Peugeot 5008 2021 Review

With a nip-and-tuck and more to like in terms of standard specification, the 2021 Peugeot 5008 has entered showrooms with something quite unusual – no increase in price, although at $51,990 plus on-road costs it remains a premium contender.

Just the single high-level Peugeot 5008 GT model grade continues, with the choice of two engines – petrol and diesel, with the latter carrying a higher premium than before at $59,990 plus ORCs (+$1000).

Despite carrying the same GT badge, the extra $8000 outlay for the diesel version of the latest Peugeot 5008 brings much more standard equipment than the GT petrol on test here.

This includes larger 19-inch wheels (instead of the petrol’s 18s), a premium FOCAL audio pack with acoustic laminated glass, and heated front seats with electrical adjustment and massage function for the driver.

The reason for this? According to Peugeot Australia’s product manager, Daniel Khan, petrol is the largest seller, so if someone wants a diesel, which comes with an extra cost factor, there’s much more value rolled into it.

The petrol GT, meanwhile, is hardly skimping on standard kit.

Standard items include a new 10.0-inch touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, coloured and customisable 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 360-degree camera, keyless entry with push-button start, an electric park brake, dual-zone climate control and a hands-free tailgate.

Our test car was also fitted with the Leather Pack ($3590) which brings Nappa leather (over leather-appointed/Alcantara trim), along with heated front seats and electric driver’s seat with multi-point massage function.

Another option fitted to the car we drove was a $1990 sunroof, which is nice and big but eats away too much headroom for rear passengers – a problem if you intend on regularly transporting anyone other than children.

Every 5008 is covered by Peugeot’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and comes with workshop visits due every 12 months or 20,000km.

Petrol-powered 5008s cost $2803 to service over the first five years, while GT diesels cost $2841 over the same period.

The 2021 Peugeot 5008 comes with all the safety and driver assistance features you’d expect, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with low-light cyclist and pedestrian detection, active lane keep assist, high beam assist, driver attention alert, speed sign recognition and lane departure warning.

Front and rear parking sensors also come standard on every 5008, as does navigation, semi-autonomous park assist (90-degree and parallel only) and adaptive cruise control.

On the latter, however, only the GT diesel model has ‘stop and go’ tech with the adaptive cruise that can bring the vehicle to a complete stop and move it on again, such as in peak-hour traffic.

While we’re at it, the GT diesel also has lane positioning assist, which is not included on the petrol model.

The cruise control, much like the on the related (five-seater) Peugeot 3008, is difficult to use. Sure, you’d get used to it, but with a stalk that’s hidden behind the steering wheel, it’s invisible until you duck your head and peer around to the back of the wheel.

As part of the MY21 updates, new full-LED headlights are a welcome addition, as are sequential indicators on the tail-lights.

Inside the cabin, the 5008 now gets an auto-dimming frameless rear-view mirror and three selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco and Sport.

The 2021 Peugeot 5008 uses carryover four-cylinder turbocharged engines shared with the shorter-wheelbase 3008 – a 1.6-litre petrol that pairs with a six-speed automatic, and a pricier 2.0-litre diesel with an eight-speed auto.

Both retain a front-wheel drive layout, meaning they’re better suited to leisurely on-road experiences, like going to the theatre or taking the road more travelled – something Peugeot says won’t be a problem for the older, more premium-oriented demographic it is targeting.

Serving up outputs of 121kW of power and 240Nm of torque, the GT petrol tested here consumes 7.0L/100km on the official combined fuel economy cycle, while the diesel is rated at 5.0L/100km.

On test, the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol provides enough grunt, at least with just one person on board, however it’s difficult to see it being anything but sluggish with all seven seats occupied.

The 5008 gets off the line well from a standing start, and despite the shift paddles being slow to respond, it’s enjoyable to drive with good mid-range power.

It’s quiet from behind the wheel too, with a cabin that befits its more premium asking price.

Our brief drive of the 5008 GT petrol revealed a poised ride, even given the copious amounts of standing water and potholes on our flooded Sydney drive route this week.

There was little to upset the 5008, which proved easy to drive with good steering feedback and very little body roll.

Just like the 3008, the 2021 Peugeot 5008 provides an encapsulating cabin for the driver.

Vision is good in every direction, while the driver gets generous amounts of lumbar support and a massage function that works well.

However, as we found in the 3008, finding a happy medium with the driving position can be testing as the small steering wheel needs be low enough so as not to obstruct the instrument cluster.

All three seats in the second row are on separate slider rails, which makes life better for those segregated to the very rear.

There are also manual sun blinds, an airline-style food/work tray that folds from the back of the driver and passenger seats, adjustable climate control fan settings and a 12-volt outlet. The second row also comes with ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outer seats.

The (removable) third row is best suited to very small children or acrobats. At 166cm tall, it was a struggle to squeeze passed the folded second row to even get back there, only to be greeted with a very cramped space with next to no legroom.

Unless the second row seats are pushed all the way forward (compromising legroom for the centre row occupants), room in this rearmost area is heavily compromised, denoting the 5008’s status as a mid-size SUV rather than one that slots into the large SUV segment.

There’s also nothing flat for third-rowers to place their feet on.

At least anyone small enough to travel back there gets a cup holder and one 12-volt outlet – but no air-vents or airbags that extend all the way to the rear.

What the 5008 does well, though, is offer generous cargo space, thanks to its longer body (194mm more than the 3008). Boot space is 591 litres with all seven seats in use, or 952L with the third row folded and five seats in use.

Peugeot knows it appeals to a certain type of buyer Down Under, so the fact this quirky SUV is on the pricier side – close to $60,000 in this optioned-up 5008 GT petrol spec with on-road costs factored in – and doesn’t offer all-wheel drive or a particularly high-riding cabin for adventurous Aussies, probably won’t matter.

Its stretched-3008 proportions do not suddenly make it a large SUV, but the practical and tech-filled interior means families that only need a third row of seats on occasion will enjoy the roomy and stylish cabin the 2021 Peugeot 5008 has to offer.

For those who regularly use seven seats or have an innate desire to get off-road every now and then, there are better options out there.

How much does the 2021 Peugeot 5008 GT petrol cost?
Price: $51,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 121kW/240Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 156g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)

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