2021 Peugeot 5008 long term test: report 1
The stylish Peugeot 5008 seven-seat SUV has just been updated so we're finding out what it's like to live with...
The car Peugeot 5008 Allure 1.2 PureTech 130 EAT8 S&S Run by Kiall Garrett, senior videographer
Why it’s here Will a large SUV cover all bases for a videographer who drives lots of miles and requires plenty of space?
Needs to be practical, comfortable on long journeys and not too expensive to keep running
Mileage 3158 List price £33,035 Target price £30,943 Price as tested £33,610 Official economy 46.0mpg Test economy 42.7mpg Options Celebes blue paint (£575)
26 September 2021 – How much space can I get?
I’ve been a fan of the facelifted Peugeot 5008 since we filmed our Peugeot 5008 video review of it earlier this year. To my eyes, it’s a real looker, and one of the few cars that manages to offer the dimensions of a large, practical SUV without having an awkward or bulky design.
So, it stood out as an obvious choice when the time came to replace my Mini Countryman. Over the years, the 5008 has been a regular winner at our annual Car of the Year Awards and, thanks to that aforementioned facelift, it now features a tidier front end, LED headlights, an upgraded infotainment system and more safety kit.
The Countryman was just about big enough for my needs, but I did have to pack carefully, because my role as a What Car? videographer means I regularly have to carry around tripods, suitcases, cameras, laptops, cleaning gear, cables and rain covers (lots of them). By contrast, the 5008’s boot can take all of my kit with ease as long as its third row of seats is folded flat into the floor.
I've gone for the 129bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine (1.2 Puretech 130 in Peugeot speak) and Allure trim. Sitting just above entry-level Active, Allure includes a 10in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, blind-spot monitoring, dual-zone climate control and a camera with a 180-degree birds’ eye view to help with parking.
True, you don’t get the heated front seats and adaptive cruise control found on pricier trims, but I’ve got all of the equipment I need. And, given how stylish the 5008 looks in standard form, I don’t feel like I’m missing out by doing without the sporty visual tweaks that the GT spec brings.
Deciding which engine to go for was even simpler. The 1.2 Puretech is the only petrol option available with Allure, and I didn’t fancy going for a diesel and becoming a pariah to my friends – however unfair that status might have been.
To get the more powerful 1.6 Puretech petrol I’d have needed to go up a few trim levels. But I did choose to stretch to the eight-speed automatic gearbox, rather than stick with the six-speed manual that’s standard, because I cover a lot of miles and suspected it would be a much more relaxing option.
With this engine and gearbox combination, the 5008 has an official fuel economy figure of 46.0mpg, which seems good for such a large SUV. And don’t go thinking that you’ll see much lower numbers in the real world; I’m currently averaging close to 43mpg without really trying, so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s possible when I drive specifically with efficiency in mind.
While I haven’t had the Peugeot 5008 for long, I’ve already been able to get some miles under its belt. Whether you’re in town, on rough country roads or on the motorway, it offers a really comfortable and calming driving experience. I’ve been particularly impressed by how smooth the high-speed ride is, which bodes well for my regular journeys to and from video shoots around the country.
What's impressed me most of all, though, is the interior. Most rivals look bland by comparison, and although I could have had ambient lighting and some fancier materials if I’d gone up a trim, my Allure-spec 5008 still feels classy and well built.
In addition, while Peugeot’s iCockpit layout (which gives you an unusually small steering wheel that you look over rather than through to see the instruments) can cause issues in its hatchbacks, there are no such problems in the 5008. I can have the wheel exactly where I want it without blocking the digital dials.
So, with good fuel economy, a comfortable ride, big practicality and that interesting interior, the Peugeot 5008 feels tailor-made for me. Here’s hoping it continues to impress as much as it has so far.
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