PEUGEOT 5008 Review

​What is it? 

The Peugeot 5008 is a seven-seat SUV, which puts it in a hard-fought segment. There are plenty of rivals, including the Seat Tarraco, Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan X-Trail – all great cars in their own right.

However, none are quite as characterful and stylish as the Peugeot, which also sits slightly smaller on the road. The question, then, is this all style over substance? Read on to find out…

What’s new? 

While you might not associate Peugeot with being a premium manufacturer, its latest models sport a stylish and well-made interior that puts it streets ahead of other mainstream models. That’s true here, with high-quality materials and some impressive technology used. 

There are also plenty of practical features such as underfloor storage, a massive boot when the rear seats are down, and loads of configurability to suit any size of family and their luggage. It also benefits from Peugeot’s latest range of economical engines.

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​What’s under the bonnet? 

The pick of the engine options is the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol unit, which makes 131bhp and promises between 39.7 and 47.2mpg alongside a six-speed manual. It also emits just 117g/km of CO2, making it eco-friendly too, and is available with an eight-speed automatic transmission for a little extra cash.

You might be shocked to see us recommending such a small engine for such a big car, but it provides more than enough performance for most uses, not struggling to pull the SUV along – providing it’s not packed to the rafters with seven adults and loads of luggage, of course. Even then, it’s so responsive in normal driving it’s hard to imagine it would falter too much when really put to the test.

What’s it like to drive? 

With its premium look you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the Peugeot 5008 is geared towards a relaxing ride, with a soft suspension setup that makes it one of the most comfortable cars in its class.

That’s with the 18-inch wheels, at least. Opt for a higher trim with 19-inch alloys and you’ll find the soft edge has been lost, which is a shame, so if comfort is important it might be worth sticking to the smaller 18-inch units.

Either way, the 5008 makes for an excellent motorway companion, where it rides out road perfections with ease and feels sure-footed at higher speeds.

​How does it look? 

While looks are naturally subjective, it’s fair to say that the 5008 has a unique, characterful and classy look that more generic rivals can only dream of achieving. It means that the Peugeot is the far more interesting option without being too showy about it.

It also gets Peugeot’s slightly fussy front end, which is somewhat at odds with the elegance of the rest of the car, but the sharp cut-out in the headlights and chunky front bash plate give the 5008 real prominence on the road.

What’s it like inside?

As we’ve already mentioned, the interior is one of the Peugeot’s real highlights. The design is far more interesting than any of its rivals, and only when you step up a price point can you find materials to match the 5008.

Interior

It also gets the i-Cockpit setup, which utilises a small steering wheel with the instruments sitting above it — whether this works depends largely on your driving position, but it’s better here than in most of the firm’s other vehicles.

What’s the spec like?

All models are well-specced, with even entry-level models getting decent safety kit, Bluetooth connectivity, Peugeot’s i-Cockpit digital instrument binnacle, seven seats and LED daytime running lights. Prices here start at £27,915.

Price and kit comparisons make the mid-spec Allure trim feel like the best deal. This adds a bit more safety equipment, 3D navigation, voice recognition, 18-inch alloy wheels and tinted rear windows, with prices starting at £29,815.

Top-spec models start a shade under £40k, which gets you adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, perforated leather upholstery in places, a hi-spec stereo system and wheel arch extensions.

Verdict

The Peugeot 5008 makes a case for itself at the very top of the mainstream seven-seat SUV market. There are highly competent rivals from the Volkswagen Group stable, but none are even close to being as characterful as their French rival.

The fact it’s great to drive with a high-quality interior and all the storage options you could ever need is the cherry atop the cake.

Model as tested: Peugeot 5008

• Price: £27,915
• Engine: 1.2-litre petrol
• Power: 131bhp
• Torque: 230Nm
• Max speed: 117mph
• 0-60mph: 10.7 seconds
• MPG: 47.2 – 39.7
• Emissions: 117g/km CO2