Hyundai Tucson vs Peugeot 3008: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Hyundai Tucson is the more reliable used buy: it passes its first MOT 5.2 percentage points more often than the Peugeot 3008 once both are compared against what the national fleet scores at the same age. That comparison covers 32,483 real tests, not a survey.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Model	Pass rate	Age-matched national	Difference	Tests
Hyundai Tucson	85.3%	85.2%	0	17,402
Peugeot 3008	75.5%	80.7%	-5.2	15,081

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Applies to Great Britain — Northern Ireland is tested by the DVA under a separate manual.

Hyundai Tucson

NX4, 2020+ · compact crossover SUV

The NX4 Hyundai Tucson (2020+) is a fixture of the UK's top ten best-sellers and broadly reliable. Concerns: 1.6 T-GDI smart-stream engine had early oil-consumption claims (largely settled), PHEV battery cooling pump issues, and pre-2023 infotainment freezes. Long warranty mitigates most risk. Best-buy: 2023+. Worst: very early 2020 hybrids.

What goes wrong

1.6 T-GDI smart-stream oil consumptionmoderate
Oil level drops between services; rough idle; rare warning
2020–2022 1.6 T-GDI · Often goodwill from Hyundai UK under 5-yr warranty; out-of-warranty engine rebuild £3,500+
Check: Dipstick at viewing. Service history: any oil top-ups recorded? Hyundai goodwill claim history.
PHEV battery cooling pumpmajor
"Hybrid system" warning; battery thermal management warning; reduced EV range
2020–2022 PHEV · Under warranty within 5 years; out of warranty £1,200+
Check: PHEV battery health check at Hyundai dealer (£30–£50). EV-only range observation: should achieve 25+ miles in good conditions.
Infotainment freezesminor
Screen unresponsive; CarPlay drops; reboot needed
2020–2022 · Free under software update at Hyundai dealer
Check: Software version on test drive — should be post-2023 update.
Front suspension bushings (UK roads)minor
Knocking on rough surfaces; advisory on MOT
All NX4 · 50,000+ miles · £250–£400
Check: Rough-road portion of test drive.

Typical asking price:: £15,000–£35,000 (2020–2024)
Real-world economy:: 38–44 mpg for 1.6 T-GDI petrol; 1.6 hybrid 42–49 mpg
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:: 2023, 2024
Years to avoid:: 2020 (PHEV)

Full Tucson fault guide Used Hyundais

Peugeot 3008

Mk2 (2016–2024) · C-segment crossover SUV. The 3008 Mk2 was European Car of the Year 2017 and established Peugeot's premium crossover credentials. Available in petrol (1.2 PureTech 130/155, 1.6 THP), diesel (1.5 BlueHDi 130, 2.0 BlueHDi 150/180), and plug-in hybrid (Hybrid 225/300 e-EAT8). Popular in the UK as a premium alternative to the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson.

The Peugeot 3008 Mk2 is a well-designed, premium-feeling crossover — but the 1.2 PureTech wet-belt problem (shared with the 208, and with the Vauxhall and Citroën cars using the same engine) applies to petrol cars right through to the 2023 switch to a chain. It is a service item: the belt runs in the oil and is due at 6 years or 62,000 miles. The 1.5 BlueHDi diesel is the most reliable engine in the range for UK mixed driving and sidesteps the issue entirely. The Hybrid 225/300 PHEV is an excellent choice for buyers with charging facilities — low running costs and good real-world EV range. The iCockpit infotainment issues (freeze, reboot) are more common on the 3008 than the 208 due to the larger/older infotainment system on earlier cars.

