REVIEW – Peugeot 5008 SUV GT Line

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Exterior Styling

The Peugeot 5008 SUV utilises the same platform as the smaller 3008 SUV, and so it’s no surprise that there are similar styling cues.

Take the concave front grille, with its funky ‘bumpy’ finish and sleek Peugeot writing at the top. It sits between angular headlights that look like they were beaten into shape at some point. LED daytime running lights sweep up the top of them in a way reminiscent of how air flows over cars in wind tunnel testing.

At the side the optional 19-inch alloys sit nicely in the arches, and a strong body line runs from the front wing, fades over both doors and then reappears at the rear quarter panel. The side profile is a little boxy given that the 5008 SUV has to have room for two more seats in the back.

At the rear of the car I really like the gloss black light bar, running across the with of the car. The tail lights themselves are also very sleek. By using an angular, almost 3-sided rear spoiler Peugeot has managed to hide some of the true squareness of the rear window, but it still lacks the sleek sloping lines of the 3008 SUV.

Plastic lower panels aim to give the ‘SUV’ aspect a bit of credit, whilst twin exhaust trims at the back nod to the ‘GT Line’ aspect. The flashes of chrome dotted around the exterior and privacy glass make for a premium appearance.

As for making this out to be a GT Line? Well there are a couple of badges finished in silver and copper, and the roof and wing mirrors are finished in black. Park next to another 5008 SUV and you will note the more aggressive front bumper design too. But in truth the level of sportiness projected by the 5008 SUV is somewhat hampered by a lack of bold, sporty colours.

There are some great choices but, like the ‘Emerald’ of my test car, it’s more sophisticated understatement than the sporty ‘Ultimate Red’ or ‘Magnetic Blue’ as available on the 308 GTi.

Interior Finish

If you thought the exterior was modern and stylish, then just wait until you see inside the 5008 SUV. It’s a masterpiece. I would happily say that it, like the 3008 SUV, is up there with my all-time favourite interiors.

At the centre of it all is the i-Cockpit. Featuring a 12.3-inch TFT configurable instrument cluster which sits above the small steering wheel, it is a triumph. The switches on the centre console are toggle-like, and would look at home in an aircraft. The 8-inch multimedia screen, along with the rest of the centre console, is angled slightly toward the driver, encapsulating them to give an immersive driving experience.

The use of grey fabric on the dashboard and door cards is a stroke of genius. Because it provides a contrast to the black plastics, it really lifts the cabin. I also think it is a premium look. In fact, it’s the reason I wouldn’t choose the Nappa leather seats: instead opting for the matching cloth trim to really bring the whole cabin together.

The shape of the seats in the GT Line creates a sporty feel. Being body-hugging and nicely bolstered, they are inviting when you open the door.

The stitching is a contrasting copper/brown colour, which matches the GT Line badging on the exterior. A nice touch. Blue ambient lighting also enhances the interior.

If you opt for the panoramic roof – at £870 – then the cabin is a light, airy space. The electric sun blind is always a crowd-pleaser too.

I took a few people out in the 5008 SUV, and all were impressed with the cabin quality. It’s hard to argue with what Peugeot has done, creating a premium interior based around their hugely successful i-Cockpit. And it takes the fight to rivals with high-end materials and solid build quality.

Engine/Performance

There are many engines available in the 5008 SUV GT Line, in both petrol and diesel variants. My test car had what I imagine will be the popular oil-burning variety: the 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 diesel. Offering 150PS and 370Nm of torque, it sends its power to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The on-paper performance figures don’t exactly excite: 0-62mph takes 9.6 seconds and the top speed is 129mph.

But, you can rest assured that the GT Line badge is well earned, because from the driving seat the 5008 SUV felt like it had a lot more than 150PS. It feels decidedly nippy.

I have never experienced a boring diesel engine with so much character. When you put the car in ‘sport’ mode, it even features an electronic sound symposer which feeds a throaty engine note into the cabin. Admittedly it’s a little bit silly, but it does put a smile on your face. The throttle response also sharpens to further liven up the engine.

As with most diesel engines, the BlueHDi is best kept in the 1,500rpm – 3,500rpm rev range, as it starts to run out of puff after that. But with the 6-speed manual gearbox this is easily done, and you can work it to get the most out of the engine.

On the motorway there is plenty of overtaking oomph in 6th gear, and at 70mph the engine is quiet and composed.

Ride/Handling

So the engine in the 5008 SUV was rather lively, but how would it fare once the roads got a bit, well, bendier? For starters, this is a large car with a relatively high centre of gravity. It is only natural that there is a little bit of pitch when cornering at speed.

On the whole, I think the 5008 SUV GT Line was composed. My test car had the optional 19-inch alloy wheels, and this meant lower profile tyres with less sidewall to lean on. I never noticed the ride being overly bumpy, and the Peugeot handled my pothole-ridden commute to work with ease.

