Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Going The Extra Mile Peugeot- A Driving Experience Like None Other

We had a short road trip to Hatyai, Thailand recently and CS Euro (Peugeot Dealer for Northern Region) is one of the main sponsors for the trip. They have sponsored us a couple of models- Peugeot 308 THP and 508 to test drive and it was a smooth-sailing trip for us.

About Peugeot:
Peugeot, the best-selling French marque in Malaysia; is distributed by Nasim Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary by the Naza Group of companies. The brand has more than 200 years of history (since the year 1810) and is highly committed to be affordable than Asian-made without compromising on safety and performance. Wonder how the cars performed? Read the article below: 

Many Thanks to CS Euro Auto for co-organizing the road trip. 



The brand Peugeot is in the top 20 rankings of vehicle sales in Malaysia, occupying 0.5% total market share in Malaysia (as at November 2015). It has been proven that there is some form of popularity of the French car-manufacturer (from the Statistics) but there are some concerns about the brand. Here's a short interview with Sean Ooi, Marketing Manager of CS Euro Auto Sdn Bhd.

1) Peugeot is one of the premium car brands available in Malaysia. How would you justify the price and why do you think Malaysians should pay for that price?

Answer: Continental cars are about safety, design and environment. Safety is something that the brand would not compromise on. All Peugeot car models come with 6 airbags and substantial amount of development have gone into creating the Peugeot cars that offer assurance and safety in equal abundance.

Apart from that, Peugeot cars have extremely cool and classy interior design, you have to drive to believe! For instance, the 508 model. It comes with Michelin tires, full LED technology, JBL sound system and chassis (more info about 508 can be found below). Not only visually-pleasing but performance is top notch either.

On top of that, there is a series of Peugeot owners' exclusive perks. Peugeot car owners can enjoy the privilege of entering Peugeot Lounge at Subang Airport; with similar services offered to business class lounge, Peugeot travelers can recharge by enjoying the complimentary food and beverages, wifi, newspapers and magazines, TV with flight info... as well as facilities like private meeting room. The aforesaid Peugeot Lounge is the first automotive airport lounge in Malaysia recognized by the Malaysian Book of Records. Peugeot owners may enter by flashing the car keys.

Peugeot Protect is another initiative started by Peugeot (first protection plan of its kind in Malaysia), a type of guaranteed protection- covering the difference in value between your motor insurance payment and the original purchase price of your Peugeot. Typical motor insurance would only pay based on market value but with this protection plan, it covers the original purchase price of the vehicle. In the event of total loss, one would still be able to replace the lost vehicle with a brand new Peugeot and resume life as usual! It includes theft, fire, flood and natural disasters too! The only downside is the protection plan only valid for 5 years from the first day of purchase (applicable to new cars only, refer to Sales agent for more information).

Another interesting feature for Peugeot owners would be Peugeot Assistance; a lifetime services exclusively for Peugeot owners. It places a comprehensive range of 24-hour roadside assistance services just a call away, anytime and anywhere in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (excluding all Islands except Penang and Langkawi). Should special event arises and you urgently need a replacement rental car, it can be arranged for free either. 

In short, you are not paying only for a car but a series of premium service and commitment by Peugeot!

2) Many people are concerned about rumor that says Peugeot has common small problems (indisposition) in most car models. Can you share your comments with us?

Answer: It was true that the car-services were bad last time due to untrained staff and lacked of service centers in Malaysia but it is no longer an issue right now after the expansion of Nasim Sdn. Bhd. since the year 2010. As of now, Peugeot has 43 Peugeot outlets in Malaysia with 31 service centers throughout the country as well as 33 sales center nationwide. There will be compulsory technical training for the technicians every month, thus, they are all well-equipped with the necessary skills to handle the cars.

Peugeot 308 THP:

The Peugeot 308 THP has won numerous awards and has been awarded the car with "Engine of the Year" for 8 consecutive years, in the category of 1.4 HP to 1.8 HP. The car was awarded the "Most Beautiful Interior" at the 29th Annual Festival Automobile International either. The Peugeot 308 THP carries 1.6-liter turbo high pressure (THP) engine; it has a sporty exterior with premium, luxurious modern interior.


