New Peugeot 5008 first drive

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Friday, 22 January 2010 17:56

More new models, more new power-source technologies, filling the gaps in their range of models with better design and quality products are the core messages from Peugeot at the launch of their new 5008 compact, seven-seat MPV (multipurpose/people carrier).

The arrival in late January of the newcomer follows quickly behind the successful introduction last November of the Peugeot 3008, a five seater hatchback cum MPV with the command driving position of a 4x4 and just voted Car of the Year by the influential What Car? magazine. The new 5008 was judged MPV of the Year in the same annual competition, even before it had been put on sale.

With demand outstripping supply for the new 3008 with around 10,000 units likely to come to the UK this year, Peugeot has a more modest target for the mid-sized seven-seat 5008. Around 5,000 of these should find UK homes this year with 55% of those going to retail and business user-choosers customers.

There are two petrol and three diesel engine options with petrol models likely to be the choice of 53% of UK customers. There is the choice, depending on the engine chosen, of Active, Sport and Exclusive trim and equipment levels with Sport in the long term being the most popular but like the 3008 the top Exclusive package is the most in demand by early customers.

Prices range from £17,345 up to £24,145. The core model is likely to be the 1.6 HDi 110 diesel with Sport specification and the on-the-road price is £20,045 with a manual gearbox and £20,545 with the EGC automated unit. All 5008 versions have ESP electronic stability programme as standard, all have a EuroNCAP five star safety rating.

Selling against established and generally heavily discounted midsized MPVs such as the Vauxhall Zafira, the Citroen C4 Picasso which shares the same underpinnings as the Peugeot 5008, the Renault Grand Scenic and the Volkswagen Touran, Peugeot has relatively modest sales targets for the very smart newcomer. Overall sales in the MPV sector of the UK’s new car market fell by over 30% last year according to official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The big losers were the larger sized MPVs such as the Ford Galaxy/S-Max, Renault Espace, Mitsubishi Grandis, Peugeot 809/Citroen C8 and the Chrysler Voyager.

Other than the taxi or minicab or hotel minibus market the appeal of owning and driving a conventional mid to large MPV is no longer as strong in the UK as the design shouts ‘family-user’. Not only that they cost significantly more to buy and run than a modern hatchback and people are being forced to downsize and down price due to escalating costs.

But Peugeot, and its sister company Citroen, still have faith in the MPV. They have chosen to come up with new elegant styling, classy and clever interiors and fuel efficient engines for their new generation of these vehicles.

The new ‘brand’ styling from Peugeot means their gaping mouth grille has gone as has the protruding nose treatment for the bonnet. Like the smaller five-seat 3008, the seven-seat 5008 really looks very smart and typically not like a slab-sided, van based MPV or family bus. Being 4,530mm in length, 2,118mm wide and 1,638mm high the newcomer is easy to drive and park although the width can be an issue when opening the hinged doors in skimpy parking slots. Access is good front and rear and the second and third rows of seats fold down one-handed and can be returned to their useable positions very easily. The rear row of two seats will not be as comfortable for long journeys or the long legged but for occasional users they will be fine. The great thing is that the seats fold into the floor giving a totally flat load bed. With all the seats in position the minimum boot space is 578-litres, with the middle and rear rows folded the space is 1,754-litre. The rest of the interior, like the 3008, is a huge improvement over other current Peugeot models. The quality is higher, the look is better, the ease of use is generally improved. These elements just make the new 5008 a nicer place to be than a van with windows.

The standard Active specification includes 16-inch steel wheels with energy saving tyres, a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating, ESP handling programme, a full array of airbags, electric front windows and door mirrors, air conditioning, a good quality multi-speaker sound system and an automatic electronic parking brake. The likely best selling Sport models gain alloy wheels, aluminium exterior trim, cruise control, interior lighting pack with torch, extra storage compartments, rear electric windows and front fog lights. The Exclusive specification which is proving popular with the first 1,000 buyers adds a panoramic glass sunroof, auto headlights/wipers, head-up display, distance alert and rear parking sensors, sun visor curtains for the second and third rows of seats, climate control, USB and Bluetooth kit and larger alloy wheels.

The Peugeot 5008 feels to have a stiffer suspension layout than its sister Citroen C4 Picasso so the body roll is less but the ride is fidgety and unsettled on some road surfaces. Having a stiffer suspension means the 5008 should be popular with drivers who appreciate sharper handling. Those who want comfort and travel at a lesser pace will appreciate the Citroen version.

The engine line-up offers two 1.6-litre petrol units, 120 and 156bhp, a turbodiesel 1.6-litre 110bhp engine and two 2.0-litre turbodiesel versions with outputs of 150 and 163bhp. My personal choice as a retail buyer covering less than 12,000 miles a year would be the 156bhp petrol turbocharged high pressure THP unit, one of the best small engines in the world. It produces maximum torque of 177lb ft from just 1,400rpm so it is fantastically flexible and responsive and the fuel economy at 39.8mpg is pretty acceptable. It is also the quickest engine in the whole line-up with a top speed of 121mph and 0-62mph takes 9.7 seconds. For good measure the 5008 in Sport specification with this engine costs £19,345, £700 cheaper than the model with the expected most popular 1.6-litre 110bhp HDi turbodiesel unit. However this well known diesel engine will return 53.3mpg in the combined cycle and with CO2 emission of 140g/km with the manual 6-speed gearbox it is cheaper to tax as well. It is all a matter of personal choice, either of these two engines will do a great job.

MILESTONES. Peugeot 5008 HDi 110 Sport manual (expected best selling model). Price: £20,045. Engine/transmission: 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel, 110bhp, 192 lb ft of torque from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual (or 6-speed EGC semi auto adds £500). Performance: 114mph, 0-62 12.9 seconds, 53.3mpg (43.5mpg on test), CO2 140g/km, VED £120. BIK tax 19%. Insurance group: tbc. Body style, five door, seven seat compact people carrier, load capacity 578-1,754-litres. For: More stylish than a conventional MPV, compact and practical, high level of safety and a 5-star safety rating, well equipped and good quality interior. Against. Firm and fidgety ride, some dashboard controls difficult to reach. Miles Better News Agency www.girlracer.co.uk