All modern Peugeots have a sense of nimbleness about their drive. This is down in part the little steering wheel, which I rather like. Even small movements are exaggerated, giving a greater sense of response. Stick the 5008 SUV in ‘sport’ mode and it even gets a nice weighty feel to it too.

The problem with the 5008 SUV is its size. The ‘GT Line’ gives you encouragement to have a B road blast, but it is far too big. Sure, you can get up to a decent speed, but then when you meet oncoming traffic on exiting a corner you will lose years off your life.

Where the 5008 SUV is more at home is on the motorway. It will carry 7 people on a long drive without crippling them. The sports seats are comfortable, and whilst I found the £1,990 Nappa leather option a bit pricey, I did enjoy the massage function.

Advanced Grip Control is an optional extra on the 5008 SUV. So here you have a ‘SUV’ that, in standard guise, won’t be much use when the conditions are a bit tougher. Which will make you look a berk on the two days a year when half an inch of snow brings the country to a standstill.

Economy

You would expect that a large, seven seat SUV would be a little harsh on your wallet. But with the Peugeot 5008 SUV you will be pleasantly surprised. All the engines – from the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol to the 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel – are reasonably efficient. Combined fuel consumption ranges from 46.3mpg to 68.9mpg, and CO2 emissions from 106g/km to 133g/km.

My test car had the 2.0-litre, 150PS diesel with a 6-speed manual gearbox, claiming figures of 58.9mpg and 118g/km.

With prices under £40,000 it avoids the supplementary VED rate, instead being £165 in the first year and £140 thereafter. And with a 56-litre fuel tank giving a theoretical range of 725 miles, you can go longer between fill-ups.

All models have start/stop technology to save fuel around town and in traffic. And despite its large stature, my test car had a kerb weight of 1,490kg. That will certainly help improve fuel consumption, and highlights the benefit of utilizing a platform from a smaller car.

Practicality

In 5008 SUV, ‘U’ is for ‘Utility’ so it is imperative that this car offers a lot of practicality. Happily, it doesn’t disappoint.

Crudely speaking, this is a 3008 SUV with a larger body on it. But the reality of that ‘bigger body’ is significant for those with larger families. Space inside the cabin is generous; seven independent seats ensure everyone has plenty of room.

With the third row seats in place, there’s still some boot space left to place shopping bags. When not in use they fold into the boot floor and leave a cavernous load space, more than adequate for prams, nappy bags and the endless other accompaniments family life requires.

On the flip side, you will certainly notice the vastness of the 5008 SUV when you get into a car park. Multi-story set ups can become claustrophobic, and those supermarket bays will feel especially narrow. The standard front/rear sensors and rear-view camera can be upgraded to a full 360-degree surround camera for £450, and I think that’s a worthy investment.

Family life can also be full of distractions, namely those of the human kind sat behind the driver. Suddenly features such as automatic headlights and wipers become a godsend.

Equipment

Peugeot has given the 5008 SUV a decent amount of standard equipment. All models get ISOFIX anchor points on all 3 middle row of seats. Speed limit recognition and recommendation combines with a gear shift indicator provide useful information to the driver as part of the brilliant i-Cockpit.

Other creature comforts include ambient lighting, fabric-trimmed door cards , Bluetooth/USB connectivity, electric parking brake and ‘Magic Wash’ front windscreen wipers.

The GT Line is a sportier trim, benefiting from full-LED headlights for greater visibility, a wireless charging plate for your smartphone and two configurable ‘ambiances’ for the i-Cockpit. This goes as far as having two different fragrances to really distinguish between the two. The choices are ‘Boost’, for a dynamic drive, or ‘Relax’ if you want a more chilled-out experience.

With such a large car, drive aids are particularly useful. The GT Line models feature front and rear parking sensors, along with a reversing camera, which helps maneuvering in car parks. On the road, the Safety plus pack looks after you. It features blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, driver attention alert and Smartbeam Assistance, and does wonders to turn the 5008 SUV into an effortless motorway cruiser.

Value For Money

Prices for the Peugeot 5008 SUV start at £25,020, and £28,720 for the GT Line. For this size of car, with the level of equipment on offer, that represents decent value for money.

There is, however, one problem. Remember how I said earlier that the 5008 SUV is based on the 3008 SUV? Well the equivalent models of that smaller, more-manageable sized car are around £2,000 cheaper.

If you need all seven seats, then this won’t really make a difference to you. But if you don’t, then paying £1,000 for each one doesn’t really make sense. And given the cars are so similar, the 5008’s worst enemy could be its own little brother.

You need to be careful with the options list too. Some items are great value, like the 360-degree surround camera for £450 or 19-inch alloy wheels for £300. Others are a little less so: I’d struggle to justify £1,990 for the Nappa leather seats or £750 for a smart electric tailgate.

Another gripe, albeit a small one, is that despite this being the ‘5008 SUV’, you have to pay extra for the Advanced Grip Control. Sure, at £470 it isn’t a lot of money, but for a car on the dear side of £30,000 it should be standard fit.

Facts and Figures

Dan Woods

Editor-in-chief, Senior Reviewer