Peugeot 5008 Review

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Just recently, we were invited by Peugeot to take their latest family MPV for a test run. Armed with the Peugeot 5008, we made our way down to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

This mid-sized MPV is one machine that can not just take 7 people, but it has the handling and the ride to make drivers not miss their previous family car.

The Peugeot 5008 is a direct cousin of the Citroen Picasso and the moment one enters the cabin, you will realize that the Peugeot has a similar layout as the Citroen. Boasting of the same Turbo 1.6 engine, the Peugeot not only fits into the Category A category of COEs, but it also means savings in terms of road tax. If Peugeot brings in the Diesel Variant in 2013, it might also prove to be greater savings for Singaporean Drivers.

For me, what distinguishes the Peugeot apart from it competitors is the Turbo Engine. The engine’s power definitely sets it apart from the Japanese equivalent of Toyota Wish, Honda Stream and the Volkswagen Touran.

The 6 Speed Triptronic Gearbox also sets the Peugeot 5008 apart from the Citroen Picasso, as the pickup is definitely much smoother, and it makes its cousin ancient in comparison. Driving the Peugeot 5008 up to Malaysia was definitely fun. We had a full load of 4 adults and 3 kids, and the low-profile of the MPV (Similar to a Honda Odyssey) made the car hug the ground even more.

The French Peugeot also has a “heads-up” display unit which can only be found in the Peugeot 5008. The “heads-up” display unit definitely adds the Cool factor to the car, as one feels like a fighter pilot when driving the car. The display unit also made driving on the highway much easier, as I could keep my eyes on the road, without needing to lower my eyes to look at the odometer panels.

Internally, the Peugeot 5008 boasts of more gadgets than the Japanese and German counterparts. The Hondas, Toyotas and the German Volkswagen Touran all fair very poorly in terms of gadgets and sophistication. Although the Germans have a better engine, the much smaller cabin size of the Volkswagen kind of defeats the purpose of buying an MPV to start with.  This is definitely a crucial point in buying an MPV, as when one has 2-3 kids, grandparents and a helper, cabin size is of upmost importance.

The Peugeot 5008 takes care of the cabin problem and it boasts of 2nd row Aircon vents that cools the car effectively in hot weather. With its panoramic sun-roof, this French People mover, is definitely an MPV worth looking into.

In terms of mileage, the car brings in impressive figures. Drivers normally shun Continental Cars, as they are known to be “Petrol Drinkers”, but the Peugeot 5008 clocks an impressive 10.8 km/litre for the 1st 100km I took the car. Do bear in mind that I did clock these figures with 70% Highway Driving and 30% City Driving. I am also known to have curtailed my “Heavy Foot” syndrome, due to my exploits with the Shell Fuel Save Team.

Overall, the Peugeot 5008 is a fun car to drive, and its definitely worth a test drive, if you are in the market for a mid sized MPV.