Peugeot’s SUV switch a success

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The suspension’s on the soft side yet the car doesn’t wallow or roll through corners

Launched towards the end of last year, Peugeot’s new 5008 is a seven-seat SUV designed and priced to take on the Skoda Kodiaq and Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.

Some readers might be scratching their heads and saying, “hang on, isn’t the 5008 a people carrier?”

Well, yes. It was. But Peugeot has realised the game has changed and SUVS are where it’s at now. They’ve ditched the old body style in favour of what’s in fashion.

The result is a good looking beast, with a rugged exterior that’s tempered by some nice chrome detail touches. The rear end sheers off, like the Land Rover Discovery, rather than tapering in order to maximise boot space.

Under the bonnet you have the choice of two petrol and four diesel engines. Remarkably, one of the petrol options is a 1.2 litre.

This is the version I spent a week with. You’d think such a small engine would be far too puny for a car this big but a turbo boosts power to 128bhp and it’ll do 0-62mph in a spry 10.4 seconds.

Prices start at just over £23,300 for an entry level Active model and my higher spec Allure model cost around £28,000.

The interior’s design is superb. The rearmost seats can fold flat to the floor or be removed entirely to create extra space.

The middle row has three individual seats that can slide or fold separately, giving extra versatility. You can also get three child seats side by side in there.

Add in numerous storage boxes and cubby holes, and you have a pretty fantastic vehicle for taking the family on holiday in.

The dashboard has an Audi “virtual cockpit” style screen behind the steering wheel, giving the big Peugeot an upmarket feel.

The suspension’s on the soft side yet the car doesn’t wallow or roll through corners. In fact, it’s one of the better handling SUVS I’ve driven. Good levels of sound insulation make it a relaxing long distance machine.

A small steering wheel makes parking easier and also gives the car a sportier feel on A and B roads.

I attended the launch of the 5008 last year, spending an afternoon driving the car, and liked it then. More recently I’ve spent a week with a 5008 parked outside my Dundee home every night. Living with it on a day-to-day basis only deepened my affection for the car.

It has all the practicality and comfort of its major rivals and manages to pip them when it comes to the fun factor.

jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk