By Ian Strachan
Whatever Peugeot tries, it does well. And its award-winning 5008 family compact MPV is no exception.
The 5008 seven-seater is a very good vehicle indeed. And it is one of the safest on the road, getting an instant Euro NCAP five-star rating under new and rigorous safety standards.
The result is a versatile and good looking family vehicle with a sleek appearance and a stable drive with bags of room inside.
The 5008 GT BlueHDi which I tested is powered by a willing direct injection 2.0 litre diesel engine delivering brisk 180bhp performance. Linked to a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox it has more than adequate power for a vehicle of this kind. And it can turn a top speed of 134 mph where allowed.
The engine provides good performance throughout the speed range, delivering power smoothly but with plenty of mid-range pull. Automatic gear changes are imperceptible.
The 5008 also handles remarkably well for a big. flat-sided vehicle. Cornering is sure footed with no body roll and the sensible suspension set up ensures a comfortable ride for all passengers.
Fuel consumption comes in at 57.6 miles to the gallon in mixed driving, which is more than respectable.
The interior is light, well laid out in a cockpit style. It is very spacious with plenty of room for seven adults, although the third row of seats inevitably compromises the cargo area. The pleasant ambience inside the car is helped by a huge panoramic glass roof.
The large luggage area can be further improved with the ability to fold the two rows of rear seats flat. The back row of seats is extremely easy to fold up and down, and there’s extra storage beneath the front and second row of seats.
Equipment levels are generous. Standard features on the GT specification include an automatic electric park brake which comes on when you turn off the engine, smart 17 inch alloys,, a DAB radio MP3 compatibility and Apple Car Play, cruise control, an excellent air conditioning system, electronic stability, parking sensors with rear camera and electric windows. My test car was fitted with an uprated entertainment system which comes at £590 extra.
This is a very classy, well-specified and enjoyable vehicle, and at £37,620 it is competitively priced. You get a lot of car for your money, and there are no sacrifices in quality or specification.
