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Peugeot 5008 – A valid choice for a niche group of business users

It’s Peugeot’s big 7-seater SUV and the first ride we have had in one for a couple of years. The 5008 has proved to be well-balanced, favourably mixing style, respectable performance and high safety standards.
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25 October 2019

 

Peugeot 5008

  • P11D Value / BIK band: £30,450 / 28%
  • 5-door, 7-seater SUV
  • 130bhp / 300Nm, 1.5-litre 4cyl diesel/automatic
  • Economy (comb)/CO2: 47.4mpg/106g/km
  • Performance: 11.8s/111mph

What is it?

It’s Peugeot’s big 7-seater SUV and the first ride we have had in one for a couple of years.

The 5008 has proved to be well-balanced, favourably mixing style, respectable performance and high safety standards.

It has morphed into a three-row crossover SUV competing with the likes of the  Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan X-Trail, but not on the level of the Volvo XC90.

Demand for SUVs, or at least SUV-like vehicles, continues to grow and the 5008 is based around the slightly smaller 3008  and from the back of the driver’s door forwards they are pretty much the same car.

From there you’ll find a longer, more upright tail designed not only to accommodate more luggage, but the two occasional seats that spring up from the boot floor.

 

What’s hot

  • When it comes to engines and CO2 emissions, the Puretec betters the diesel by only 1g/km CO2. Coupled with a range of 50-62mpg, the 5008 is competitive with other C-segment rivals, like Nissan’s X-Trail, Skoda Kodiaq and Renault Koleos.
  • The piano key-style switchgear of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit is unexpectedly practical. Buttons that stand so proud make toggling between menus on the display is easy, even in the dark… and they look great.
  • There’s also voice control and the smartphone mirroring suite – Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink – offering the widest choice of compatibility, ensuring executives stay connected and productive while on the road.
  • Though smartphones can be connected via conventional Bluetooth, tethering with a USB cable will not only give you access to more apps while on the move, but will also help maintain a charged battery – crucial for business continuity. Magnetic tray tables and additional 12V ports in the rear can be furnished with USB accessories to keep everyone in the back happy too.
  • Spacious is something of an understatement. Three full middle row seats accommodate three full child seats, if needs be, and the additional two seats in the rear can be used to take more passengers, or removed to take boot capacity to 1,060 litres.
  • Thoughtful touches like the flip-out boot floor helps protect slacks from dirty bumpers and all rows fold flat, including the front seat, to offer over three metres of length – something that might pique the interest of trades drivers.
  • Peugeot has focused on offering a sensory experience, i-Cockpit Amplify, which at the time of presentation seemed a little gimmicky. However, the choice of scents, music and an optional massage seat driver-side in “relax” mode are worth the test drive alone. If all stressed commuters had access to such features, perhaps life on the road would be significantly less fraught!

 

What’s not

 

    • The jury is still out on the i-Cockpit’s key combination of a smaller steering wheel, digital head up display/cluster and driver-centric tilted centre display. The two latter are really rather impressive, with improved touch response, stylish motion graphics and easy-to-use steering controls. However the smaller steering wheel is, well, small and it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly if a vehicle is shared.
    • The cruise control and speed limiter sticks are tucked away behind the tiny steering wheel and yet still totally obscured. The 5008’s adaptive cruise control is a main event for business users, helping to reduce speeding penalties and driver fatigue. Steering wheel positioning would have been preferable in this instance.
    • There is no denying that Peugeot has done an outstanding job of packing several cutting-edge ADAS features into the 5008 – Distant Alert, Lane Departure and Lane Keep Assist, Speed Sign Recognition and Blind Spot Monitoring, to name just a few. In the case of Driver Attention Alert, the car responded well. However, some of the ADAS features were a little laggy or, in the case of Park Assist, totally unresponsive. Though this technology is in its infancy (and as such should be judged as a toddler rather than an adult), the only saving grace is that much of it comes as standard and in the case of safety, sometimes it’s better late than never.

Verdict on the Peugeot 5008 GT Line BlueHDi 150

Affordable prices make it is a valid choice for a niche group of business users and it is a practical and roomy SUV, with broad safety, technology and driving capabilities – perfect for personal and professional use.

For company car managers, this presents a great choice for employees and would suggest wide take up.

Yet, this vehicle is going to be overkill for anyone that doesn’t a) ferry around plenty of family en route to a job requiring stacks of equipment, b) drive endless miles in the name of business, or c) have some extreme sports passion for which roof racks do not suffice.

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. Even base Active gets DAB and CarPlay/Android Auto, plus lane-departure warning and auto headlights/wipers.

Allure adds more safety systems, built-in nav and tray tables on the back of the front seats. GT Line gets sportier interior and exterior trim, as well as LED headlights and wireless phone charging. GT, meanwhile, is only available with the auto gearbox and most powerful engines. It adds some kit, but nothing you can’t spec on lesser 5008s. Prices start at a little under £25k, rising to over £30k for a GT.

The 5008 is comfortable, quiet, and the dash set up is interesting and different with the ‘piano key’ style switchgear – although not the easiest to see – and the ability to change the instrument panel read outs.

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Chris Wright

Chris Wright

Chris Wright has been covering the automotive industry nationally and internationally for 30 years. Following spells with consumer titles he became News Editor of Automotive Management (AM), Editor of Automotive International, International Editor for Detroit-based Automotive News, and Editor of Dealer Update. He has also co-authored several FT Management Reports and contributes regularly to Justauto.com

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