Peugeot 5008 review
The Peugeot 5008 mixes seven-seat practicality with an upmarket interior
The Peugeot 5008 redefined the stylish MPV. With good looks and a stylish interior, Peugeot has managed to make a hugely practical car into a desirable family motor. There is a whole host of engines, and inspiring handling makes threading the 5008 down a twisty back road surprisingly fun. There is plenty of room for seven, and with the seats down the cavernous load area is significantly larger than rivals from Renault, Citroen and Ford. The highlight of the engine range is the 1.6 HDi, which delivering a decent mix of economy, refinement and overtaking power.
Our choice: 5008 1.6 HDi 110 Exclusive
Styling
The Peugeot 5008 takes the practicality and clever design of an MPV and adds smart looks and a stylish interior. Outside you get the familiar Peugeot face, echoing the 508 and smaller 3008 MPV. The huge windscreen gives a sleek, streamlined appeal and fills the cabin with natural light. Although the MPV has van like proportions, quirky design features like the wraparound light clusters and darkened door pillars help it to stand out. Inside, the 5008 gets a gorgeous sweeping layout, with chrome dials and a raised gearbox mount. The buttons and switches are well laid out and there aren’t so many as to clutter the dash unnecessarily. Next to the Renault Grand Scenic, the 5008 excels both inside and out.
Driving
The Peugeot 5008 rides beautifully and soaks up bumps and ridges in the road without even breaking a sweat. But the surprise comes in the bends – although the steering feels light, it is accurate and inspires confidence. The engines do well in terms of economy and carrying ability, but even the 150bhp 2.0 HDi diesel feels slow to respond in higher gears. The gearbox isn’t particularly stimulating either, as the long throw can be cumbersome to use. All in all, the 5008 is far more at home on the motorway, where road noise is well insulated.
Reliability
The 5008's handling is safe and predictable, and the numerous safety systems help keep the MPV on the straight and narrow. Curtain airbags that stretch all the way to the rearmost row of seats are standard across the range. In terms of reliability, the dark cloud that has hung over the French manufacturer for so many years remains, as Peugeot placed a dismal 28 out of 30 in our Driver Power survey. However, due to the car’s relative youth, the 5008 didn’t feature specifically, and Peugeot has made efforts to make its cars more reliable.
Practicality
The seven-seat 5008 is a cleverly designed car. The seats fold totally flat, which makes carrying cargo a doddle, and with all the seats down you get a colossal 2,506 litres of load space. With the second-placed Citroen C4 Grand Picasso offering just 1,951 litres. Getting into the rearmost row of seats is made simple by a clever, independent folding system, which allows each seat to move separately. However, once strapped in, you’ll quickly realise the third row is slightly cramped, and adults might feel the strain on longer journeys. Although the 5008 has a gigantic load area, it's let down by its lack of cabin storage. There is nowhere on the dash to store loose items, and the glovebox is tiny – it sounds trivial, but in a family friendly car, Peugeot should know better.
Running Costs
Compared to its rivals, the 1.6 HDi (51.4mpg) is behind the Renault Grand Scenic (57.6mpg) and Ford Grand C-MAX (57.7mpg), but on a par with the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso (52.3mpg). Although these figures aren’t disastrous, it’ll burn a hole in any pocket over time. It is the same story with the larger, 2.0-litre diesels, and the thirsty petrol units are best avoided. Equipment is good, with air-con, electric windows and alloy wheels standard across the range. Pricey top-spec Exclusive models add even more kit, while a head-up display, panoramic sunroof and rear-seat entertainment are reserved for as pricey options.
For an alternative review of the latest Peugeot 5008 MPV visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
