ADAC lists the first German versions from February 2020. It is longer than the old car and offers 405 litres of boot space. The e-2008 electric version went on sale in 2020. The facelift arrived in September 2023 with a new light signature, a 54 kWh battery for the e-2008 with a claimed 406 km, and, from December 2023, a 100 kW (136 PS) mild hybrid with a six-speed dual-clutch. Details of every version are on the Peugeot 2008 model page.

Engines to choose and engines to avoid

Outputs and dates come from the ADAC catalogue. ADAC itself recommends the early automated manual and four-speed automatic only for relaxed drivers, because performance and fuel use suffer; the 1.6 VTi is loud and revs high. Gebrauchtwagenberater.de reports no known weaknesses for the diesels if service intervals are kept, and a thermostat as the only notable fault of the 1.6 VTi.

The 1.2 PureTech is the most common engine and the one with the documented problem. Its timing belt runs in an oil bath. Late oil changes, the wrong oil and short trips that dilute the oil with fuel wear the belt, which sheds rubber particles. These can block the oil pump strainer, starving the engine of oil, or damage the brake vacuum pump. Peugeot recalled turbocharged PureTech 110 and 130 engines built March 2013 to April 2017 because belt debris could affect the vacuum pump and brake servo, and L'argus reports a second campaign for cars built April 2017 to autumn 2018, launched in December 2022.

The belt replacement interval was cut from 10 years or 175,000 km to 6 years or 100,000 km, according to L'argus, and a revised belt arrived in June 2022. Stellantis now covers parts and labour for belt wear and excessive oil consumption on earlier PureTech engines for up to 10 years or 180,000 km, provided the car was serviced to the manufacturer's plan; check the conditions with a dealer before you rely on it. A chain-driven version of the engine followed around 2023, first in the hybrids, and Gebrauchtwagenberater.de warns that 2023-2025 cars can have either, so check the engine code (chain engines start with EB2L, AutoCentrum says).

Automatic gearboxes

Three automatics feature. The ETG5 and ETG6 automated manuals on early low-power versions are slow and jerky and best avoided. The EAT6 six-speed torque converter on the 2008 I and the EAT8 eight-speed on the 2008 II are proper automatics; AutoCentrum says the first serious EAT8 failures typically appear only at 150,000-200,000 km, so ask for a fluid change on older cars. The guide to automatic gearbox types explains the differences.

What ADAC and TUV data show

ADAC's used-car information for the first generation shows 9.3 breakdowns per 1,000 cars for 2014 registrations, falling to 2.0 for 2018 in that edition, with a drive belt (2014), the radiator fan (2015) and spark plugs (2016) as recorded causes. ADAC's 2025 breakdown statistics show 13.4-17.7 breakdowns for 2015-2017 cars, with oil pressure faults in 2017 and spark plugs in 2016-2017 named as clusters, against 3.5-7.2 for 2019-2022 cars.

The TUV Report 2026, as summarised by AUTO BILD, shows a car that is good when young and weak when old. At 4-5 years only 5.4 percent of 2008s had significant defects against an average of 10.0 percent, but at 6-7 years it was 17.1 against 13.6 percent and at 10-11 years 25.4 against 22.9 percent. The first generation is criticised for low-beam and rear lights, brake discs, oil leaks from the second inspection and exhaust systems. The second generation's axle mounts were flagged about ten times more often than the comparison group at the first test, and its brake discs wear quickly.

Running costs

ADAC lists the 2008 II 1.2 PureTech 130 EAT8 at 5.9 l/100 km and the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 EAT8 at 4.8 l/100 km on the WLTP cycle, with German insurance classes of 19/18/21 and 18/18/20 (third party, comprehensive, partial). The petrol has a 44-litre tank. The BlueHDi diesels use AdBlue, and AutoCentrum advises checking the AdBlue and SCR system on a used car; the AdBlue guide covers the warning lights. On a PureTech, budget for oil changes with the specified oil at the intervals in the service book or shorter.

Prices today and the rivals

ADAC's cheapest German list price was €15,200 for the first 2008 in 2013 and €20,958 for the second generation in 2020. AutoScout24 asking prices across eight European markets in November 2026 put the 2008 I at a median of about €6,500, with most cars between €4,500 and €9,000 among 3,758 offers. The 2008 II has a median of about €12,900 in November 2026, with most cars between €10,000 and €15,000 among 15,352 offers. These are whole-generation figures, so year, mileage, engine and condition decide the real price; a PureTech with no belt record should cost less than one with a fresh belt and invoices.

The 2008 shares its engines and most of its technology with the 208 hatchback, covered in the used Peugeot 208 guide, and with the Corsa F. Among other small SUVs, the Renault Captur is the most direct rival.

How to find a good one

Start with the engine code and the service book. On a PureTech, ask for every oil change invoice with the oil specification, proof the belt was inspected or replaced and confirmation of the recalls by VIN through Peugeot, ADAC or the KBA. Recalls on the second generation also covered air-conditioning compressors, battery control units and a fuel tank leak, AUTO BILD reports. The 2008-specific checks are in the list on this page.