Figure Eight

What we like:

Bold styling

Improved interior fit

New 8-speed transmission

Pleasant ride quality

What we dislike:

360 cam not very useful

Transmission could still be better

Peugeot’s 3008 and 5008 have gone through a mid-life refresh, and they look just the same. So what’s so different about the same car?

Peugeot often produces cars with bold styling. The 5008 family bus, and its sister car, the 3008 are no exceptions.

Before the current car, the first 5008 was built as an MPV. Practical and easy on the eyes with its round edges. The French automaker subsequently jumped onto the now popular SUV bandwagon for the current generation 5008, styling it as an off-roader.

Evidently, Peugeot also “went to town” on styling this one (read this from either an Australian or American context and it still makes sense), which includes the lavish use of chrome embellishments; while someone picked up an axe and swung away, producing some attractive “notch work” in it’s front and rear end.

Peugeot had also gone on, echoing the 5008’s exterior with the sculpting of its interior. A bold use of materials, equally matches bold styling elements. The ambitiously designed cockpit features a fancy metal surround which visually splits the driver console away from the passenger cell, while attractively designed metal-covered buttons complement the 8” capacitive colour touchscreen. Connectivity through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is supported, and so is wireless mobile phone charging.

Behind the wheel, a customisable digital i-Cockpit 12.3” TFT instrument cluster delivers clear information to the driver. For those who do not like instrument clutter, the instrument panel can be switched to simply show just the speed.

While the interior remains the same, compared to the pre-facelift 5008, panel fit has improved, which was a major pet peeve. The steering wheel however is a little tiny, and not in the best shape for steering the car around.

Like its 5-seater 3008 sibling, the 5008 is fitted with PEDIMONTE leather effect and cloth, and the seats are structured to be comfortable and supportive. Middle row legroom is sufficient for adult seating, while the removable last row, would be best seen as +2 seating; barely sufficient for adults and only on short journeys. Headroom at the rear however is decent, thanks to the straight roofline.

Cargo space, with the last row folded, brings capacity to 780 litres, and goes on to 2,150 litres with both rear and middle row seats down; ideal for your very own Lalamove-a-Gogovan moment.

Power has also been uprated for the 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, which now delivers 181hp and a healthy 250Nm, up by 18hp and 10Nm respectively. A new 8-speed automatic transmission provides drive to the front wheels; and takes the Pug to 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.

More gear ratios means smoother drive qualities compared to the previous 6-speeder, although shifts could still be smoother. Thanks to a taller 8th gear, fuel consumption has slightly improved at a combined 17.5km/l.

The 5008 rides well, on a MacPherson front setup, and a load-bearing deformed crossmember rear end. The people carrier is however intended for comfort, and not for handling. Multiple directional changes can unsettle the rear. Fortunately the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) is designed to keep the car in-check.

Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring System are standard on the higher-spec ‘Allure’ model, where the latter could help keep you out of trouble from cutting too early into another lane, or even missing “lane splitting” motorcycles. The simulated birds eye camera may be a nice-to-have feature, but in reality, delivers an incomplete top-down image, and is not clear. Making matters worse, the system chooses to switch to the rear view camera at the last crucial moments when you are reversing the car into a lot, needing you to reorientate yourself.

The 5008, like the 3008 is well equipped, with a comfortable interior and bold styling. For those who care a little less about driving dynamics, and would put comfort and styling closer to the top of their list of must-haves, the 5008 delivers very well.

Buyers can however be quite spoilt for choice in this mixed segment, with cars like the Renault Grand Scenic, Volkswagen Touran or even the award-winning Skoda Kodiaq, as viable alternatives.

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