New Peugeot 5008 vs Nissan X-Trail
Each of these SUVs can carry seven occupants, but which does it better? We embark on a space mission in a Nissan X-Trail and a Peugeot 5008...
The contenders
NEW Peugeot 5008 Hybrid 136 GT
List price £41,235 Target Price £40,860
In its latest iteration, this seven-seat SUV is larger than before, promising greater interior space and practicality, and it comes with a revised mild hybrid petrol engine
Nissan X-Trail e-Power e-4orce 213 Tekna (7 Seat)
List price £46,855 Target Price £42,201
Nissan’s largest SUV gives us a different take on hybrid tech, with plenty of power and an EV-like driving experience. We’re testing it in a high-end trim with four-wheel drive
Given how crucial interior space is to the usability of seven-seaters, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the new, third-generation Peugeot 5008 is larger all round than its predecessor. Although that outgoing model had a practical interior with flexible seating, space could have been better in the third row, and that’s just one of the areas of weakness that this latest version promises to address.
Joining the electric Peugeot e-5008 that was launched earlier this year, the new petrol 5008 incorporates mild hybrid electrical assistance to improve performance and fuel economy. But unlike in most other mild hybrids, that electric power can propel the car along for very short stints at crawling speeds.
Is the new 5008 the ‘hybrid’ seven-seater to go for, though? After all, the Nissan X-Trail comes with a range of hybridised engines too. Yes, we know the X-Trail is available in mild hybrid guise, but as well as testing these SUVs’ capabilities as seven-seaters, we wanted to explore the differences between a mild hybrid and the unusual e-Power hybrid system the X-Trail offers. In this version, its petrol engine acts as a generator to provide electricity for two electric motors and a battery; unlike the 5008’s, it never drives the wheels directly.
As before, seven seats are standard in the 5008, whereas you have to pay £1000 extra to get the third row in the X-Trail (as fitted to our test car). The latter comes in high-spec Tekna trim, while the 5008 is a range-topping GT.
Driving
Performance, ride, handling, refinement
With a 1.2-litre engine producing 134bhp and driving the front wheels, the 5008 gathers speed willingly enough when you put your foot down, getting from 0-60mph in 10.7sec and reaching motorway speeds with little fuss. The X-Trail, though, is much punchier and more responsive, aided by the fact that it has more power (211bhp) and the traction advantage of four-wheel drive (which is what ‘e-4orce’ means). As a result, it’s a lot quicker from 0-60mph, getting there in 7.6sec.
What’s more, the X-Trail’s single-speed gearbox makes its power delivery smoother and overtaking much easier. Don’t get us wrong: the 5008’s six-speed automatic ’box is smooth as it changes gears, but it can be hesitant to react when you ask for a sudden burst of power.
Both of our contenders ride comfortably, even though the 5008’s suspension is firmer than the X-Trail’s. Neither thuds over bumps or potholes, but the 5008 displays greater body control along undulating roads, swaying you around in your seat less than the more softly sprung X-Trail. That said, you’re more aware of the road surface in the 5008; there’s a tendency to fidget very slightly at higher speeds. This isn’t something you notice in the X-Trail.
Both are easy to drive around town, with light steering that builds weight progressively as your speed increases, giving you more confidence on winding roads.You won’t want to push them beyond moderate speeds, though; both cars handle in a safe, competent manner, with the 5008 resisting body lean a bit better, but these hefty SUVs still feel slightly top-heavy through corners.
Their brakes are well judged, and both cars have regenerative systems that harvest energy and actively help to slow the car down when you lift off the accelerator pedal. The 5008’s system isn’t strong enough to bring the car to a complete halt, whereas the X-Trail has an ‘E-Pedal’ mode that slows the car vigorously as soon as you lift off, all the way down to a standstill. This means you can drive around town without ever touching the brake pedal.
Wind and road noise are well suppressed in both cars at motorway speeds, with the 5008 being the quieter cruiser by a slender margin.
Behind the wheel
Driving position, visibility, build quality
You sit high above the road in both of our competitors, but it’s slightly easier to get comfortable in the Nissan X-Trail, because its driver’s seat is electrically adjustable; that feature is available only in conjunction with Nappa leather seats (£1800)
in the 5008, and you have to go for range-topping GT trim, like ours.
