Peugeot 5008 SUV Review (2017-present)
Peugeot 5008 SUV cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
SUV looks meet MPV practicality
Space inside for seven
Economical engines
Cons
No four-wheel-drive version
GT Premium spec is a bit pricey
Some infotainment system glitches
The CarGurus verdict
With MPVs out of favour, Peugeot has cleverly moved the 5008 into the desirable SUV marketplace, although it's done so while still offering the practicalities of an MPV. That’s quite a clever ruse, making the 5008 both fashionable and pragmatic, which makes it a capable and usable family car. Seven-seats help enormously, but more than some of its seven-seat rivals, its space and seating is cleverly packaged, while the smart interior is a real draw for many buyers, too, even if it's not quite as polished in its finish and ease of operation.
Add the economical engine line-up, sensible running costs and a surprisingly generous list of standard equipment, and it’s not difficult to see why the 5008 would appeal to family buyers. The three ISOFIX child seat mounts in the rear seats in particular will be a gamechanger for some growing families. And while it does without four-wheel drive, not many people actually need their family car to have the off-road ability of a Land Rover.
The demise of the MPV has seen family SUVs take their place, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the case of the Peugeot 5008, a car closely related to the shorter Peugeot 3008 crossover. Originally introduced as an MPV, the 5008 was replaced in 2017 with this all-new SUV reimagination, as the trend for people carriers made way for the fashionable, high-riding, ruggedly styled machines that had more than a hint of off-roader in the way they looked.
Yet while the 5008 looks very different from its predecessor, it has retained the old car’s MPV spirit, because it’s still a versatile seven-seater. It’s also packed with numerous family-friendly touches and has a range of efficient engines that mean it shouldn’t be a terrible drain on the family finances. It’s also well-equipped, solidly finished and, for such a high-riding vehicle, good to drive.
Launched shortly after the five-seat 3008, the 5008 shares many mechanical and interior parts with the smaller, plus it was also treated to a mid-life refresh in 2021. This ran to little more than a revised front grille and headlamps that gave the car a more aggressive look similar to the firm’s 508 family hatchback.
The interior feels very futuristic, with its configurable digital dials, tiny steering wheel and large touchscreen, even if that last item isn't awfully intuitive to use. That said, there’s plenty of seat and wheel adjustment, so finding the perfect driving position shouldn’t be hard. Moreover, the soft and squidgy seats themselves are nicely supportive, ensuring you rarely feel any aches and pains after a long stint on the road.
There’s lots of useful storage in the 5008, with deep door bins, a large tray ahead of the gear lever, a lidded cubby between the front seats and enough cupholders that you’re unlikely to go thirsty while on the move. On Allure Premium models and above there those sitting in the second row also get handy aircraft-style fold out trays mounted.
Passenger space is good, but beware of the large optional panoramic sunroof, which robs headroom in the front and middle row seats by a not insignificant 50mm (just shy of two-inches). If you’re over six foot tall, or regularly carry passengers over this height, then it's worth making sure you can sacrifice that height for the light it brings, if you’re considering optioning it.
The third row of seats fold easily into and out of the boot floor, yet when in place they’re quite cramped. Young children will have no problem getting comfortable, but for adults these seats are only really suitable for short journeys. The second also features three individual chairs that slide back and forth and can be reclined, plus each has its own ISOFIX mounting.
With all seven seats in place the boot has a meagre 167-litre capacity, which is enough for a few shopping bags or a folded pushchair. Drop the third row into the floor and you liberate a cavernous 780-litres of space. Lower all the rear seats and the Peugeot’s cavernous 2,150-litre load bay allows it to deliver a passable impression of a removal van. However, bear in mind that the floor isn’t totally flat, plus there’s a big gap between the second and third row seats that it’s easy to lose items down.
The engine line-up is similar to that of other Peugeot and Citroen models, with a pair of petrol choices, badged PureTech, in 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre capacities. Diesel buyers pick from 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre units, these badged as BlueHDI. However, unlike the 3008 there’s no plug-in hybrid option as the third row seats steal the space that would be taken by battery and electric motor.
As standard the smaller engines, both petrol and diesel, come with six-speed manual gearboxes, but you can specify an eight-speed automatic transmission (earlier versions had a less responsive six-speed unit) with these engines, too, that automatic coming as standard with the 1.6-litre petrol and 2.0-litre powertrains.
