2018 Peugeot 5008 first drive review
Peugeot’s current run of success can be put down to one key element - it has embraced its ‘French-ness’ once again.
Having ditched its re-bodied Mitsubishi SUVs (the forgettable 4007 and 4008) the brand has rediscovered its mojo with the all-new 3008 small SUV launched in 2017. It has won us over with its polished presentation and on-road manners, which come from the fact that it is designed and engineered in France, rather than Japan.
Now the brand has bigger goals - literally. It has launched the all-new 5008, a seven-seat SUV designed to compete against the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq, Land Rover Discovery Sport and forthcoming Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.
It is unmistakably Gallic to look at, borrowing heavily from the 3008’s bold design, both on the exterior and in the cabin. But that’s no bad thing because the 3008 has one of the stand-out interiors in the compact SUV market.
A combination of Peugeot’s ‘i-Cockpit’ design philosophy of a small steering wheel and high-set instrument panel, a mixture of premium materials and an interesting but thoughtful layout make the cabin a benchmark for the class. It’s also spacious, despite its relatively compact exterior dimensions, and the 5008 adds to the 3008 by including a pair of small seats hidden underneath the boot floor.
While not a true seven-seater, the 5008 is a 5+2 that is a genuine alternative for families that want the flexibility and freedom to carry an extra pair of occupants occassionally. They will have to be small however, as the room in the third row is tight, even after you slide the moveable second row seats forward.
Peugeot has produced a very well equipped and good value range, but has forsaken it’s cheaper, entry-level Active specification in favour of a more premium range - made up of the Allure, GT Line and GT.
The line-up begins at $42,990 (plus on-road costs) for the Allure which comes loaded with 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, 8-inch capacitive touchscreen, leather-trimmed steering wheel, navigation, digital radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless smartphone charging, surround-view parking camera, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking all standard.
Next up is the GT Line, priced from $46,990, which adds a hands-free power tailgate, LED headlights, high beam assist, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, a black roof and a ‘Sports’ front bumper and grille on top of the Allure’s gear.
Finally the range is crowned by the GT, priced from $52,990. It gets 19-inch alloys, Alcantara door and dashboard trim inserts, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with massage function, heated front seats, chrome mirror shells and wheel arch extensions.
The GT also gets a unique engine, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that makes 133kW of power and 400Nm of torque. The Allure and GT-Line are powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 121kW and 240Nm.
Both engines are paired exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. While that means the 5008 is an urban-focused SUV, Peugeot does offer the option of Advanced Grip Control, an advanced traction control system that has Mud, Snow and Sand settings to provide better traction in slippery conditions. It comes paired Hill Ascent/Descent Control for more off-road ability.
But it’s on-road that the 5008 shines. Like the 3008 (which shares the same underpinnings and powertrains) the 5008 feels poised and well balanced for a tall SUV on the road. Even throwing it at some sweeping bends in rural New South Wales didn’t fluster the 5008.
The ride is impressive too, offering good body control, albeit with some noticeable body lean when cornering sharply, with a compliant ride. You will notice the sharper bumps but the smaller imperfections are filtered out nicely.
Both engines do an admirable job. The diesel obviously feels stronger with its more generous portion of torque, but it also sounds smooth and refined which backs up Peugeot’s push to be seen as a more premium brand in Australia.
The petrol engine may lack the performance of its bigger brother but it still performs admirably. There’s good pulling power from the low down in the rev range which helps it feel strong off the mark and there’s adequate punch at the top end when you put your foot down.
The six-speed automatic is the weakest link the powertrain mix, but only because it occasionally finds itself hunting for gears for too long, particularly up hills. However, the rest of the time it shifts smoothly and efficiently and is certainly a massive improvement over the robotized manuals and CVT units used on previous Peugeot models.
In terms of fuel economy the GT returns an impressive 4.8-litres per 100km claim, while the Allure/GT-Line use 7.0L/100km.
Throughout it all what shines through with the 5008, as it has with the 3008 and the new generation 308 before that, is how French this current generation of Peugeot models are. The decision to separate itself from Mitsubishi has resulted in SUV models the equal to anything from Germany, or indeed the rest of Europe, as well as the best Japan has to offer.
The 5008 is a premium SUV with real French style.
2018 Peugeot 5008 price and specifications
Price: From $42,990 (Allure), $46,990 (GT Line), $52,990 (GT) plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol (Allure/GT Line); 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel (GT)
Power: 121kW at 6000rpm (petrol); 133kW at 3750rpm (diesel)
Torque: 240Nm at 1400rpm (petrol); 400Nm at 2000rpm (diesel)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Fuel use: 7.0L/100km (petrol); 4.8L/100km (diesel)