Either way, both cars have sound driving positions with great forward visibility, thanks to their raised seats and fairly thin windscreen pillars. Rear visibility, meanwhile, is excellent in the Peugeot 5008 because of its huge rear windows and large cutouts in the rear pillars, whereas it’s blocked slightly by thick rear pillars in the X-Trail.
You’re unlikely to struggle to park either car, though; both come with front and rear parking sensors and rear-view cameras, with the X-Trail including a 360-degree overhead view (a £600 option in the 5008). You also get a handy switchable rear-view mirror in the X-Trail that can be changed to a camera feed at the flick of a switch – helpful when you’ve got passengers’ heads or high-stacked cargo blocking your view out of the back window.
The 5008’s interior looks striking; a minimalist dashboard layout is dominated by a wide, 21.0in display for the instruments and infotainment, and there’s a pleasing variety of materials, including widespread use of fabric on the dashboard, doors and centre console. It feels well built, too.
The X-Trail’s interior is much more conventional, but that’s not a bad thing. One of the main benefits is that you get plenty of physical dashboard and steering wheel controls; the knobs and buttons for adjusting the air-con system are much easier to operate while driving than the touchscreen-based controls in the 5008. You can’t knock the materials or build quality, either; the X-Trail feels even plusher than the 5008.
Infotainment systems
Peugeot 5008
Set in a wide, 21.0in screen that also houses the instruments, the 5008’s infotainment system looks impressive. The screen has sharper graphics than the X-Trail’s, making it easier to read at a glance. You get an extra row of touch-sensitive shortcut icons on the dashboard to help you jump to certain parts of the system more easily, but there are quite a few menus and sub-menus to navigate, so it can be distracting to use on the move
Nissan X-Trail
Graphically, the X-Trail’s infotainment system looks pretty dated, but the 12.3in touchscreen is still clear enough to read without difficulty. Unlike in the 5008, you get some physical shortcut buttons, but the less frequently used day/night mode and camera buttons would have been better as menu shortcuts. If you’re into your music, the optional 10-speaker Bose premium sound system (£590) is well worth the upgrade, giving your music far more depth.
Space and practicality
Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot
No one will moan about a shortage of space in the front of either of these cars. Indeed, a pair of broad six-footers will have loads of head, leg and shoulder room to spare.
Both offer plenty of storage space, too, although the Peugeot 5008 has a slight advantage with larger door bins and bigger cubbies within its centre console and armrest.
Space is generous in the Nissan X-Trail’s second row, with loads of head room for six-footers, as well as plenty of leg room even if they’re sitting behind someone equally tall. However, there’s even more lounging room in the middle row of the 5008. Centre seat passengers are well looked after in both, with plenty of head room and small floor humps that don’t encroach
all that much on foot space.
Sliding second-row seats are standard in both cars, and that’s really handy, because they allow you to prioritise boot space or second-row leg room in five-seat mode. In theory, sliding the seats forward a bit should give passengers sitting in the third row more leg room, but that doesn’t really help much in the X-Trail.
You see, its rearmost seats are designed more for occasional use on short journeys, so even with the second row all the way forwards, third-row occupants have barely any space for their legs. The 5008, on the other hand, has enough space to allow a compromise between second and third-row leg room, allowing comfort all round.
Third-row head room is relatively tight in both cars, though. Tall adults will find their heads touching the roof lining, although that’s also the case in many other rival seven-seat SUVs. You’d have to step up to a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento to get more comfort in the rearmost row.
You’ll struggle to look elegant while climbing into the X-Trail’s third row. Access is much easier in the 5008, thanks to middle-row seats that slide and fold farther forwards and out of the way.
In five-seat mode, the 5008’s vast boot can swallow an impressive 10 carry-on suitcases beneath its load cover (compared with eight in the X-Trail), and there’s a large underfloor storage area. Even with all of the 5008’s seats occupied, there’s still a useful amount of space behind them; it’s much tighter in the X-Trail.
For those times when you need even more space, both cars offer versatile 40/20/40 split-folding second-row seatbacks, giving you a flat extended floor when folded down, plus the ability to feed long items through from the boot without losing an outer seat.
Boot space
Peugeot 5008
Boot capacity 348-916-2232 litres Suitcases 10
Nissan X-Trail
Boot capacity 177-485-1298 litres Suitcases 8
Buying and owning
Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
With its complex hybrid technology, you might expect the Nissan X-Trail to be really efficient. However, the 37.8mpg it returned on our real-world economy route isn’t all that impressive.
