Peugeot 5008 to land at $36,990

Peugeot’s new 5008 people-mover will just undercut the Honda Odyssey when it launches in Australia in May, with a $36,990 starting price (plus on-road costs).

The 5008 is the first of two European people-movers to take on the Odyssey in the coming months, with Opel nominating the Honda as the obvious rival for the Zafira Tourer that arrives in Australia in August.

The Odyssey, which is seen as the most appealing and stylish people-mover in the class, has a $37,100 starting price.

However, the 5008 will come with both 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines (both mated as standard to a six-speed automatic transmission), with the sub-$37,000 starting price applying to the former and diesel power costing more.

The 5008 effectively replaces the discontinued 4007 medium SUV in Peugeot’s Australian line-up as its 5+2 offering.

The 4007 was based on the superseded Mitsubishi Outlander and a direct SUV replacement in the Peugeot line-up is still some years away.

Peugeot Automobiles Australia General Manager/Director Bill Gillespie told motoring.com.au the 5008 would be very well specified.

“The equipment includes satellite-navigation, rear screens in the headrests and an entertainment system with dual controls so you can run separate programs for your children, a service plan, all the expected safety features and alloy wheels across the range.”

He revealed dealer pressure had prompted the addition of the turbo-diesel to the line-up after the original plan centred around only bringing the petrol engine.

“We showed the car to our dealers and the feedback was ‘you have got to have a diesel’. And we drove both cars and just felt there was a market for diesel in that car, especially as it comes with a six-speed auto.”

Mr Gillespie said annual sales of around 350-400 would be the 5008’s target, with families that have only occasional requirement for third-row seating at the heart of the car’s potential buying group.

The 5008 commences a massive Peugeot model roll-out in Australia that also includes an RCZ coupe facelift in June, the 208 GTI hot hatch in July, the 2008 mini-SUV in October, the Malaysia-built 408 sedan in quarter four, the limited-edition turbo-petrol RCZ R early next year and the next-generation 308 small car about mid-2014.

The diesel-electric hybrid 508 RXH HYbrid4 and 3008 HYbrid4 are also almost certain to arrive before the end of 2013.

With this influx of models, PAA has set itself the target of 6000-6500 sales in 2013 and beyond that – although Mr Gillespie declined to talk a specific timeline – a new Australian annual record of 9000 sales. The current record is 8807 sales, set in 2007.