Peugeot 5008 petrol 2013 review

People movers suffer an image problem. They’re largely seen as being dowdy, dull proof that any pretensions to a life are over. That may be true of some... okay, most of them.

But a few MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles, as some brands like to call them) are arriving to overturn that truth. They've got style and response that dodges the 'stodgy' stigma and makes them fun to be in  – and you proud to be seen in them.

Part of that charge of the MPV brigade is the Peugeot 5008 -- newly arrived here although available overseas for a few years – which, along with its sibling Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, is adding French chic to the task of carting around seven bodies in ease.

VALUE

Two versions are on offer, the $40,490 diesel and the $36,990 petrol tested here. There’s a single spec level across both, but the standard kit list is generous: 7-inch retractable colour touchscreen satnav, twin tray tables and DVD screens for the second row, rearview mirror integrated reversing camera, parking sensors, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control aircon with vents in the rear, 17-in alloy wheels and some clever extras like a rechargeable torch in the cargo area and retractable blinds for the second and third rows.

The Citroen comes in at $39,490, but only in diesel, while Honda's petrol-powered Odyssey starts at $37,100.

But the real contender is the newly arrived Kia Rondo, starting at $25,990 for the petrol version and $36,490 for diesel, but moving up considerably in price once you start adding in more fruit. To get similar equipment standards to the Peugeot you’re looking at $33,990 for the petrol Rondo.

ENGINE AND GEARBOX

The 5008 is powered by a punchy little turbocharged 1.6-litre engine: the same carried by Peugeot’s 208 GTI and RCZ sports cars – and Citroens and Minis, albeit offering different outputs of power and torque. In the Peugeot MPV it delivers 115kW and 240Nm, getting it to the front wheels via six-speed automatic gearbox.

Claimed fuel economy is 7.6L/100km, and although we hitting closer to 9L  towards the end of our test, it wasn’t out of order given the amount of hills and load we’d tested. Both petrol and diesel versions offer a decent 1500kg braked towing capacity (750 unbraked) which offers the prospect of hauling trailers and jetskis -- or extra luggage -- on family holidays.

DESIGN

It’s a streamlined box, bearing the bold Peugeot face and with sharply angled light clusters and blackened window pillars giving some sweep to the shape. The inside also gets some great touches, including a panoramic sunroof that floods the cabin with light.

But the real fun starts with the seats. The three second row seats individually recline, slide forward and back and -- with one of the easiest mechanisms in the field -- flip fold flat. The third row does a similar trick, giving you flat cargo floor and massive 2506-litre capacity from the rear door to the front seats, with the passenger one folding enough for very long items.

The third row is reasonably easy to clamber into with the second row down, but once you're in the back it doesn't take long to realise it's designed more for kids than adults if the trip is going to be lengthy.

There's a shortage of casual storage space in the front row, with the globebox so small you'll have to keep the owners' manual in a door pocket, and the centre console bin is handy if you want the 'cool box' function, but otherwise so deep you're going to lose things in there.

And you'll be reaching for the centre stack and touchscreen to control audio and other functions, with no remote controls on the steering wheel -- giving it a somewhat low-tech look -- and several of them on wands sprouting from the steering column.
 
SAFETY

It's not been crash-tested here, but gets five stars from Euro NCAP, with all the expected electronic stability and braking aids to help with panic stops and uneven distribution of weight in the vehicle, plus an array of airbags covering all three rows.

DRIVING

The steering is very light -- great for parking and you never get the feeling you're trying to wrestle a Kenworth into a shoebox -- a common problem with SUVs. We feared the lightness would make for a Playstation feel on the road, but it's so direct that driving through corners is a joy.

Explore the 2013 Peugeot 5008 range

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The engine is not in the firecracker class, but helped along by turbo boost, it's surprisingly lively for a MPV. Gearing is well-matched to the engine, but the auto box lags a little in the higher slots and higher speeds, although generally only really noticeable when you're looking at swift overtaking.

Ride quality is brilliant. We threw it over some fairly poor surfaces, and -- even without the extra damping of weight in every seat -- it smoothed out most of the problems.

However, loading all rows adds considerably to the 5008's 1565kg, taxing the engine and making steep hills much more of a chore -- and a noisier one. This is also where you'll start to destroy the fuel economy, and was the main culprit for us ending up with 9.2L/100km (although we still consider that respectably given the tasks we demanded of it).

VERDICT

Adds some much-needed style and pleasure to the task of carting around people and freight like a small Greyhound bus -- and without driving like one.