Peugeot 5008 – What you need to know

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who has heard of the Peugeot 5008 SUV, but it does offer an alternative to Japanese and Korean offerings with its chic styling, versatility and inherent French quirkiness.

Available in three trim levels, the Peugeot 5008 – about the same size as a Honda CR-V, offers buyers a choice of petrol or diesel engines and two gearboxes. Let's see which model takes your fancy and what it will cost to buy.

Entry to the Peugeot 5008 range will set you back $44,490 plus on roads for the 5008 Allure variant, which comes standard with:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 12.3-inch head up digital instrument display
• Eight-inch capacitive touchscreen
• Digital radio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• Dual-zone climate control
• Front and rear parking sensors

The Peugeot 5008 Allure has optional 'Claudia' leather trim for $2500. Quilted Nappa leather trim in the GT line costs $3000 and, in the GT, $2500. The Nappa leather option pack includes adjustable seat cushions, heated driver and front passenger seats, and a massage function for the driver seat, which is electrically-adjustable eight ways, with two-position memory. A sunroof is also optional for $1500 on the GT line and GT. Two tone and metallic paint will cost you $1000 and $1050 respectively.

Each Peugeot 5008 model comes with the obligatory airbags and antilock brakes that feature emergency brake assist and brakeforce distribution functions, plus stability and traction control systems. On the assistance technology front, all variants come with distance alert and driver attention systems, lane departure warning, blind spot and lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking. Front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree reversing and front cameras, and city park (90 degree and parallel). All 5008 models come with auto headlights and auto wipers. Move up to the GT line and you also get self levelling headlights.

Do you want dual-zone climate control so everybody is comfortable? Well it comes standard across the Peugeot 5008 range, as do electric folding door mirrors, privacy glass, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and, to make reversing easier, the door mirrors dip so you don't bang the alloy wheels on the gutter. A hands-free tailgate with gesture control is also found on all models.

What about shade blinds for the rear door windows? The good news is that they are standard in all models, as are fold-down picnic tables (or iPad holders) in the second row.

Do you want ambient lighting to set the interior mood? Then head over to the 5008 GT line, which brings with it a perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel and Mistral Black roof lining plus chrome trimmed accelerator and brake pedals.

Take the next step up to the 5008 GT and enjoy the premium look and feel of genuine oak trim on the dash and door panels with contrasting satin steel chrome toggle switches.

Do you want the sporty interior look that only Alcantara provides?

Then stick with the 5008 GT, as it is exclusive to this model. But if you are hankering for the sumptuousness of leather, save your pennies and buy the 5008 GT line and order the $3000 optional Nappa leather pack, as previously outlined.

While the 5008 Allure and GT line ride on 18-inch alloys, the 5008 GT gets bigger 19-inch wheels with lower profile tyres.

Recognisable by its body-coloured door mirrors, chrome edging around the grille, and halogen lights is the entry model, the Peugeot 5008 Allure.

The models are visually different, with the 5008 GT line and GT getting grey front bumper scuff plates, twin exhausts, Peugeot lettering on the chequered design grille and sports front bumper. Setting itself apart is the GT with chrome door mirrors, GT badges in satin copper and wheel arch extensions.

The Peugeot 5008 offers both petrol and diesel power and a choice of two automatic transmissions.

Both the 5008 Allure and GT line variants are powered by a 1.6-litre 121kW 240Nm turbo-petrol engine bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Exclusive to the 5008 GT is a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel pumping 131kW and 400Nm of torque through an eight-speed automatic.

Prices (plus on roads) for the Peugeot 5008 range are:
Allure 1.6-litre turbo petrol six-speed automatic – $44,490
GT line 1.6-litre turbo petrol six-speed automatic – $48,490
GT 2.0-litre turbo diesel eight-speed automatic – $54,990

Peugeot forces you into the GT if you want the most power and best economy the turbo-diesel offers.

Given its $6500 premium over the GT line, I can't justify the massive price hike, as much as I want the turbo-diesel and eight-speed auto.

Since the GT line and Allure share drivetrains I'd keep more in my pocket and opt for the 5008 Allure, which has