Family planning - the new Peugeot 5008 (From Knutsford Guardian)

Family planning - the new Peugeot 5008

7:30pm Tuesday 16th March 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

PEUGEOT 5008 110 HDi.

Price: £22,445.

GET ready for a family feud! Until now, Peugeot has steered clear of stepping on sister company Citroen's toes in the people carrier market.

While Citroen pressed on with plans to offer a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in almost every category, conservative Peugeot stuck to estate cars and hatchbacks.

But the MPV market is now so popular - and the public's appetite for estates has declined so quickly - that Peugeot can't ignore it anymore.

The decision to brand this new MPV with a '5' is significant, too.

The Peugeot 504 Familiale model arguably created the trend for seven-seaters, now widely adopted by MPV designers, 40 years ago.

The 504 was the European Car of the Year in 1969 and it proved so popular (despite receiving the worst ever US crash test score) that it didn't cease European production until 1983 - four years after its 'successor', the 505, went on sale.

Incredibly, Peugeot continued to build it in Africa until 2006 and a pick-up variation was manufactured in China until the end of last year, making the 504 one of the longest-lived cars in automotive history.

The 5008 is Peugeot's first 'in-house' MPV design (the 806/807 being Fiat co-productions) and it shares most of its under-pinnings with the Citroen Grand Picasso.

The suspension and engines are largely hand-me-downs from the 308 hatchback and the floorpan is a slightly stretched version of the one used by the 308SW.

However, careful attention to detail and some innovative space utilisation means the 5008 feels like a much larger car than either of its siblings.

Legroom in the second row is huge (the seats slide backwards and forwards) and the boot is enormous. With all the chairs folded, the cargo area is big enough, at 2,506 litres, to swallow nine wheelie bins.

A lot of thought has gone into the 5008's seating arrangements. When they are not required the third row fold flat into the boot, the second row individually slide and recline, and the front passenger backrest folds flat to accommodate extra long loads.

Unlike many rivals, Peugeot fully intends the third row seats to be useful over long distances. That's why occupants have their own cup holders and the curtain airbag extends to cover them, a feature that's unique in this class.

The elevated driving position gives a fine view of the road ahead (seats in the back are slightly higher so passengers can see out of the panoramic windscreen too) and the conventional instruments look classy. Peugeot's designers had the French TGV high speed train in mind when they created the interior. That's why it feels like a classy first class lounge area.

But nothing's ever perfect. The severe slope to the 5008's fascia makes it a stretch to reach the switches for the head-up display and I couldn't fold down the satellite navigation monitor without shuffling from my seat, making it completely impossible to switch the monitor off on the move.

Every 5008 has a generous equipment tally(four electric windows, seven seats, ESP, electronic parking brake with hill-holder, low rolling resistance tyres and air con are all standard) but the upmarket models are positively hedonistic. The test car was groaning with kit including a head-up display (a bit of a gimmick and too distracting), an impressive audio-visual system complete with wireless headphones and an absolutely massive glass roof.

With the roof blind retracted the 5008 has 5.77 sq metres of glazing - so you'll need the screen to prevent the interior self-combusting on a hot summer's day.

And the decision to brand the 5008's sophisticated traction control 'Snow Motion' shows that someone at Peugeot headquarters has a sense of humour.

Externally, the 5008 rings in a new look for Peugeot. The startling gaping grille treatment has been toned down and there are hints of Gallic flair to be seen in the chrome shoulder line that flicks up at the rear.

The test car was powered by Peugeot's 1.6-litre HDI diesel. Doubts that such a small capacity engine could punt the 5008 along at a decent pace were dispelled after a few minutes behind the wheel. Although maximum power is a fairly modest 110 bhp, the torque figure of 192 lb/ft at less than 2,000 rpm helps keep things moving along.

A full load does exact a performance penalty, though, and the 5008 felt a lot less lively with seven people aboard.

Maybe because I was pushing the engine harder for swift acceleration, but I couldn't get anywhere near Peugeot's claimed 54 mpg combined fuel economy. The 5008 averaged 44mpg in a week of mixed driving conditions.

The 5008's ride is good and it handles better than its hippy cousin, the Grand Picasso, if not quite as well as the Ford S-Max.

In fact, I reckon Peugeot's product planners are playing a canny game with the 5008/Grand Picasso duo.

The Pug lacks the Citroen's fixed steering wheel hub, its wacky instruments and a windscreen that runs into the roof.

In comparison, the 5008 feels quite sensible and, from the inside, it could be just a very roomy conventional family car.

For some, the Citroen's left-field design will be the way to go, but I suspect there will no shortage of families who want a people carrier that doesn't require such a steep learning curve. For them, the 5008 could be just the ticket.

SPEC CHECK: Engine: 1560cc turbodiesel Max power: 110 bhp @ 4,000 rpm Max torque: 192 lb/ft @ 1,750 rpm Max speed: 112mph 0-62mph: 12.6 seconds Fuel consumption on test: 44 mpg CO2: 135 g/km Road tax: £120 Equipment: Electric windows, photo sensitive rear view mirror, parking radar, cruise control with intelligent speed warning, fuel computer, CD/radio, TV monitors in rear seat headrests, climate control with dual controls, leather upholstery, traction control, alloy wheels.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)