See all New Car Reviews
Pros: Seven seat cabin, strong range of engines, comfort and practicality
Cons: Tight third row, expensive options list, restricted headroom
The Peugeot 5008 is no longer a conventional seven-seat MPV. To feed the growing demand for SUVs across Europe, Peugeot has completely reinvented the 5008 as a large seven seat crossover SUV, in similar vein to the Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan’s X-Trail. While it’s undoubthely a bold move, the 5008 could be a leading choice with growing Irish families, as it is high on space, practicality and indeed style. But how does it compare to its rivals? We spent a week driving the 5008 on Irish roads and through snowy conditions, to see what it is like to live with on a daily basis.
What is it like?
The Peugeot 5008 looks like its smaller sibling, the Peugeot 3008, but it is much larger due to the additional row of seats and longer underpinnings. The new model is much trendier than the 5008 of old, with a long flowing roofline, an eye-catching chrome front grille and highly-placed rear LED lights. In standard Access specification, the 5008 is equipped with 17-inch steel wheels and a chrome front grille, while this mid-range Allure model that gains 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels and chrome bumper and door strips for a glitzier finish.
The 5008 offers the same high quality interior finish as the 3008 SUV, but with acres of additional room and a third row for seven seat status. The driver’s area is welcoming, with a dashboard layout that wraps around the driver, a small flat-bottomed steering wheel and Peugeot’s latest i-Cockpit technology, which includes a vibrant eight-inch touch screen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. It is interesting to note that i-Cockpit is featured as standard. While the infotainment can take getting used to, the 5008’s cabin is immensely comfortable and undoubtedly one of the best interiors in the seven seat SUV class.
The 5008 offers three individual sliding seats in the second row with ISOFIX mounts available for each seat, a distinct advantage for family buyers. The rearmost two seats in the third row offer plenty of room for small children, but adults will find it to be somewhat of a squeeze and there is less headroom than the Skoda Kodiaq. The rearmost seats are removable if needed and fold down into the floor and are covered by a neat panel, with a massive 780 litres of storage space in the boot. When all rear seats are folded, the 5008 offers an enormous 952 litres of room, which is significantly more than the Skoda Kodiaq.
The 5008 is available with a choice of 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines, or 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre HDI diesel engines. We drove the turbocharged three cylinder 1.2-litre Puretech petrol with a six-speed manual gearbox, which is the entry-level engine in the range. Despite its small size, the 1.2-litre Puretech packs considerable punch, with 130 horsepower. It can cover 0-100km/h in under 11 seconds, and it also cruises confidently at motorway speeds with plenty of oomph for overtaking. While it can’t match the fuel economy returns of the diesel models, we achieved circa 7-litres/100km in economy and annual motor tax is listed at €200, which means it is frugal enough for city based needs.
Even though it is a large seven-seater SUV, the 5008 drives well out on the road with light steering and less body roll in corners than you would expect. It isn’t as planted as some of its rivals, but it is nonetheless pleasant to drive. Despite being an SUV, the 5008 isn’t available with four-wheel drive, but Peugeot’s Grip Control system is available as an option, which maximises grip on slippy terrain. We drove the 5008 in bouts of heavy snow during the recent snow storms in Ireland and found it to be suitably confident. Don’t expect Land Rover-levels of off road ability however.
The 5008 is competitively-priced with the base specification Access model starting at €29,345, which is on par the Nissan X-Trail and Skoda Kodiaq. As standard, Access trim gets LED daytime running lights, seven seats, rear LED lights, tinted rear windows, ambient interior lighting, Bluetooth connectivity, air-conditioning, electric mirrors and Peugeot’s excellent i-Cockpit digital system. Our mid-range Allure specification test car gains 18-inch alloy wheels, Peugeot’s safety plus pack with Lane Keeping Assistance and Blind Spot Detection, along with Chrome bumper and side detailing, along with a foldable front passenger seat. Entry level prices for Allure kick off at €33,205.
Carzone verdict: 4/5
The new Peugeot 5008 is a highly capable and comfortable seven seat family car, and it doesn’t compromise on style either. The 5008 offers one of the most stylish interiors in the large SUV class, along with more standard digital technology than many of its rivals. What’s more, it offers a comprehensive range of petrol and diesel engines, which are well suited to Irish roads. Although the 5008 isn’t as engaging to drive or finished to the same standards as its rivals, and the infotainment getting used to, there are few things to dislike. As a hugely practical seven seat SUV, the 5008 proves to be a very competitive package.
Test Car Details:
Model driven: Peugeot 5008 Allure
Prices from: €29,345
Price as tested: €33,205
Annual Road Tax: €200
Engine: 1199cc three-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Power/Torque: 130bhp
Top Speed: 188km/h
0-100km/h: 10.9 seconds
Transmission: Five speed manual
Body style: SUV
Boot Space: 780 litres
This week we’re testing the @peugeotireland #5008. This is the mid-range ‘Allure’ 1.2 PureTech petrol. Prices from €29,345. Review to follow! pic.twitter.com/3c2ULjTLk5
— Carzone (@CarzoneIE) February 26, 2018