Peugeot 5008 review 2019

Model Review

It’s quite harsh to call a manufacturer’s new model short-sighted, but that’s exactly what the first-generation Peugeot 5008 was. Just as the tide was turning towards crossovers and SUVs and buyers were turning their backs on MPVs, Peugeot took the decision to launch its 5008 people carrier.

It wasn’t a bad car, with the 5008 offering clever seating flexibility and space for seven in a relatively compact package. It offered one of the largest boot sizes in its sector at the time, while the interior was filled with hidden storage places to help add some extra practicality to the model.

It also introduced a number of new technologies for its class — including a head-up display, a radar device that could tell the driver if they were too close to the car they were following, and a system to help with traction in the snow. All of this tech was advanced when the 5008 first went on sale in 2010.

But a people carrier wasn’t what most buyers were after, and the 5008 sold in small numbers in the UK. This led Peugeot to revamp its 3008 and 5008 range, and turn them both into crossovers, with the new 5008 going on sale in 2017.

Latest model

Adopting a very similar look to the smaller 3008, Peugeot wasn’t shy with its new 5008, and offered the model with a bold exterior and interior.

The model grew noticeably in size, and was 11cm longer than the original 5008, but it’s still one of the more compact offerings in its sector.

The inside benefits from the latest version of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit system, which is a fully customisable 12.3-inch display, with a head-up display, while an eight-inch touchscreen also features. As part of i-Cockpit, the 5008 — as with all modern Peugeots — comes with a tiny steering wheel as well as a head-up display. A range of efficient diesel engines are also available.

Since launch, the 5008 has scooped an impressive number of awards — including categories in the Tow Car Awards, as well as the best large SUV at the What Car? awards. A new GT-Line Premium trim level has also been added to the line-up.

Value for money

The latest 5008 has gone upmarket, and the prices have risen accordingly. Most models are quite well-priced (starting from £26,725), but the top spec car is quite expensive, and costs nearly £40,000. Standard equipment is excellent, though, with entry-level Active versions coming with an eight-inch touchscreen, climate control, automatic lights and wipers and ambient interior lighting, with each model thereafter coming with plenty of equipment for the money.

If you’re happy with the original 5008, versions can be picked up from just £2,000, although at that price you can expect that this will be a car with an exceptional amount of miles on the clock. Expect to pay nearer £6,000 for a well-specced version with around 60,000 miles on the clock.

The second-generation is still a new car, but with examples under a year old for sale at less than £24,000, there are some fantastic discounts to be had.

Looks and image

Compared to the original 5008, the latest car is a terrific improvement. Gone is the bland styling and in place is a classy shape that looks modern and imposing among the SUV sector with its large alloy wheels, standard-fit LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights. The rear quarter can look a bit awkward from certain angles, though, and the design doesn’t suit the 5008 in the same way that it does the smaller 3008.

The inside is one of the most modern-looking cars of any new car. It’s concept car-like in design, with its digital cockpit system, small steering wheel, textured design and hardly any buttons littering the cabin. Peugeot’s truly gone its own way with the styling here, and should be applauded for doing so. However, in places it’s a bit over-the-top. A rotary dial is much simpler to use, and having to use the touchscreen to adjust the temperature of the cabin feels like a backwards step in safety. But, if you want an escape from the norm, the 5008’s cabin will appeal to you. The aforementioned i-Cockpit system and high-quality materials also give the 5008 a premium feel.

The 5008 is a car for those more interested in comfort and refinement than performance. It’s not a car that should be driven in a spirited fashion, with plenty of body roll and uninspiring handling. The diminutive square steering wheel also might work on smaller Peugeot models like the 208 and 308, but it just feels out of place on a car as big as the 5008. But enough moaning, because the 5008 is a superb long-distance cruiser, with supple suspension and impressive refinement. For those wanting to carry their family in comfort and safety, it’s a tough car to fault.

Space and practicality

Practicality is hugely important on a seven-seat SUV, and the 5008 doesn’t disappoint. It’s not the largest model in its class, which means that you’re left with limited boot space with seven seats in position, but with five seats up, the boot is an impressive 780 litres.

There’s also a fantastic amount of interior storage space dotted around the cabin, but the third row of seats are best kept for occasional use, and adults simply won’t fit. They’re best for smaller children only, or just have them folded all the time to have a nice big boot. Second row comfort is generally good, with plenty of legroom and headroom, although those carrying adults in the rear frequently should avoid the panoramic sunroof — fitted as standard on GT-Line Premium and GT models — as it significantly eats into the headroom.

The 5008 has never been safety tested by Euro NCAP, but given that it’s structurally identical to the smaller Peugeot 3008, it’s safe to assume that the 5008 is a safe family car. Autonomous emergency braking and lane-departure warning is included as standard, while popular Allure versions add high-beam assist, lane-keep assist, a driver attention alert and blind-spot monitoring to the line-up, making the 5008 a model packed with safety equipment.

Engines

The 5008 is offered with four engines – two diesels and two petrol.

The standard petrol engine is a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine producing 128bhp, and is offered with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The other option is a powerful 178bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine offered with an automatic transmission only. It’s the quickest engine in the range, and offers a top speed of 135mph and 0-60mph sprint time of 8.1 seconds.

As for diesels, the first option is the efficient 129bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine with the choice of a manual or automatic gearbox. Higher up the line-up is a 175bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It’s the only engine choice on the top spec GT car, with a 0-60mph time of nine seconds and a top speed of 134mph possible.

Unlike other seven-seat SUVs in this class, the 5008 is limited to road use only, given that no all- or four-wheel-drive option is offered.

Running costs

Surprisingly both the petrol and diesel engines in the 5008 are efficient. The cleanest engine in the line-up is the 1.5-litre diesel engine, which returns up to 56.3mpg, with CO2 emissions as low as 102g/km. This makes it very fuel efficient for a car of this size. Even the least efficient choice – the 1.6-litre petrol engine – is capable of a claimed 39.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 128g/km. But drivers covering long distances will find that the diesel is still the best option.

Insurance groups vary between 14 and 25, depending on engine choice and trim level, which means the 5008 should prove to be quite cheap to insure for a vehicle of this size.

Things to look out for

Peugeot hasn’t always had the best reliability reputation, but its latest crop of cars seem to be dependable and robust. Given that the new 5008 is still a brand new model (all second-generation cars will be covered under warranty until at least the end of 2020 if they have less than 60,000 miles on the clock), there’s not a lot known about its long-term reliability just yet.

Rivals

Given the rise of the SUV sector in recent years, it means there’s a good number of options to sit against the 5008. The Skoda Kodiaq is perhaps its best and closest rival, but you should also consider the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, Seat Taracco and Nissan X-Trail.

If you’re not so fussed about an SUV and are just after a seven-seater, take a look at the Citroen C4 Spacetourer, Volkswagen Touran an Renault Grand Scenic in the MPV class.

Depreciation

The last Peugeot 5008 had a poor reputation for holding its value, but given the latest model’s popularity and relatively lengthy waiting lists, used value on the latest car have held up well. You can still get several thousand pounds off nearly-new models, but don’t expect an absolute bargain on the used market, just decent and welcome savings off the price a new one would be.