All drive well enough, with the smaller engines feeling surprisingly sprightly despite the 5008’s size, though fully-loaded they can feel a little bit overwhelmed. So, if you’re likely to fill up all those seats regularly, then you might want to consider the bigger, more powerful engine choices.
It feels more nimble than you’d expect too, that small steering wheel giving the 5008 a surprisingly sporty feel as you turn into corners. As you’d expect from such a tall car, there’s some body roll, but it’s well contained and once settled the Peugeot feels poised and planted. Grip is strong and only through sudden changes of direction do you sense the car’s weight and height.
And while the ride feels a little firm at low speed, it’s far from uncomfortable and once you break free of city limits the 5008 effortlessly soaks away lumps and bumps. It’s quiet too, with wind, road and engine noise kept to a minimum.
However, Peugeot has pulled a bit of a deceptive move with the 5008, because while it looks like it should be able to tackle the odd rutted track, no version actually comes with four-wheel drive.That said, Peugeot does offer its Advanced Grip Control system as an option from the Allure model upwards. This set-up adds four driver modes of Normal, Sand, Mud and Snow and a Hill Assist Descent Control system, plus Goodyear 4 Vector Seasons tyres, too. It’s a surprisingly effective addition, allowing the 5008 to keep going in slippery conditions where traditional rivals would have to give up.
There’s a good spread of trim choices, from the entry-level Active Premium model, through Allure (this model was discontinued after the facelift), Allure Premium, GT (previously GT-Line) and GT Premium.
That base Active Premium model comes well specified and features cruise control, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, Bluetooth, DAB and alloy wheels as standard. And while it lacks satnav, it does have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning you can run your phone's navigation through the car's main screen, so you really won’t miss it.
Allure Premium adds some luxurious touches, including half leather trim for the seats, ambient cabin lighting and, as a final flourish, a two-tone horn. For the GT there’s some racy styling additions, adaptive cruise control, a couple of extra USB sockets for those sitting in the back and a smattering of Alcantara trim inserts for the interior. Step up to GT Premium and you’ll get larger 19-inch alloys, a powerful Focal sound system and front and rear parking sensors.
All versions get a touchscreen infotainment system, which works well-enough but isn’t quite as responsive and intuitive as the set-up in, say, a Skoda Kodiaq. On the Active Premium it features an eight-inch display, while all other models have a more impressive-looking 10-inch layout.
The 5008 represents a decent amount of vehicle for the money, with the well-specified entry-level model costing under £30,000 (just) at the time of writing. Running costs, too, should be palatable, with all 5008s delivering competitive mpg figures as well as tax-friendly emissions, at least for a seven-seat SUV. If it’s ultimate fuel economy you’re after, then the 1.5-litre BlueHDI is the fuel consumption champion. It returns a WLTP-tested combined mpg figure of between 50.2-60.8mpg, with the entry-level models - with their smaller wheels - being at the upper end of that spectrum. Its CO2 emissions of between 122g/km and 148g/km are also the best in the range.
If you’re driving short-hop, school-drop, urban trips, then the petrol 1.2 PureTech will be suitable, and economical, with a combined consumption figure ranging from 39.8-48mpg and CO2 emissions of between 133-163g/km. Again, pick the entry-level, smallest-wheeled trim grades if you want to maximise the fuel consumption. Picking more powerful variants isn’t going to punish you too much on economy, either, with even the 1.6 petrol auto returning, at worst, 36.1mpg, so any 5008 isn’t going to be too expensive at the fuel pumps.
All but the very top GT Premium models are under the £40,000 threshold for additional road tax after purchasing, so you’ll pay the standard rates there, while insurance should be competitive, too. Servicing can be had on a monthly payment scheme from Peugeot, with it costing between £14-£17 a month to have your 5008 on a servicing contract, the price varying depending on whether you want 36 months/30,000 miles, 48 months/40,000 miles or 60 months/50,000 miles. These prices are fixed - so inflation proof - during the entire duration of the contract, but it doesn’t cover the cost of consumables like replacement brake discs and pads, tyres, clutches, shock absorbers and suchlike.
