We’ve reviewed half of this car already. The Peugeot 5008 is identical to the 3008 from the B-pillar forward: the styling, outrageous (but so excellent) dashboard design and 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild hybrid system driving the front wheels. Which isn’t really “mild” in our book, because there’s an electric motor in the transmission that can power the wheels… but that’s what Peugeot calls it.
Click here to read our full review of the Peugeot 3008 GT hybrid.
This 008-pair are based on a new-gen platform that’s optimised for pure-electric, but can also accept plug-in hybrid and combustion-engines (including petrol-electrified). So there’s a world of possibility here, although local importer Auto Distributors (ADNZ) is staying close to Kiwi customer preference and concentrating on non-plug-in hybrids.
We digress. From the B-pillar back in the 5008 there’s a 162mm stretch in the wheelbase, 245mm extra length overall and a properly squared-off roofline (the 3008 is quite coupe-like) to create a 7-seat cabin and lots of luggage volume.
But we reckon the 5008 adds a lot more than just space and seats. The 3008 has a certain quirky sense of proportion, but the more SUV-like profile really gives the 5008 presence and a sense of styling balance. It looks great.
We’ve reviewed half of this car already. The Peugeot 5008 7-seater is identical to the 3008 from the B-pillar forward.
As a passenger vehicle, there’s a lot to recommend it. The longer wheelbase liberates some serious legroom for the second-row occupants, and the seats are nicely shaped - albeit with that 40/20/40 split to contend with if you like to spread out.
But it’s also fair to say the new 5008 is a bit less… MPV-ish than previous generations. Still vastly more practical than your average SUV, with a 3-part second row that tilts and slides, and a pair of 3rd-row chairs that fold flat to create a truly enormous 916-litre boot in 5-seat configuration (the 3008 has 588l, which is also pretty good).
It’s not supposed to be a driver’s car, but there’s plenty to enjoy about the 5008. The little 3-cylinder engine is eager and makes interesting noises.
But access to the 3rd row isn’t exactly easy; second row seats fold and slide, but don’t tilt. And while the 3008 bit (the front, in other words) boasts numerous capacious storage bins and slots to contain your stuff, there’s very little of that sort of thing for the rear occupants. Nice climate control unit for the second row though, and there’s a separate rear blower and air filter. Plus the very French pull-up shades for the side windows.
It’s not supposed to be a driver’s car, but there’s plenty to enjoy about the 5008. The little 3-cylinder engine is eager and makes interesting noises; the hybrid system is unobtrusive, but you can feel a little EV-creep in stop-start traffic.
The dashboard is crammed with interesting materials and interesting illumination, with a low-set steering wheel and high-set instruments (which is now Peugeot-normal).
The powertrain, with a dual-clutch automated transmission, still takes a second to gather its thoughts from a standstill, or kick down at speed for overtaking, so you have to factor that into your driving style. But once it’s up and running it’s a delight and it loves to work hard.
The 5008 is 132kg heavier than the 3008, so yes, it’s slower: it takes a whole extra second to reach 100km/h, with a sprint time of 11.3sec. But even the 3008 favours comfort over sportiness, and the 5008’s extra wheelbase length further improves ride and higher-speed stability.
And the 3008 bits continue to surprise and delight. The dashboard is crammed with interesting materials and interesting illumination, the low-set steering wheel and high-set instruments (now Peugeot-normal) appeal more every time we experience them, and the slightly murky infotainment OS is balanced out by clever “i-Toggles” in the centre console - a touch-screen of 10 shortcuts that you can select and arrange to suit.
You’ll probably only be considering the 5008 over the 3008 if you have people or cargo to carry; it is actually quite a big car, nearly as long as a Hyundai Santa Fe (to pick another slightly strange-looking 7-seater). And $4000 more expensive.
But we’d be inclined to go for the 5008 over its smaller, more curvaceous sibling regardless. It looks great, rides better and impresses with its practicality.