High Fidelity Arkamys Sound Staging with 6 Speakers


Intelligent Keyless Entry with Push Start Button/ Electronic Parking Brake


Sports Leather Compact Steering Wheel with Intuitive Control/ Sculptured Alcantara Sports Seats (commonly used in F1 cars)


9.7" HD Multifunction Touch Screen/ Full Multimedia Connectivity


Dual Zone Climate Control via Touch Screen/ Integrated Reverse Camera


Full LED Technology and Peugeot's Signature LED Characteristics/ 18" Sapphire Lightweight Alloy Wheels


Full View Panoramic Roof with Electric Blinds


Spacious Car Boot


Rear Passenger Seats


Driving Experience: The control of the car was excellent and the pick up was quick. The 211km/ hr top speed feature lives up to its expectation; following the cars in front was hassle-free, especially during road trips. The safety feature was top-notch, driver will be alerted on the close-distance of the car in front while the braking system gives me confidence in stopping at the right time. Dual-Zone Climate feature was amazing under the sultry hot tropical weather, in which both front passengers can easily control the preferred temperature as well as the strength of wind in the cabin. The only possible down side is the car dimensions, probably a little compact to fit in 5 passengers; not an issue if you'd prefer sportier car.

Peugeot 508:

Peugeot's signature D-segment car- 508, is certainly big and the car is well-equipped with a class-leading 2.2-liter turbodiesel HDI engine producing 206 PS. The classy and elegant sedan is surely a notch higher than other models, most suitable to be used as a family car; what's more for a road trip? The cabin dimension is huge and could easily fit in 5 passengers, we could even load the car boot with plenty of goodies from Thailand! Not only that the car was a joy to drive but there are stunning safety features none to others! One of which would be their Blind Spot Information System (BLISS) which monitors blind spot areas and warns the driver to focus on what matters most. You will be amazed by its fuel efficiency, it turns on diesel and one full tank could easily drive up to 800 km (could be 1,200 km depending on the grade of the diesel)! We did not find the need to refuel during the entire trip back and forth to Hatyai!


Intelligent Keyless Entry with Push Start/ Automatic Electric Parking Brake


7" HD Multi-Function Touchscreen with Navigation/ Full Digital Connectivity with USB, Bluetooth and Jukebox


i-Cockpit with a Soft Touch


Quad-Zone Air Conditioner Control


Built-in Sun-Shades for Rear Passengers


Driver Memory and Massage Function Seats/ 8-Way Electric Front Seats with Electric Lumbar Support/ Color Head Up Display (shows the speed/ distance to destination etc)


Driving Experience: It was a very comfortable and stable car to drive, especially with the very much elegant and luxurious features. The 2.2-liter turbodiesel makes speeding easy and we found the JBL Sound System with 500W Subwoofer the most enchanting. The volume of the speakers increases as you speed! Those who proffers their love for good speakers would be able to justify and you must drive to feel the sensation. Also, the suspension of the car was perfect. We accidentally overlooked on a road bumper and the car went hanging in the air for a moment before reaching the ground; surprisingly, we did not feel a shake. A car that we enjoyed both as a driver and passenger. 

CS Euro Auto Sdn Bhd

Authorized Dealer of Peugeot, the Blue Box at Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam is no ordinary car showroom, service and body/ paint center. Visitors can expect to receive exceptional service from the right people. We visited the 4S (Sales, Services, Spare Parts and Showroom) Blue Box at Butterworth and found that their facilities and services were extraordinary. Peugeot owners can get complimentary access to those facilities when they are waiting for their car to complete the routine service; going the extra mile, they even offer a private family entertainment room for those who come along with kids! There are complimentary Wifi and Coffee, as well as full Astro channels and kids corner (advance booking required). As for those in dire need of a meeting space, you can even schedule your business meetings in the private room while waiting for the car to be serviced.


Private Customer Lounge


Entertainment Room


Family Entertainment Room


Sales and Service Counter


The other side of the Showroom 


Butterworth 4S Blue Box

The above written is based on personal opinion and information obtained from various sources including Peugeot's marketing collateral. For the latest information, kindly contact the sales personnel or walk-in to the nearest Peugeot Showrooms.

Butterworth 4S Blue Box
Address: 7290-7294, Jalan Bagan Jermal, Taman Bayu, 12300, Butterworth, Penang.
Business Hours: 9 am to 6 pm. Opens Daily. (Test Drive can be arranged everyday, walk-ins are welcome)
Contact Number: 604- 332 2001 (Sales)/ 604- 332 4001 (Service)

Bukit Mertajam 3S Blue Box
Address: No. 17, Jalan Industri Impian, Taman Industri Impian, 14000, Bukit Mertajam, Penang (along Jalan Rozhan).
Business Hours: 9 am to 6 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 604- 588 6001 (Sales)/ 604- 588 5001 (Service)

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