Peugeot 2008 vs Nissan Juke

In the battle of the subcompact crossover SUV, will the Nissan Juke or the Peugeot 2008 take the crown?

So many SUVs, so many different ways to rebrand and repackage them.

That’s probably how we ended up with not just the compact class, or the crossover – but the subcompact crossover, too.

No wonder looking for the ideal SUV is much like handling a matryoshka doll. You think you’ve reached the last in the line up, only to realise there’s always something smaller to find.

And the subcompact crossover is so small, it might even trick you into thinking it’s not an SUV at all.

Which is a bonus if you’re feeling conflicted about abandoning your familiar fave hatchbacks. (A moment of silence for the Ford Fiesta please: living forever in our hearts, if not on the production line).

But with so many subcompacts to choose from, narrowing down your new car lease could be a chore. And listen, doing a written analysis of every single one in the class would be insane. We’d be here for days – and so would you.

That’s why we’ve kept things appropriately concise, by chucking two of the finest subcompact crossovers against each other to see who comes out on top. 

Will the Peugeot 2008 reign supreme?

Or will the show be stolen by the controversial Nissan Juke?

Read on and find out: and by the end of this piece, you might be one step closer to choosing your next SUV lease deal.

Overview

It’s hard not to be a Nissan fan when it’s making such stellar favourites like the Qashqai, the Ariya and the Juke.

And while the Juke isn’t the smallest car Nissan has ever made, it’s definitely their titchiest SUV offering that’s currently on the UK market.

Eye-catching (whether you love it or not), practical, and easier to park than some of its more mammoth siblings, the Juke will look great on any driveway.

Likewise, Peugeot is known for making some fantastic cars and the 2008 is up there with the best of them.

It’s fun, easy (and relatively cheap) to run, but sacrifices nothing in terms of quality. It’s got all the sophistication of bigger models like the 5008, but without losing everything that makes its hatchback 208 sibling so great.

Looks

Nissan Juke

A beauty contest this is not.

And a good thing too, because the Nissan Juke is not always a winner in the looks department. That’s probably the kindest way we can mention that it’s been voted the UK’s ugliest car a few times.

But beauty really is in the eye of the beholder and to our subjective eye, there’s a lot to love about the look of the Juke.

We love the dominant wheel arches, the high waistline (seems strange to be typing that about a car), and how it contrasts with the slim side windows. The hybrid grille is nothing to sniff at either, bringing to mind the feel of more premium makes like BMW and Jaecoo.

Though the second-generation Juke is less divisive than the first, we reckon it’s still got a bit of a Marmite flavour going on. You either love it or hate it. There’s very little in-between.

Peugeot 2008

As for the Peugeot 2008, you ask?

Well, following its 2020 facelift it’s got some seriously impressive styling going on. The chequered radiator grille puts a twist on a feature that is being used more and more across car design lately.

Diamond cut alloy wheels are always great, but they lend a sense of elegance here to a car that might otherwise have a more muscular vibe. And the dark tinted rear and tailgate windows add just that touch of class too.

All in all, these are two attractive cars.

The 2008 feels a touch more sophisticated in design, true, but the Juke? It’s got a bit of funkiness going on. And while it lacks some of the elegance of the 2008, we say it’s still a contender.

Interior

The market is so saturated with SUVs these days that it’s tempting to think one is much like the other. But how true is that when comparing the Juke and the 2008?

Nissan Juke

Considering the punch of personality the Juke’s exterior gives, you’d expect similar treatment in the cabin.

And Nissan haven’t disappointed. Monoform sporty seats keep the personality punching in this small subcompact – and if you opt for the new N-Sport trim, you can escalate it further with bold yellow accents throughout.

Ambient lighting is a playful, more elevated touch too, and available as standard spec in whatever trim level you choose.

If the Qashqai plays into being the sensible family fave of Nissan’s lineup, then the Juke is definitely the one with that promises the most fun when it comes to interior styling.

And it’s these pops of playfulness which sets the Juke apart from the crowd.

Peugeot 2008

But the Peugeot 2008 isn’t resting on its laurels either.

The 2008 comes with ambient lighting too – at least, if you upgrade to the GT trim level. If you’re on the Allure trim, you’ll have to rely on your stellar conversation skills to set your desired mood.

Its seats boast tri-material leather and cloth fabric; not flashy on a first-glance, but definitely leaning into the sort of quiet luxury you might expect on a more premium car.

And combined with the leather steering wheel and the Carbon effect finish in the cabin, makes the 2008 feels like a very grown-up subcompact.

Engines

Nissan Juke

With the transition to EV’s looming over us all, it’s rare to find a purely petrol model these days.

And the Juke is no exception – it’s available as a classic petrol engine, or a hybrid version. Either way, you’ll still need to fill up the tank at your local petrol station on the regular.

But is there a difference in performance?

The petrol engine is 999c, so not as powerful as the hybrid which clocks in at 1598c which will let you go from 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds. But the max speed is still higher in the petrol engine, clocking in at 112mph compared to the hybrids top speed of 103mph.

The Juke may give sporty flair in design, but it’s not the hottest car off the starting line. 

Peugeot 2008

The 2008 has a little more going for it in this area. Both trims (GT and Allure) are available as petrol or hybrid variants (or fully electric as the E-2008 if you want all the beauty of the 2008 with greener credentials).

And the choices don’t stop there. The entry level engine is a 1.2 litre unit complete with manual -speed gearbox and 100hp output, but upgrade and you can get the same engine with 130hp.

