Used Peugeot 5008 (Mk1, 2008-2017) review - What’s it like to drive?

Driving a Peugeot 5008 is more comfort than joy; everything is configured to transport you and your family with the minimal amount of fuss and bother. The suspension is soft and supple, the high driving position gives you a commanding view of the road ahead, while the light steering is ideal when parking and negotiating school run traffic.

Engines

The engines are all solid when it comes to load-carrying ability and economy, but the car can struggle to pick up speed in higher gears, even if you’re driving the most powerful 149bhp 2.0 BlueHDi diesel.

The PSA Peugeot Citroen group’s engine line-up took a leap forward when the highly regarded PureTech three-cylinder 1.2-litre unit was introduced in 2014. High-tech features include direct injection and weight-saving construction and the little three-pot engine has a big heart. In the 5008 it delivers 118bhp thanks to turbocharging, which gives the big MPV a decent turn of speed. 0-62mph comes up in 10.9 seconds in the official figures, and top speed is 123mph – and it’s also worth mentioning there’s no auto option.

Although the 1.2 petrol is reasonably sprightly, it’s not the fastest off the line in the 5008 line-up. That honour belongs to the 2.0-litre four-cylinder BlueHDi diesel, which has 148bhp. It can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 9.9 seconds, is flat out at 121mph, and like the petrol model is available with manual gears only.

The 118bhp 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel is the engine to go for if you need an automatic, although it’s half a second slower to 62mph than the manual 5008 with the same engine – 12.8 seconds versus 12.2 seconds.

On the road

The 5008 is a comfortable way to transport your family, thanks to a relatively soft suspension set-up. The ride helps the car soak up even the largest potholes, although the steering wheel does tend to wriggle around in your hands when you drive over broken surfaces.

The rest of the time, the steering is light and accurate, which inspires confidence when cornering. Plus, Dynamic Roll Control fitted on some models means the body is kept in check on faster corners.

The manual gearbox has quite a long throw, which can make it a bit irritating to use, too.

Overall, the 5008 is at its best on the motorway – engine and road noise are kept to a minimum, and the comfortable set-up means long journeys are a breeze.