Verdict
For non-caravanners, the 5008 bisects the overlap between what family car drivers want and what they really need. Buyers are drawn to muscular crossovers and strong-looking SUVS, but an MPV really better suits life with three kids and a labrador. The 5008 offers elements of both to be desirable and very practical. It makes a decent choice for caravanners, too, but some of its strengths as an everyday drive are weaknesses when it comes to towing. The car’s low weight helps it achieve very impressive fuel economy figures for a big seven-seater, as does the decision to offer the 5008 as a front-wheel-drive car. However, as a tow car it’s considerably lighter than other SUVS of a similar price. The likes of the Kia Sorento, Škoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan all carry some extra heft and so benefit from more favourable matching ratios. They all have higher legal towing limits and maximum noseweights, too. What the 5008 can sensibly tow, it pulls well enough. The engine has sufficient torque for towing duties, provided you don’t mind changing gear a little more often than you’d need to in some rivals. Stability at speed is good rather than outstanding – more firmly controlled suspension would help – but that’s not to say we wouldn’t be happy to tow long distances with the 5008. It’s just that we’d know there are other SUVS that would do the job better. We admire the 5008’s design flair, practical cabin and fuel economy. The Peugeot is a very good seven-seater, but merely an okay tow car.