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WEEKEND ROADTEST: Peugeot 5008
publication date: Jan 23, 2010
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author/source: David Miles
In its 200th year of business, Peugeot is reinventing itself to compete more strongly in today’s competitive world.
They offer a new brand statement, ‘Motion and Emotion’, higher quality
standards, a new design of the Lion trademark and a raft of new
products which are recognisably Peugeot. All innovative in technology
and of higher quality and specification as Peugeot aims to move up
three places, from its current ranking of 10th position, in the world
car market by 2015.
Now present in 160 countries the company aims to bring to market 14 new
models worldwide between now and 2012. In its 200 year lifespan the
Peugeot brand has been associated with producing everything from pepper
mills, coffee grinders, tools, crinoline stays, bicycles, mopeds,
scooters, cars and light commercial vehicles.
In the near future new
technologies will include two and four wheeled mobility products
powered by electric, diesel hybrid, plug in hybrids and the Stop-Start
function on all diesel powered models from 2011.
In the UK Peugeot saw their new car sales fall by 13.6% in 2009 to
102,574 units whilst the market helped by the Scrappage Scheme
registrations finished down by 6.4%. However Andrew Didlick, Director
of Communications for Peugeot in the UK, said this week that with four
new cars due to be launched this year Peugeot will be increasing their
share of the new car market from 5.2 to 5.8%.
With the new branding, the new brand statement, new models, motorsport
involvement and the two important What Car? magazine awards, Car of the
Year for the new Peugeot 3008 crossover and the 5008 was judged best
MPV even before it went on sale, increasing public awareness of ‘new’
Peugeot is a priority.
As for the new 5008 midsized, seven seat MPV, Peugeot estimates around
5,000 will be sold in the UK in a full year with 55% going to retail
customers.
Prices for the 5008, which goes on sale this month, start from £17,345.
There is the choice of two 1.6-litre petrol engines and 1.6 and
2.0-litre HDI diesel units. Like the smaller 3008 the new 5008 has a
EuroNCAP five star safety rating. |
FIRST IMPRESSIONS | |
More new models, more new power-source technologies,
filling the gaps in their range of models with better design and
quality products are the core messages from Peugeot at the launch of
their new 5008 compact, seven-seat multipurpose people carrier.
The arrival of the newcomer follows quickly behind the
successful introduction last November of the Peugeot 3008, a five
seater hatchback cum MPV with the command driving position of a 4x4 and
just voted Car of the Year by the influential What Car? magazine. |  |
The new 5008 was judged MPV of the Year in the same annual competition, even before it had been put on sale.
With demand outstripping supply for the new 3008 with around 10,000
units likely to come to the UK this year, Peugeot has a more modest
target for the mid-sized seven-seat 5008. Around 5,000 of these should
find UK homes this year with 55% of those going to retail and business
user-choosers customers.
There are two petrol and three diesel engine options with petrol models
likely to be the choice of 53% of UK customers. There is the choice,
depending on the engine chosen, of Active, Sport and Exclusive trim and
equipment levels with Sport in the long term being the most popular but
like the 3008 the top Exclusive package is the most in demand by early
customers.
Prices range from £17,345 up to £24,145. The core model is likely to be
the 1.6 HDi 110 diesel with Sport specification and the on-the-road
price is £20,045 with a manual gearbox and £20,545 with the EGC
automated unit.
All 5008 versions have ESP electronic stability
programme as standard, all have a EuroNCAP five star safety rating.
The new ‘brand’ styling from Peugeot means their gaping mouth grille
has gone as has the protruding nose treatment for the bonnet. Like the
smaller five-seat 3008, the seven-seat 5008 really looks very smart and
typically not like a slab-sided, van based MPV or family bus.
Being 4,530mm in length, 2,118mm wide and 1,638mm high the newcomer is
easy to drive and park although the width can be an issue when opening
the hinged doors in skimpy parking slots.
Access is good front and rear and the second and third rows of seats
fold down one-handed and can be returned to their useable positions
very easily. The rear row of two seats will not be as comfortable for
long journeys or the long legged but for occasional users they will be
fine. The great thing is that the seats fold into the floor giving a
totally flat load bed.
With all the seats in position the minimum boot space is 578-litres,
with the middle and rear rows folded the space is 1,754-litre. The rest
of the interior, like the 3008, is a huge improvement over other
current Peugeot models. The quality is higher, the look is better, the
ease of use is generally improved. These elements just make the new
5008 a nicer place to be than a van with windows.
The standard Active specification includes 16-inch steel wheels with
energy saving tyres, a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating, ESP handling
programme, a full array of airbags, electric front windows and door
mirrors, air conditioning, a good quality multi-speaker sound system
and an automatic electronic parking brake.
The likely best selling Sport models gain alloy wheels, aluminium
exterior trim, cruise control, interior lighting pack with torch, extra
storage compartments, rear electric windows and front fog lights.
| The
Exclusive specification which is proving popular with the first 1,000
buyers adds a panoramic glass sunroof, auto headlights/wipers, head-up
display, distance alert and rear parking sensors, sun visor curtains
for the second and third rows of seats, climate control, USB and
Bluetooth kit and larger alloy wheels.
The Peugeot 5008 feels to have a stiffer suspension layout than its
sister Citroen C4 Picasso so the body roll is less but the ride is
fidgety and unsettled on some road surfaces. Having a stiffer
suspension means the 5008 should be popular with drivers who appreciate
sharper handling. Those who want comfort and travel at a lesser pace
will appreciate the Citroen version. |  | The engine line-up offers two 1.6-litre petrol units, 120 and 156bhp, a
turbodiesel 1.6-litre 110bhp engine and two 2.0-litre turbodiesel
versions with outputs of 150 and 163bhp. My personal choice as a retail
buyer covering less than 12,000 miles a year would be the 156bhp petrol
turbocharged high pressure THP unit, one of the best small engines in
the world.
It produces maximum torque of 177lb ft from just 1,400rpm so it is
fantastically flexible and responsive and the fuel economy at 39.8mpg
is pretty acceptable. It is also the quickest engine in the whole
line-up with a top speed of 121mph and 0-62mph takes 9.7 seconds.
For good measure the 5008 in Sport specification with this engine costs
£19,345, £700 cheaper than the model with the expected most popular
1.6-litre 110bhp HDi turbodiesel unit.
However this well known diesel
engine will return 53.3mpg in the combined cycle and with CO2 emission
of 140g/km with the manual 6-speed gearbox it is cheaper to tax as
well. It is all a matter of personal choice, either of these two
engines will do a great job.
©David Miles | | MILESTONES | |
Peugeot 5008 HDi 110 Sport manual (expected best selling model) £20,045.
Engine/transmission:
1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel, 110bhp, 192 lb ft of torque from
1,750rpm, 6-speed manual (or 6-speed EGC semi auto adds £500).
Performance: 114mph, 0-62 12.9 seconds, 53.3mpg (43.5mpg on test), CO2 140g/km, VED £120. BIK tax 19%. Insurance group: tbc.
| For:
More stylish than a conventional MPV, compact and practical, high level
of safety and a 5-star safety rating, well equipped and good quality
interior.
Against: Firm and fidgety ride, some dashboard controls difficult to reach. |
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