What goes wrong

1.2 PureTech wet timing belt and oil consumptioncritical
Oil level dropping between services; rattle or whine on cold start; EML and timing-related fault codes; in severe cases engine failure through oil starvation
2016–2023 (1.2 PureTech 130 and 155 petrol) · Belt due at 6 years or 62,000 miles, whichever comes first · £450–£850 at a UK independent for the belt including cleaning the oil pick-up; £4,000+ if debris has already starved the engine
Check: Same check as on the 208 — the wet belt is shared across every PSA/Stellantis 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech application, which in the UK also means the Citroën C3 and C4, Vauxhall Corsa, Mokka and Grandland, and the DS 3. The belt runs in the oil and sheds debris that blocks the oil pick-up. Ask for a belt-change invoice against the revised 6-year/62,000-mile interval, pull the dipstick, and check the Stellantis compensation portal (qualifying repairs paid January 2022 to December 2024) and the up-to-10-year/112,000-mile warranty extension. The 1.5 BlueHDi diesel and the Hybrid 225/300 are not affected by this engine issue.
iCockpit touchscreen and infotainment freezingmoderate
Touchscreen freezes or becomes unresponsive; navigation crash; climate control accessible only via frozen screen; system reboots mid-drive
2016–2021 (older touchscreen/infotainment hardware) · Not mileage-related — software and hardware degradation · £0–£200 software update; £400–£800 infotainment control unit replacement if hardware fails
Check: Test the full touchscreen functionality during the test drive, including climate control (integrated into the touchscreen on the 3008). Ask if the latest Peugeot Connect software update has been applied. The 3008 infotainment issues are more significant than the 208 because the climate control is fully touchscreen-integrated — a freeze means you lose climate control.
EAT8 automatic gearbox judder (petrol models)moderate
Shudder from standstill; hesitation in slow traffic; harsh low-speed gear changes
2016–2021 (EAT8 8-speed automatic with 1.2 PureTech and 1.6 THP) · Above 30,000 miles in urban use · £300–£600 EAT8 software recalibration and fluid flush; £1,500–£3,000 if mechatronic unit fails
Check: Test the EAT8 at slow traffic speed and from a complete standstill. The 3008 EAT8 judder pattern is similar to the 208 EAT8. Gearbox service history (fluid change) and software calibration updates are the key questions.
PHEV 225/300 — charging port and 12V auxiliary batterymoderate
Charging cable stuck; "PHEV system fault" warning; EV range below 19 miles (should be 31 miles+)
2019–2022 (3008 Hybrid 225 and 300 PHEV) · From 3+ years old regardless of mileage · £200–£500 charging port sensor; £120–£250 12V auxiliary battery
Check: Test the PHEV by charging fully and verifying real-world EV range (should be 25–31 miles in UK conditions). Check the charging port locks and unlocks properly. The 12V auxiliary battery (separate from the traction battery) is a known maintenance item on 3008 PHEVs approaching 4 years old.

Typical asking price:: Mk2 2017–2019 1.5 BlueHDi: £6,000–£12,000 | 2020–2022 facelift 1.2 PureTech: £11,000–£18,000 | PHEV 2019–2022: £13,000–£19,000
Real-world economy:: 44–51 mpg (1.2 PureTech real-world UK); 54–63 mpg (1.5 BlueHDi real-world); Hybrid 225: the official figure above 150 mpg is a lab number that assumes every journey starts fully charged — ignore it unless you have home charging, and expect ordinary-hybrid economy once the battery is empty
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:: 2020, 2021, 2022
Years to avoid:: 2016, 2017, 2018

Full 3008 fault guide Used Peugeots

Which one suits you

Hyundai Tucson

Good for: Family buyers wanting low-stress modern SUV with Hyundai's 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty (within service-record terms).

Less good for: Buyers needing premium badge feel; very high-mileage motorway commuters (diesel alternatives more efficient).

Peugeot 3008

Good for: Crossover buyers who want premium styling and feel at a price below Audi/BMW. PHEV buyers with home charging who do regular commutes under 31 miles. Buyers targeting the 2020+ facelift 1.5 BlueHDi diesel for a reliable, economical crossover.

Less good for: Buyers who cannot verify the PureTech wet-belt change on 2016–2020 petrol cars. Buyers doing heavy city driving with the EAT8 automatic. Buyers who want the simplest, most reliable SUV ownership — the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Hyundai Tucson Hybrid are lower-maintenance choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Tucson or the Peugeot 3008?

The Hyundai Tucson. It passes its first MOT 5.2 percentage points more often than the Peugeot 3008 once both are age-adjusted, across 32,483 DVSA-recorded tests.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Hyundai Tucson?

85.3% of Hyundai Tucsons pass their MOT first time, from 17,402 tests in DVSA's records. The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of this model's age average 85.2% — so it runs level than its age group.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 3008?

75.5% of Peugeot 3008s pass their MOT first time, from 15,081 tests. Against the 80.7% that cars of its age average, it runs 5.2 points worse.

Which years should I avoid?

For the Hyundai Tucson, Initial production PHEVs had higher rates of battery cooling pump failure. Most settled by 2022. For the Peugeot 3008, 2016–2018 launch cars are now well past the revised wet-belt interval, which is where the 1.2 PureTech oil-consumption and engine-failure reports concentrate — the belt sheds debris into the oil and blocks the pick-up. Early infotainment (touchscreen module freeze) was also most prevalent on these years. The 1.6 THP petrol used on some early variants had higher oil consumption than the later 1.2 PureTech.

Which is cheaper to run?

The Hyundai Tucson returns 38–44 mpg for 1.6 T-GDI petrol; 1.6 hybrid 42–49 mpg in real UK driving; the Peugeot 3008 returns 44–51 mpg (1.2 PureTech real-world UK); 54–63 mpg (1.5 BlueHDi real-world); Hybrid 225: the official figure above 150 mpg is a lab number that assumes every journey starts fully charged — ignore it unless you have home charging, and expect ordinary-hybrid economy once the battery is empty. Vehicle tax: Tucson — £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).; 3008 — £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).. Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-08-14 / 2026-08-14.