Peugeot’s reputation in this regard has been varied in recent years with some surveys seeing the brand scoring very well, placing it in the top ten of car manufacturers, and more often than not in front of premium brands like BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The 2019 JD Power UK Vehicle Dependability study, for example, put Peugeot right at the top of the table. Other studies, however, see the French firm closer to the back of the pack.
Scouring owners forums seems to underline that what problems there are, are usually centred around the infotainment being glitchy in its operation. Major mechanical problems seem to be few and far between, though there have been a number of recalls for the 5008. These largely relate to things not being tightened properly when building, or occasional faulty parts or incorrect software. If you’re buying a used 5008, or have one and haven’t been using a Peugeot dealer to service it, call a dealer to check whether your 5008 has been subject to any recalls.
The warranty offering isn’t as long as some of its competition from Kia and Hyundai, with the 5008 covered by a two-year full manufacturer warranty with unlimited miles, with Peugeot UK covering its third year. All 5008s come with Peugeot Assistance breakdown cover, too.
- The Peugeot 5008 might be an SUV these days, but the 5008 hasn’t forgotten its MPV origins. It’s a seven-seater for starters, with each passenger getting an individual seat. That means, unusually, the middle row seats offer three ISOFIX fixings for mounting child seats, with each chair able to slide forward and back individually, as well as having a reclining backrest. You might just manage three child seats abreast back there, something that few cars can do. The third-row pair of seats will accommodate adults, if those in the middle row are happy to sacrifice a bit of legroom for them. Those rearmost seats can be easily removed, too, if you want to increase the already generous boot space further.
- Peugeot is having a bit of a design resurgence presently, and that’s evident inside and out, although it’s inside where it’s really got the capacity to wow. The i-cockpit looks great, with its configurable digital instruments sitting behind a shrunken steering wheel, but for all its design flair, its operation can be a bit fiddly. For many divers, they'll either find that the steering wheel either hides part of the instrument panel, or has to be set too low down to be comfortable. What's more, ventilation and temperature settings are operated through the large central touchscreen, which is more distracting than physical buttons.
- The engine sizes might look a touch small for a car as big as the 5008, but the three-cylinder 1.2-litre PureTech packs a reasonable punch given its small capacity. There’s 128bhp on tap, and a useful 170lb ft of torque, which allows it a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds. It’s a fine choice, though if you’re towing, or likely to fill every seat and the boot, and cruising the motorway regularly, then the turbodiesel choices, with their greater low-rev flexibility, would be a better choice.
- The one for the family: All will haul you and your offspring with real ability – those three ISOFIX mounts are a real boon across the middle-row – but for the ultimate peace of mind you’ll want the Allure model. Specifically because it adds the Safety Plus Pack to the specification, which includes Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Alert, High Beam Assist and Active Blind Spot detection. The dark tinted rear and side windows it also gains will help keep the sun off the kids in the back seats, too.
- The one to tow with: If you’ve an active lifestyle and you’re likely to be towing boats, caravans, horseboxes and suchlike behind it, then you’ll need the 2.0-litre BlueHDI 180. It comes with a maximum braked trailer limit of 1,750kg which is the highest of any of the 5008 range – 450kg more than the next best, the 1.5 BlueHDI – and the torque output of 295lb ft should make light work of pulling trailers. Don’t forget to optionally add the easily removable tow bar, which adds TSM (Trailer Sway Mitigation) to the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) system, as well as 13-pin electrics.
- The cheapest one: 'Cheapest' is perhaps unfair, as it suggests scrimping, which you won’t be doing with the entry-level 5008 in Active Premium trim. It really does come with a huge list of standard equipment, including - but not limited to - 17-inch alloy wheels, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two-zone climate control, seven seats, i-cockpit, an eight-inch touchscreen, an Advanced Emergency Braking System with Front Collision warning, a reversing camera, LED headlights, cruise control and even metallic paint as standard. Pick it with the 1.2 PureTech petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox, and it costs under £30,000, too.
- The fully-loaded one: Look no further than the GT Premium if you don’t want to trawl through the specification lists to see what your 5008 has or hasn’t got. The GT Premium will have it, though, in fairness to the rest of the line-up, it’s not so wildly different in specification – for equipment that matters, at least – over the Allure and Allure Premium models. Perhaps you might want to pore over the specifications after all. GT Premium mostly adds styling and material changes, then, and you might actually prefer the slightly less overt look of the ‘lesser’ models, which would save you some money, too.
