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What’s it like?
The 5008 was once a roomy but boring people carrier, with dull design and an even duller driving experience, but in 2017, Peugeot completely reinvented its largest car. Swapping the drab MPV with a cool, stylish SUV, the nameplate was reborn, and suddenly the 5008 became desirable again. With plenty of space for all the family, small-but-mighty engines and a body shell as smart-looking as any of its rivals, the 5008 made Peugeot’s family cars cool again. It also gave Peugeot a commendable contender to the Skoda Kodiaq, SEAT Tarraco and Nissan X-Trail, as well as the Ford Edge, VW Tiguan Allspace and Renault Koleos.
Which model to go for?
Through its life, the 5008 had a broad range of engines, ranging from the little 1.2-litre PureTech petrol versions to the 2.0-litre diesels, via some 1.6-litre petrol and diesel options, and latterly a 1.5-litre diesel engine. All versions drove the front wheels – there was no all-wheel-drive option – but drivers had a choice of manual and automatic transmissions.
The 1.2-litre engine may sound small in a family SUV offered with seven seats, but Peugeot’s three-cylinder turbocharged PureTech engine produces about 130hp, and that’s sufficient without being impressive. However, while the petrol versions were arguably the most compelling, diesel versions were still fairly popular – particularly with those travelling further afield. The 2.0-litre options offered at launch were phased out over time, with the 1.6-litre and then 1.5-litre diesel engines replacing them. All three options are solid choices, but they aren’t as smooth as the petrol-powered examples.
Equipment was fairly generous for 5008 customers, with a touchscreen infotainment system available as standard, along with a digital instrument cluster and seven seats. Gizmos such as reversing cameras, climate control and heated seats were also fitted to the more upmarket versions, while a panoramic sunroof was available to let a little more light into the cabin.
However, one feature fitted to all 5008s is the tiny steering wheel, above which perches the digital instrument display. It’s a slightly odd arrangement, and it’s worth testing out the driving position before you buy, because very tall or very short drivers could find themselves faced with a choice of bashing their knees against the steering wheel to see the dials, or craning their necks over the wheel so there’s room for their feet. It’s a particular issue in manual examples.
Does anything go wrong?
We’ve heard reports of leaking sunroofs on more upmarket models and issues with LED lights, both of which can be tricky to fix. Some cars also have injector issues at around the 60,000km mark, which can be another costly repair. Otherwise, it’s all pretty conventional stuff. Make sure the boot area hasn’t been too badly abused, and check for anything that feels odd about the brakes, engine and transmission on a test drive. If you look at a 1.2-litre example and you aren’t used to three-cylinder engines, the note can sound strange, but the engine shouldn’t vibrate too much. As it’s a big car, it’s worth checking for dents and scrapes, too, as some previous owner may have misjudged the car’s bulk at some point.
The 5008 has been subject to numerous recalls over its lifetime with various issues stated. We won’t mention them all here, but customers can check with Peugeot Ireland and with the retailer that the recall work has been carried out before purchasing the vehicle.