Review: With its good looks and seven seats, Peugeot’s 5008 is ideal for school runs and family road trips

Published on 9 October, 2022

Overview

As a mother of two children, the attraction of seven-seat family cars is completely lost on me and I reckon their popularity owes far more to the busy social lives of our kids than to ever-expanding families.

So having deemed myself wholly unsuitable to fully assess my test car for the week, Peugeot’s seven-seater 5008, we embarked on a road trip to Co Kerry and a long-overdue visit to a good friend and soon-to-be mother of three who was looking out for a new family car.

The 5008 began life as an MPV but, as people carriers were swept away by the onslaught of SUVs, it was reimagined and what you get today is a very practical family car with sharp styling. Distinctive and elegant outside, inside everything is classy and logically laid out.

Family cars are all about space and this is where the 5008 shines. It’s a car designed for family life and there are plenty of cubby holes and storage areas where toys and books can be easily stowed. A major plus is the flexible seating — the third row in the 5008 can be fully removed while the second-row seats are all adjustable and each comes with Isofix fittings.

And if you need more than just occasional use, the room in the third row is good and kids will have more than enough space, though adults will feel a little cramped. Also, you don’t have to take the rear seats out to boost your boot space as you get 167 litres with seven on board or a vast 780-litre boot with only five seats in use.

Unlike other Peugeot models, the 5008 is only available in petrol or diesel for now. It’s due a major overhaul late next year and the 2024 model is expected to offer zero-emission options.

Our test car was powered by an old-school 1.5 diesel engine that proved to be responsive and very economical on the road. The 130bhp BlueHDi diesel option would be perfectly fine for daily use and never laboured but, at times, climbing the steep peaks around Co Kerry, I would have welcomed an engine with a bit more oomph. On a long journey, though, it’s comfortable and easy to drive; and the comments from the passengers become more positive as the journey went on, which is always a good sign.

There’s a choice of manual and automatic transmissions and there are three trim levels offered: Active (€44,210), Allure (€46,300) and GT (€49,010). Rivals include Dacia’s Jogger (€24,590), Volkswagen’s Tiguan Allspace (€46,225), the Skoda Kodiaq (€45,315), SEAT’s Tarraco (€43,810), Hyundai’s Santa Fe (€57,445) and the Kia Sorento (€56,500).

From school runs to road trips, much is expected of today’s family cars, and so Peugeot’s 5008 ticks a lot of boxes. You’ll still squeeze more into an MPV of old but you’ll be pleasantly surprised by just how versatile the 5008 is.

While it battles for market share with some very accomplished rivals, and despite its lack of electric-powered options, it has nudged its way into a crowded segment and created a following of its own.

So much so, it was put straight to the top of the now mother of three’s shopping list. Apparently, even her family’s latest addition, Niamh, approves.

Rating: 4/5