But an 8-speed gearbox is also available for petrol models.

Either way the 2008 is pretty economical, with similar CO2 emissions between engines.

Practicality

Unless you’re a single pringle with a big budget to blow on a silly little sports car, the chances are you want something that actually fits your lifestyle.

Nissan Juke

This is where the subcompact class reigns supreme: roomy enough to fit the family, but not big enough to make parking feel like a misguided game of operation.

The Juke is Nissan’s most compact SUV.

So, for bigger families with kids, pets and sports equipment to tote around, you’ll have to make smart use of its dimensions to make the space go that little bit further.

But what space it has works hard. Luggage capacity is at 422L which is already better than and matching some of its rivals. Total boot space also can be increased by folding the back seats forward.

Door bins are also decently sized, adding extra storage to a cabin that can feel (at times) a little compact.

The high-driving position gives a really good view of the road ahead and with light steering, its an agile little SUV. One drawback though – the rearview visibility is poor, so reverse parking will be harder work than you’d expect in a car this size.

Peugeot 2008

Is the 2008 a more practical car than the Juke?

It depends on what you’re looking for.

The boot space is a little bigger with 434L in total, so it beats the Juke, but still not the best in its class.

You also have the option of folding rear seats forward to make more boot space, but how much benefit you get from this really depends on what spec level your 2008 is.

Front seats are comfortable for two tall adults, with loads of scope to move them and the steering wheel around, but the back seats do less to impress. Legroom in the back is lacking, but on the plus side, your head won’t be brushing the roof with every bounce of speed bump.

There is extra storage throughout the cabin too, but you have to wonder if Peugeot put it in to make up for the seriously substandard glovebox (it’s tiny).

All in all, the 2008 beats the Juke when it comes to boot space, but other practical features only come with higher spec. 

So, in essence, you only get what you’re prepared to pay extra for.

Tech

It’s fair to say we expect a lot from our cars in this day and age. But that’s what happens when the industry makes such huge advancements in such a short space of time.

Because who wants a car to be just a car, when it can be a car and a supercomputer? But are cars of the subcompact class getting the all-star treatment when it comes to tech?

Nissan Juke

The Juke may be small, but it’s mighty. At least, when it comes to the amount of tech it’s got on offer for a car of its size.

But the 2024 facelift came with an upgrade to the infotainment system. Its NissanConnect screen comes in at 12.3 inches, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay equipped for your entertainment.

Higher spec models also get a new all-digital dial display, but the Juke rolls out standard safety features across all trim levels. So, you’re not paying more to enjoy things like lane departure warnings, automatic emergency braking, or high beam assistance.

The safety tech in the Juke is so good actually, that it earned the car a glowing five stars from the independent safety board, Euro NCAP. So, for the price and the size, what you get in tech is a really nice bit of kit.

Peugeot 2008

As for the 2008, it also comes with an infotainment screen – not as big as the Juke, measuring at 10 inches – but still an upgrade from previous variants. As you’d expect, Apple CarPlay etc all come as standard in this day and age.

The digital display (in all but the base spec, which is more analogue) is a nice touch too and makes the car feel more expensive than it is.

Safety features like cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and speed sign recognition are all included, no matter your spec level. Other features like the Safety Pack are optional upgrades, which has driven down its Euro NCAP rating.

Nonetheless, there’s a reasonable amount of tech available on the 2008 even at base level.

Specifications

Size doesn’t always matter when it comes to choosing a car lease, but spec definitely does.

So, we’ll run through the options here quickly.

Nissan Juke

The Juke might be a small SUV, but there’s no shortage of trim levels to choose from. Starting at the Acenta Premium, all the way through to the N-Connecta, Tekna, and Tekna+ to the top level N-Sport.

And we’ll be honest, the Acenta is not a bad place to start. It’s got a good range of safety features, some comfortable cabin design, and a rear view camera.

You’ll be paying more as you go up through the trim levels for extra’s like front and rear parking sensors (from N-Connecta onwards), wireless phone charging (Tekna onwards), the midnight interior trim and choice of alloy wheels (Tekna+ onwards).

The differences between trim levels can at times seem minimal as you climb higher up the spec ladder. At a certain point you have to wonder if the upgrades are worth paying for, when the benefit diminishes with every step up the spec ladder.

But if you ask us, it’s the optional equipment that sets the Juke apart. Every trim level let’s you choose to include a spare space-saver wheel – a rarity in this day and age of new cars, where they’re typically no longer included.

And if, like us, you’re sick of hitting potholes, then a spare wheel with your car lease is a peace of mind we’ve been sorely missing.

Peugeot 2008

The 2008 has a much smaller range of trim options; the Allure and the GT. The Allure is really a decent entry-level option, with a good amount of safety features, interior equipment and stylish design.

The GT has everything the Allure offers, plus more: 8-colour personalised ambient lighting, HD colour reversing camera and Open and Go (keyless entry and push button start) to name a few added bonuses.

Peugeot’s limited trim level makes it a lot easier to see where the differences are, and what you’re paying for.

Verdict

It’s clear that the Juke and 2008 are two well-matched subcompacts when it comes to areas like tech and practicality.

Crowning a winner is a hard ask – so it we’ll say it comes down to your personal judgement.

If you’re after something that feels compact and nippy, with a lot of spec options to customise your lease then the Juke may be the one for you.

But if your priority is having a spacious interior, plenty of boot room and easily identifiable differentiations in trim, go for the Peugeot 2008.

Whichever car lease you choose, it’ll be right up your street.