PEUGEOT’S new Australian distributor knows a lot rides on its new 3008 SUV. The all-new model is tasked with relaunching the historic French brand Down Under and with helping lift its sales beyond the middling numbers it has recorded in recent years under a previous importer.

Luckily for Peugeot, the 3008 is entering what is arguably the hottest segment in Australia right now – the sub-$60,000 medium SUV segment – where it will lock horns with big guns like the Mazda CX-5 and its obvious European rival, the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The 3008 is a looker, it has an exceptional cabin and a strong standard features list, but its entry price is about $6000 higher than its rivals and the brand has struggled to move beyond ‘quirky French offering’ in recent years.

Can the 3008 finally turn things around for Peugeot in Australia?