Peugeot 5008 review (2016-2024)

Driving position

A consistent theme across the entire 5008 SUV range – and all modern Peugeots, for that matter – is the iCockpit design.

Key to this is a low-mounted steering wheel that you’re meant to look over, not through, to see your speedo.

Early efforts were met with mixed reviews. But Peugeot has developed this idea into one that actually works, and it’s easy to get used to it in the 5008, where the speedometer sits quite high on the dashboard.

We tried the car in range-topping GT spec, which had the upgraded sports seats. Like other similarly-specced Peugeots, these figure-hugging seats offer plenty of lateral support without being too intrusive.

For the most part, the Peugeot 5008 feels like a smaller, sportier model to sit in, which adds to its appeal as a trendy upgrade for families who need extra space. It’s only when you’re battling the narrowest of lanes that you notice its slightly increased width compared to a hatchback.

Tech and features

On the whole, the Peugeot 5008 ticks just about every interior tech box. It has a large touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster and a series of physical toggle controls for some of the most accessed functionalities – great for when you’re on the go.

The interior is slightly let down by its dated infotainment system, though. When this car launched in 2016, it was fine, but it’s starting to show its age next to newer Peugeots. The reversing camera’s resolution, for example, was pretty poor (though it still did the job).

At first, the steering wheel controls look simple and easy to use. And they are, but the cruise control buttons are mounted on a stalk beneath the indicators, which can be cumbersome to use.

Standard equipment is pretty generous given this car’s price point, with most getting parking sensors, a reversing camera, push-button start, dual-zone climate control and LED headlights.

To summarise, then, you get pretty much everything you’d expect from a much newer car, but it’s all packaged in a slightly 2016 way – so long as you’re not after the latest and greatest, there should be nothing stopping you from considering a Peugeot 5008.

Engines and power

In its later years on sale, the second-generation Peugeot 5008 was mostly sold with 1.2-litre petrol engines – a 130hp unit, or a 136hp unit with mild hybrid tech.

We tested the mild hybrid for a week and were genuinely impressed with its efficiency. Paired with the dual-clutch automatic gearbox, it was extremely smooth around town, where it was able to spend between a third and a half of its time with the engine off – an incredible feat given the small size of its battery.

This is where it’s best suited because the power can be underwhelming if you need to accelerate quickly, especially with all seven seats full.

Another popular engine is the earlier 1.5-litre diesel. It also has 130hp, but it benefits from more torque, so it feels punchier off the mark.

The 180hp 1.6-litre petrol engine sold from 2018 to 2021 offers greater performance, but it’s nowhere near as efficient as the 1.2 can be.

If you need to tow, there’s a 180hp 2.0-litre diesel. These are few and far between because the reality is that most drivers spend a lot of their time on their own, and the 1.2-litre petrol is best in that scenario.

Handling and ride comfort

The Peugeot 5008 is truly a standout car in its class for the way it handles. Where many similar cars lean in corners, the 5008 feels planted and agile.

The suspension and steering are the right level of firm, especially for a big seven-seater, but it still absorbs bumps around town with little fuss.

In fact, the Peugeot 5008 is so great to drive that we found ourselves wanting to – and able to – push it like a much smaller hatchback.

We weren’t left needing the extra grip of a four-wheel-drive system, but anybody spending time off the beaten track or towing should consider looking elsewhere.

Boot space

Most people will tend to use the Peugeot 5008 in five-seat mode, where it has a giant 952-litre luggage capacity. It’s hard to think of a similarly-sized seven-seat SUV that has more space.

With all the rear seats down, you get a van-like 2,150 litres of space, plus you can fold the front passenger seat flat if you need to carry longer items up to nearly 3.2 metres long.

Boot space in seven-seat mode is pretty limited – you certainly won’t fit seven people’s luggage in the back, but it’s enough for a couple of bags.

What’s more impressive is that, with some folding floor parts, the entire floor area is flat.

Rear seats

Legroom for the second row is decent, and headroom is abundant. Just be aware that if you need to carry passengers in the third-row seats, you’ll want to slide the middle row forward, which eats into legroom.

Thankfully, you can slide and recline the middle three seats to make things a little comfier for whoever’s sitting there.

The two seats in the boot pop up with relative ease, and they’re finished in the same high-quality material as the other seats – albeit with less padding to save space.

Like most seven-seaters in this category, space in the third row is limited, and legroom is virtually non-existent unless you slide the middle row forwards. But for children, it’s perfectly fine.

Storage solutions

Wherever you are in the Peugeot 5008, you’ll find somewhere to hold your loose items. There’s a coin bin and phone tray in the centre console, and a stylish split-opening armrest in between the front seats.

There are also net pockets on the backs of the front seats, and even two picnic trays that can withstand a reasonable amount of pressure.

Towing

Earlier models, particularly those with diesel engines, might be suitable for towing light trailers, but if you’ve got your eye on something heavier like a caravan or a boat, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

Safety

Safety standards change over the years, so it’s always worth finding a newer model with more safety kit if you can.

In the second-generation 5008’s final years on sale, it had lane-keep assist, front collision warning and camera-aided autonomous emergency braking system as standard.

The 5008 and the smaller, five-seat 3008, with which this car shares many of its parts, both got a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2016. They’re yet to be tested under Euro NCAP’s stricter regs, though.

Fuel economy

Diesels will ultimately be the most efficient, with the most economical likely to exceed 50mpg on a long run.

What’s more impressive is that, with a mix of driving, including a 250-mile motorway round trip, we averaged around 50mpg from the mild hybrid. For a petrol engine in a car of this size, that’s mightily impressive.

The standard petrol models are more likely to hover around the 40mpg mark, which is serviceable.

Reliability

Every Peugeot has its own feel, however, most share mechanical parts like their engines and gearboxes, which aids reliability. Peugeot also sells its cars with an industry-standard three-year warranty.

The car was on sale for around seven years, and no significant concerns have been raised.

Insurance groups

There’s no such thing as an expensive-to-insure Peugeot 5008. Most models sit between insurance groups 11 and 29, with few higher than 24.

It’s only the 180hp models that reach group 29, which is still a pretty reasonable place to be.