Peugeot 5008 2013 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $36,990
Options fitted (not included in above price): Metallic Paint $800
Crash rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP)
Fuel: 95 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.6
CO2 emissions (g/km): 175
Also consider: Citroen C4 Grand Picasso; Honda Odyssey; Kia Rondo; Subaru Exiga

Seven-seat people movers are a lost cause in Australia. We're moved more by SUVs.

But a handful of importers do offer products to shift seven without costing the earth to purchase or run. Peugeot is the latest to join the select few, with its new-to-Oz 5008.

Based on the same platform as the Citroen C4 Picasso, the 5008 is sold here in one level of trim only, but with two drivetrain alternatives. One is a diesel, but the car on test was powered by Peugeot's well-known 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four, delivering 115kW and 240Nm in this application.

While power delivery proved handy in the mid range and higher, it lacked abundant torque at low revs -- needed when carting around families -- but the excellent six-speed automatic transmission compensated.

Unnaturally smooth and very quick shifting when required, the auto also supplied strong engine braking on hills or after flat-chat acceleration. As with a lot of self-shifting units these days, it selected higher gears at lower speeds to save fuel. This generated minimal low-frequency vibration.

While the engine was not particularly melodious, it was quiet at low to middling speeds and was only heard (and felt) above 5000rpm. Subdued vibration gave the game away at idle that the engine was running. It was the same at open-road speeds: the engine couldn't be heard at all, ticking over at 2200rpm. A light rustle of wind noise and some rumble from the road was all that could be heard.

Thrown into corners -- as one does so often in a family-oriented people mover -- the 5008 held a steady line with power applied on the exit. Roadholding was impressive, even in icy conditions. The 5008 ran out of revs and torque before it ran out of grip, and the stability control system's blend of progressive intervention and 'hands-off' latitude was also welcome. Although lightly weighted, the steering allowed the 5008 to be placed precisely on the road, transmitting reliable feedback though the wheel. Turn-in was excellent also. Its firm ride quality lets the 5008 down, however.

The 5008 was rated five-star safe by Euro NCAP, partly as a consequence of its six airbags, including side curtains to protect occupants in the third row. Boosting the car's real-world safety were the headlights, which provided good coverage of the road ahead (on low beam as well), and the wipers that swept outwards from the centre of the windscreen, ensuring no gaps left by the conversion to right-hand drive.

Front and rear parking sensors were disconcerting initially, sounding beeps of longer duration (rather than greater frequency) as the vehicle approached an obstacle. And the reversing camera should display in the pop-up sat nav/trip computer screen that seems ready made for it -- in the right plane as eyes sweep back and forth between the external mirrors.

Equipment was commendable, and included a trip computer, blinds for the rear side windows, dual-zone climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels. Audio-visual screens in the back of the front headrests are concealed when not in use by form-fitting shrouds that pull up or down. A cluster of A/V jacks is located in the rear of the centre console and air conditioning outlets are discharge from a point low on each B pillar.

Peugeot claims that the third-row seating will accommodate adults, and that is true -- barely. Room there was at a premium for legs and knees. Headroom was marginal for both second and third rows -- a full length sunroof encroached on headroom in the second row -- but at least the middle row offered adequate knee room for adults. Squabs in the second row were a little short and raising the headrests inevitably made it harder still to fold the seats flat for carrying larger loads in the rear. Front seats need to be moved forward initially, even with the headrests at their lowest adjustment.

Once you're familiar with the pull tabs to fold the seats and how to remove the cargo blind (twist and roll out at either end), the 5008's seating arrangements are fairly sensible. Kids enter the third row from the near side rather than the off side of the car.

Luggage space was very practical unless the third-row seating was occupied -- leaving little space for shopping bags or sporting goods, but at least anyone can quickly re-configure the 5008 for the week's groceries.

Front seats were flat but inviting, for comfort without a 'sinking' sensation, and the well-shaped bolstering played its part holding occupants in place properly. The driving position provided adjustment of the seat and wheel for an appropriate relationship to the pedals and an optimal view of the major instruments.

Peugeot has located cruise control/speed limiter and remote audio controls in stubby branches off the steering column and behind the wheel at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions, where they're hard to find and figure out in the short term. Answering a paired Bluetooth phone was made harder without conventional buttons to accept and end an incoming call. A small single-point controller in the centre fascia induces the driver to take a hand off the wheel and look away from the road to answer a call.

The shallow-raked windscreen in the 5008's cab-forward design iced up pretty quickly on cold Melbourne mornings, dictating that the Peugeot be garaged at night.

As a family car the 5008 does many things well, but spaciousness and ride comfort may discourage some buyers. Kids are likely to outgrow the 5008 from around their mid teens, which is when some buyers might feel inclined to stump up for one of those SUVs after all.

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