Peugeot 5008 2014 review
The Peugeot 5008 seven-seater gets a nip and tuck
The 5008 is a comfortable, refined and practical choice for big families. This facelift has freshened up the looks and the interior has been subtly improved. It’s a seven-seat car we can easily recommend, but there are other models we prefer – the Grand C4 Picasso, for one, is more stylish, cheaper to run and just as comfortable.
If your family outgrows your 3008, the seven-seat 5008 has also been given a mid-life facelift. But while the 3008 (left) has been a sales success, the 5008 isn’t quite such a hit.
• Peugeot 5008 in-depth review
And that’s a shame, as it’s actually preferable to the crossover in this facelifted form. The driving experience feels very similar to the 3008’s. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is punchy and smooth, and the gearshift’s throw is a little long and imprecise. But the steering is lighter and more linear, making the 5008 easier to place on the road. Not much noise finds its way into the cabin, either, and the ride is softer, making the car feel more refined and comfortable.
The 5008 doesn’t handle quite as sharply, though, and you do get noticeable kick-back through the steering wheel. Still, it compares well to the 3008, and makes rivals like the Kia Carens seem soft and imprecise in comparison. The 5008 looks more conventional than the 3008, too, and the facelift sharpens things further.
The new headlights have LED strips running underneath them, while the new grille helps add a touch of RCZ style. The 5008 gets the same interior updates as the 3008, too, so Bluetooth is standard, and there’s a colour head-up display on the top-spec model.
But prices for the seven-seater have risen – this mid-spec Active model is £300 more, making it more expensive than the equivalent Grand C4 Picasso. Plus, the Citroen boasts best economy of 70.6mpg in the 115 e-HDi Airdream model, compared with 56.4mpg in the Peugeot.
