2013 Peugeot 5008 Reviews

Two wheel drive compact SUVs are squeezing ‘genuine’ people movers off buyer’s radar because they’re cheap and perform a similar mass transit function - almost. Sometimes however, only a people mover will do.A properly designed and engineered ‘family bus’ such as Peugeot’s new 5008 is a sensible vehicle for conveying seven people economically, comfortably and safely. The new Pug bus joins the ugly 3008 that has hung around like a bad smell for a while.We drove the newcomer recently on an extended 1000km test run sometimes with people, sometimes in van-mode house moving.VALUEGoodies such as a panoramic sun roof, satnav, front arm rests, front and side park assist, reverse camera, dual-zone climate control with adjustable side pillar vents, electric park brake, cruise with speed limiter, retractable side window blinds, pollen filter, trip computer and auto headlights and wipers are standard kit.Other practicalities include two DVD players for the second row occupants with bluetooth head sets and multimedia connections.Leather costs three grand more on top of the 1.6 at $36,990 and the 2.0-litre diesel at $40,490, both six-speed autos only. The vehicle is a little more compact but taller than a Honda Odyssey  that has difficult third row access and is only beaten on price by Kia’s new Rondo ($29,990).DESIGNIt is OK to look at too, a bit like a five door hatch morphed and plumped into a wagon. The 5008 has characteristic current Peugeot design cues about its flanks in particular the head and tail lights, grille and side highlight lines. The interior of Aussie spec’ 5008 is the same in both 1.6-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre turbo diesel variants and is to medium luxury level.With all seven seats in place, a reasonable load space remains. But there’s no spare, only a tyre inflation kit. The 5008 will take seven adults with relative ease and provides simple access to the third row through folding ‘cinema’ seats in the second row. The third row with two seats comes complete with a proper foot well, sedan-like seat positioning and adjustable aircon’ vents.The second and third rows are all foldable to provide a large, completely flat load space if needed. And the process is quick and easy. Access to the luggage compartment is by a large, top-hinged hatch and the load deck height is roughly the same as a small hatchback.SAFETYSafety rates five stars with six air bags including a curtain bag that covers the entire side to aft of the third row.ENGINEWe got a crack in the high-tech, direct injection, turbo petrol 1.6 rated at 115kW/240Nm (the 2.0-litre diesel achieves 120kW/340Nm) and though initially sceptical about the ability of such an engine to move more than 1.5 tonnes of vehicle and potentially half a tonne of human and some luggage, we were soon convinced.DRIVINGThe engine is in a few other Pugs including the RCZ auto and other less glamorous models. It churns out plenty of low rev grunt to get the whole plot quickly mobile and has no trouble whizzing along at freeway speeds including uphill, fully laden with the air on.Noise is minimal and the vehicle has a comfortable and controlled ride from the simple strut front and torsion beam rear suspension. The driving position is car-like and comfortable over a long run and we were able to achieve the manufacturer’s claimed 7.6-litres/100km combined fuel economy. But it prefers 95 or better petrol. The auto is good and the drive feel is decidedly not “mum-bus”.It has a few direct competitors apart from perhaps Citroen’s C4 Picasso which is essentially the same vehicle underneath - at a bit more money.VERDICTA worthy vehicle if you are a breeder and must have a people mover. 

I’m confused. We all know the mid-size commercial van was often transformed into a passenger-carrying people mover; and that the four-wheel drive wagon made way for the sport utility vehicle capable of toting up to seven occupants.Now Peugeot claims to have created the ‘people carrier’, a new interpretation of the family wagon, which looks -- and behaves -- suspiciously like a people mover to me.ENGINESWith a choice of 1.6-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel engine, both turbocharged, power is put to ground via a six-speed automatic transmission.The Peugeot 5008 Touring Active petrol comes onto the market at $36,990, with the diesel version costing an extra $3500. The only option is a $3000 leather upholstery pack.INTERIORComfort, convenience and versatility were a Peugeot priority in interior design, with three rows of seats accommodating up to seven people. Particular attention is paid to the two rear rows, the second capable of taking three in equally divided sections, all with reclining capability.The third row two seats are easily accessed by the second row seat cushion lifting and the seat back moving forward. Third row occupants have the luxury of individual air-conditioning vents in the side pillars and the safety of curtain airbags.Noise intrusion into the cabin has been restricted to such a level that it is possible to continue a normal conversation between front and back-seat passengers. Too much noise from the back can be stifled by making use of the car’s multi-media system which includes two 7-inch screens incorporated in the front head restraints, along with two Bluetooth wireless headsets.The system can connect with external inputs such as iPods, game consoles and DVD players. Two separate video and audio sources allow rear passengers to watch one programme on both screens, or take part in two different activities.The dash-mounted 7-inch flip-up screen for the standard satellite navigation system can be elevated to your chosen angle at the push of a button, making it possible to prevent image wipe-out by reflection in bright sunlight.The cargo space can be made to measure by folding the rear seat to form a flat floor space. An area of van dimensions can be obtained by flipping the second row seat backs forward, while extra long objects – a market marquee, for example – can be carried by folding the passenger seat back which also doubles as a flat desk top.  A handy cargo area feature is a light that doubles as a torch that can be unclipped for use outside the vehicle.SAFETYWith disc brakes all round, the front discs are ventilated, stopping is in firm hands (feet?) and is backed up by a suite of safety systems which include ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Emergency Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist, the last for tricky takeoff on inclines if you choose to use the same foot for the brake and accelerator pedals.DRIVE IMPRESSIONSOur test vehicle was powered by a four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine putting out maximum power of 115 kW when spinning at 6000 revs. Top torque of 240 Nm is available from just 1400 rpm.On the outside, much emphasis has been placed on aerodynamics in order to cut fuel consumption and minimise exterior noise. A sharp nose links up with a large raked windscreen, while large windows run around the entire vehicle for maximum light penetration to the interior. A panoramic glass roof adds to the light and airy feeling of the passenger surroundings.The command driving position and cockpit layout of the instruments make sure the driver is presented with as much as they need to know for safe passage of the passengers.The family, especially grandma, need have no fear of the 5008. Getting in and out is easy with no huge step up; the stadium-style seating offers an extensive all-round view; and the ride and handling on varying road conditions are firm yet supple thanks to Peugeot’s high-performance suspension.From a standstill the wagon takes a leisurely 11.1 seconds to reach 100 kilometres an hour, passing through each gear change confidently and quietly.Steering, with 2.7 turns lock to lock, responds to the driver’s input without question, while feeding back important info about direction and stability of the vehicle.VERDICTThe Peugeot 5008 Touring Active Petrol people carrier really does ride and handle like a car, while going the distance with family, friends and their stuff.  

This is why you don't need a compact SUV. Driven some bloody decent cars this past six months. From $14K to $410K it's been something of a red letter year to date. Why then, when someone makes the error of asking, do I find myself banging on about people movers? Perhaps it's a reaction to the lemming-like charge to

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.VALUETwo 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 GEARBOXThe 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.DESIGNIt’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. SAFETYIt'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.DRIVINGThe 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.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).VERDICTAdds 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.