The Peugeot 5008 returned a more respectable 44.7mpg on the same route – a difference that will save you around £975 in fuel costs over three years or 36,000 miles. In fact, even when you consider that the 5008 will cost more in servicing bills, its lower list price, lower fuel costs and slower predicted depreciation give you a substantial saving in long-term ownership costs.
The 5008 works out cheaper if you’re buying on PCP finance, too. On a three-year contract, with a limit of 10,000 miles per year and a £4550 deposit, the monthly repayments will be £561 for the 5008 and £623 for the X-Trail.
Both cars come well equipped, with adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, heated front seats, heated steering wheels and powered tailgates, but the X-Trail goes farther by including heated outer second-row seats, a panoramic glass roof and a heated windscreen, all of which are extra or not available on the 5008.
Neither of these cars featured in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, but Peugeot ranked 19th (out of 31) in the overall brand league table, while Nissan was down in 28th place. If something does go wrong, both cars come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is pretty standard in the class.
When it comes to safety, this pair can’t be directly compared, because the latest 5008 hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP yet and the previous model’s rating has expired, while the X-Trail was given a five-star rating back in 2021.
Both come with plenty of standard safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) that can detect pedestrians and cyclists, plus lane-keeping assistance and a driver attention monitoring system. The X-Trail goes further with a rear cross-traffic alert and blindspot monitoring – items that come as part of a 360deg Vision & Drive Assist Pack (£600) in the 5008.
Our verdict
As a five-seater, the X-Trail trades punches fairly evenly with the 5008, with loads of space and comfort for occupants, and we suspect plenty of buyers will prefer its interior layout over the 5008’s. The fact that the X-Trail is as smooth and responsive as an electric car adds to its appeal. Cheaper versions are more recommendable, though.
The 5008 performs much better as a seven-seater and load lugger, with generous space and practicality (even if some other rivals are roomier still). Given its keen pricing, the 5008 represents a lot of car for the money, and it scores over the X-Trail in the areas that matter most in this class.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
1st – Peugeot 5008
For Lots of passenger space; huge boot; cheaper to buy and own; better economy
Against Gearbox can be hesitant; convoluted and distracting infotainment
Recommended options 360deg Vision & Drive Assist Pack (£600)
What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5
Peugeot 5008 review >>
Peugeot 5008 deals >>
2nd – Nissan X-Trail
For Stronger performance; smooth power delivery; plush inside, with lots of kit
Against Not particularly efficient; tight in the third row; depreciates faster
Recommended options None
What Car? rating 3 stars out of 5
Nissan X-Trail review >>
Nissan X-Trail deals >>
Specifications: Peugeot 5008 Hybrid 136 GT
Engine 3cyl, 1199cc, turbo, petrol
Peak power 134bhp at 5500rpm
Peak torque 170lb ft at 1750rpm
Gearbox 6-spd automatic, FWD
0-60mph 10.7sec
30-70mph in kickdown 9.7sec
Top speed 123mph
Noise at 30mph 56.7dB
Noise at 70mph 64.4dB
Kerb weight 1705kg
Tyre size (std) 225/55 R19
Fuel tank 55 litres
Test economy 44.7mpg
Official economy 52.5mpg
CO2 emissions 131g/km
Specifications: Nissan X-Trail e-Power e-4orce 213 Tekna (7 Seat)
Engine 3cyl, 1498cc, petrol, plus two electric motors
Peak power 211bhp at 4600rpm
Peak torque 243lb ft at 2400-4400rpm, plus 145lb ft (electric)
Gearbox 1-spd automatic, 4WD
0-60mph 7.6sec
30-70mph in kickdown 6.2sec
Top speed 111mph
Noise at 30mph 56.1dB
Noise at 70mph 64.8dB
Kerb weight 1833kg
Tyre size (std) 235/55 R19
Fuel tank 55 litres
Test economy 37.8mpg
Official economy 44.1mpg
CO2 emissions 146g/km
Cars pictured
Peugeot 5008 Hybrid 136 GT with Okenite White metallic paint (£750), Nappa black perforated leather seats (£1800), 360deg Vision & Drive Assist Pack (£600) and tow bar (£600)
Nissan X-Trail e-Power e-4orce 213 Tekna+ (7 Seat) with Champagne Silver paint and black metallic roof (£1145)
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
