France’s flexible friend
PrEParing to drive Peugeot’s new 5008 family- friendly seven- seater SUV is a bit like getting ready for an aeroplane flight. how much can you get away with packing? Will you be able to keep it in the cabin, or must you book it into the hold?
Well, this new French vehicle is flexible when it comes to room, and will happily accommodate surfboards, fishing tackle and all manner of sporting kit and luggage.
indeed, if you’re really pushed for load lugging space, the two third-row seats, just 11kg each, lift out and can be carried away like hand luggage. This boosts boot space from 720 litres to 1,060 litres.
The remaining seats, apart from the driver’s, also fold down. all three in the centre row can be adjusted individually, reducing the irritation of being ‘piggy in the middle’.
More important, it drives well, looks stylish and feels fairly upmarket with a commanding driving position and a smart dashboard with lots of high-tech and driver assistance features — from automatic emergency braking to 360- degree parking cameras. The range starts at £24,495 and there is a choice of four petrol and six diesel versions and four trim levels.
Though styled much more like an SUV, this second-generation 5008 (the first was launched in 2009) still has some of the minibus driving style of a multipurpose vehicle or MPV.
i drove what’s predicted to be the biggest seller, the allure PureTech with a 1.2 litre petrol engine with automatic six-speed gearbox. it travels from rest to 62 mph in a stately 10.4 seconds with a top speed of 117 mph and has a base price tag of £27,695. it’s a practical, easy-to-drive car for young families and couples.
it won’t blow your socks off, but at 54.3 mpg you might be able to afford to buy a few more pairs. its nearest rivals are Skoda’s kodiaq and the nissan X-Trail, and Uk deliveries begin from January.