Modern Peugeots have benefitted greatly from the manufacturer's concentrated and determined effort on improving their models with each new car.
Great things started happening for the French company when they decided that everyone has had enough of the cheap plastics in their interior. They started modelling their interiors and quality in general against the more successful German makes.
The next thing they did right was to hop into bed with BMW on the development of their Prince powerplant that has become the staple engine for a slew of models from Peugeot and Citroen.
The little 1.6-litre turbo lump gets extra love especially in our local market as it remains firmly in our local Cat A COE while still providing oodles of usable ponies.
Great things started happening for the French company when they decided that everyone has had enough of the cheap plastics in their interior. They started modelling their interiors and quality in general against the more successful German makes.
The next thing they did right was to hop into bed with BMW on the development of their Prince powerplant that has become the staple engine for a slew of models from Peugeot and Citroen.
The little 1.6-litre turbo lump gets extra love especially in our local market as it remains firmly in our local Cat A COE while still providing oodles of usable ponies.
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Exterior
Compared with its earlier sibling, the designers for the 5008 have chosen a more conservative design compared with the frankly mixed-bag form of the 3008. You get the feeling that the folks at Peugeot wanted to keep the 5008 sensible for its expectedly sensible buyers this time.
In the front, the 5008 saves itself from the gaping front intake of the 3008 and a less bulbous snout. While the rounded front fascia remains. Like in the now defunct 308SW of yesteryear, the 5008 gets a long gently sloping front windshield that gives the driver a panoramic view when looking out.
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The designers gave the 5008 a high sill line that combines with the low roofline to give it a sleeker appearance. In the rear, the taillights get some direction from the Picasso that doesn't intrude onto the tailgate and keeps things clean in the rear.
Interior
The 5008 gets a dashboard layout that is similar to the one first shown in the 3008. The cockpit style layout cocoons the driver with all the essential buttons that control the car's different systems. Unfortunately, in the larger sibling we don't get the row of toggle switches that was a centrepiece in the 3008. That aside, the dashboard is elegantly shaped and wrapped in soft touch plastics that has elevated Peugeot's interior build quality lately.
In the 5008, the driver seat feels snug with the steering adjusted perfectly. The seat offers a commanding view that's further aided by the large panoramic windscreen. The large Pug definitely gets points for cocooning the driver comfortably. A trait most appreciated on those long drives.
The instrument panel is one that would be familiar to anyone who's sat in a recent Peugeot model as it is shared across several platforms. Despite the repeat performance, you can't deny the dial's simplistic efficiency.
The 5008 is offered in two variants although the only difference that separates both is the existence of a moon roof. While I do admit the roof is an unnecessary excess, the light and airy atmosphere created by its existence is much appreciated by your passengers.
Especially the kids who'll be silenced by the lights of skyscrapers as you drive through town. While the heat reflective glass roof does shun out some of the heat during the day, it's best to keep the shade closed lest your kids get a little too cooked in the glass house.
Interior
The 5008 gets a dashboard layout that is similar to the one first shown in the 3008. The cockpit style layout cocoons the driver with all the essential buttons that control the car's different systems. Unfortunately, in the larger sibling we don't get the row of toggle switches that was a centrepiece in the 3008. That aside, the dashboard is elegantly shaped and wrapped in soft touch plastics that has elevated Peugeot's interior build quality lately.
In the 5008, the driver seat feels snug with the steering adjusted perfectly. The seat offers a commanding view that's further aided by the large panoramic windscreen. The large Pug definitely gets points for cocooning the driver comfortably. A trait most appreciated on those long drives.
The instrument panel is one that would be familiar to anyone who's sat in a recent Peugeot model as it is shared across several platforms. Despite the repeat performance, you can't deny the dial's simplistic efficiency.
The 5008 is offered in two variants although the only difference that separates both is the existence of a moon roof. While I do admit the roof is an unnecessary excess, the light and airy atmosphere created by its existence is much appreciated by your passengers.
Especially the kids who'll be silenced by the lights of skyscrapers as you drive through town. While the heat reflective glass roof does shun out some of the heat during the day, it's best to keep the shade closed lest your kids get a little too cooked in the glass house.
The 5008 party piece is in its highly configurable second and third row of seats. The well-designed second row allows you to slide the individual seats back and forth to alleviate legroom for either yourself or your mate in the third row.
Regardless, the cabin offers plenty of legroom for both rows. You might rightly assume that putting anyone larger than a small child in the last row would be a violation of Human Rights. Not so in the Pug, the surprise is that even adults will find the last row well within their comfort level.
