Overview

as we know it. What was once a very conventional seven-seat MPV has become a three-row crossover SUV that competes with the excellent Skoda Kodiaq and slightly less excellent Nissan X-Trail, rather than the Renault Scenic or Ford S-Max. In the 3008 Peugeot had a good platform on which to base the new 5008, and from the back of the driver’s door forwards they’re eff ectively the same car. Move towards the rear and you’ll fi nd a longer, more upright tail designed not only to accommodate more luggage, but two occasional seats that spring up from the bootfloor. The rear doors are longer, for better access therein.

The engines are broadly the same as those available in the 3008 – petrols in 1.2 or 1.6 litres and diesels in 1.6 or 2.0 litres. The manual option is a sixspeed, and the auto is six- or eight-speed depending on the engine you go for.

Driving

What is it like on the road? You might think it impossible that 1.2 litres and three cylinders could provide enough motive force to propel something as heavy and bulbous as the 5008 at anything more than walking pace. You would be wrong, however, because so equipped with Peugeot’s quiet, refi ned and tractable turbo petrol the 5008 performs perfectly adequately. The petrol handles better than the diesel too, because there’s so much less weight over the nose. Though there is a Sport button (which doesn’t do much, as far as we could tell), this is a car that’s been set up to deliver comfort above all else. It’s quiet and comfortable most everywhere, but start to drive it a bit quickly, and the mass starts to feel at odds with the quick steering.

row of buttons – luckily Peugeot hasn’t dispensed with these completely, like Land Rover did with the Velar. Peugeot calls the system, which debuted on the 3008, i-Cockpit, and, sure enough, the way the screens and surfaces are canted toward the driver make it feel more cocooning than we’re used to in ars like this. Above all else, it’s very modern and very cool. The quality of both materials and build is on-point for the class. One thing that still irks us a bit is the driving position. You have to sit diff erently in Peugeots than other cars, because the dials are designed to be read over the top of the (incredibly tiny) steering wheel, not through it. If you’re of a certain height, the wheel rim blocks the bottom half of the dials, and that’s annoying.

Owning

Running costs and reliability Like the 3008, the 5008 is not available with all-wheel drive, but rather an optional advanced traction and descent control system and marginally chunkier tyres. This makes the range much easier to understand – there’s Active, Allure, GT Line and then GT. As for economy, Peugeot claim 55.4mpg and 117g/km CO2 for the 1.2-litre petrol – you’ll see low- to mid-40s.

Verdict

Final thoughts and pick of the range A massive improvement on the old 5008, for sure. Nothing special to drive, but it is comfortable, quiet, and possessing of one of the most interesting interiors available in a mainstream production car. Providing you can actually see the dials, it’s a big selling-point that’ll see people signing as soon as they switch on the ignition and see the screens light up. It could use AWD to legitimise it as a SUV, and parked next to a 3008 it certainly looks like the lardy seven-seater it is, but other than that this is a good eff ort from Peugeot.