The cool trick about the 5008 is that when the need arises, the second and third row of seats can be neatly folded away to reveal a cavernous luggage capacity of 2506 litres. The best thing about this van-shaming capacity is the completely flat floor space you get. For especially long cargo, you can go ahead and fold down the front passenger seat for your IKEA book shelves.
Where practicality is concerned, Volkswagen should be getting a little hot under the collar. Unlike the Touran, you don't need to leave the second row of seats at home to alleviate that maximum capacity.
The Drive
Having driven nearly every model on the market that is fitted with the BMW developed 1.6-litre twin scroll Prince engine, you could perhaps call me a fan of the little lump. But that affection became love when I experienced the little Prince's full potential in the 5008.
In previous models that sported the engine, the idling was always a tad louder than it should've been. But I'm glad to report that the whirring in the 5008 has been mostly muted out.
Regardless, the cabin offers plenty of legroom for both rows. You might rightly assume that putting anyone larger than a small child in the last row would be a violation of Human Rights. Not so in the Pug, the surprise is that even adults will find the last row well within their comfort level.
The cool trick about the 5008 is that when the need arises, the second and third row of seats can be neatly folded away to reveal a cavernous luggage capacity of 2506 litres. The best thing about this van-shaming capacity is the completely flat floor space you get. For especially long cargo, you can go ahead and fold down the front passenger seat for your IKEA book shelves.
Where practicality is concerned, Volkswagen should be getting a little hot under the collar. Unlike the Touran, you don't need to leave the second row of seats at home to alleviate that maximum capacity.
The Drive
Having driven nearly every model on the market that is fitted with the BMW developed 1.6-litre twin scroll Prince engine, you could perhaps call me a fan of the little lump. But that affection became love when I experienced the little Prince's full potential in the 5008.
In previous models that sported the engine, the idling was always a tad louder than it should've been. But I'm glad to report that the whirring in the 5008 has been mostly muted out.
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Much as I love the engine, it was commonsense to assume that putting it in a seven seat MPV might be stretching its limits a little. Sure, the 5008 pulls off the line in a jiffy when you're alone but surely it might struggle with a full load no?
Well I had to put that to the test then. So I went ahead and rounded up my mates for dinner to fill all the seats together with their gear in the back. Setting off, you immediately notice that the 156bhp is hardly dampened by the full load.
The 240Nm of torque pulled the 1540kg + 500kg (approx weight of seven beings) rather effortlessly up the ECP ramp. A little too effortlessly if I'm honest and it was hardly believable and it took several more peeks under the bonnet just to be sure there isn't a Nitrous Oxide system hidden somewhere.
The six-speeder powering the front wheels did a good job of keeping its function unnoticeable during our extended drive. As a cruiser, the 5008 does its job well with the ride being comfortable without being overly slushy and that observation is from a full load mind you.
Well I had to put that to the test then. So I went ahead and rounded up my mates for dinner to fill all the seats together with their gear in the back. Setting off, you immediately notice that the 156bhp is hardly dampened by the full load.
The 240Nm of torque pulled the 1540kg + 500kg (approx weight of seven beings) rather effortlessly up the ECP ramp. A little too effortlessly if I'm honest and it was hardly believable and it took several more peeks under the bonnet just to be sure there isn't a Nitrous Oxide system hidden somewhere.
The six-speeder powering the front wheels did a good job of keeping its function unnoticeable during our extended drive. As a cruiser, the 5008 does its job well with the ride being comfortable without being overly slushy and that observation is from a full load mind you.
Fuel consumption figures from the manufacturer does seem a tad too positive as our drive (which emptied the tank) claimed just around 9.7km/L.
Conclusion
I admit that this isn't one of the most handsome creations to come out from Peugeot but it's hard not to love it. The young lion gets the job done and does it in a remarkable fashion. Most impressive is the strong heart it possesses.
Coupled with that, the Pug is currently the only one in its class that extends its safety curtain all the way to the last row of occupants. No surprise then that the MPV's Euro NCAP ratings are off the charts with a 5/5.
Strange as it might sound, I think my favourite lump has found itself a worthy home...
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Conclusion
I admit that this isn't one of the most handsome creations to come out from Peugeot but it's hard not to love it. The young lion gets the job done and does it in a remarkable fashion. Most impressive is the strong heart it possesses.
Coupled with that, the Pug is currently the only one in its class that extends its safety curtain all the way to the last row of occupants. No surprise then that the MPV's Euro NCAP ratings are off the charts with a 5/5.
Strange as it might sound, I think my favourite lump has found itself a worthy home...
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
