The Peugeot 5008 is Australia’s only seven-seater from France, and it has a whole heap of Euro panache to its styling and execution. 2025 Peugeot 5008 review Now available in upgraded ‘third-generation’ guise, the exterior is abundantly extraverted, and the interior is wow moment after wow moment. But unfortunately, some of those wows are bad ones. Mainly, in the very back row. Read on to see what this the largish mid-size SUV is like, in detail. How much does the Peugeot 5008 cost? The latest Peugeot 5008 Hybrid range is not ridiculously expensive, compared to some mainstream rivals. The variant tested in this review is the high-grade GT Premium, which attracts a 21 per cent premium over the base grade – but justifies that extra outlay with a whole heap of extra equipment… but it does have the same powertrain. If you’re thinking about seven-seat hybrid SUVs, there are some standout options from mainstream brands, like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger, and even new options like the Chery Tiggo 8 plug-in hybrid. What is the Peugeot 5008 like on the inside? And, honestly, it’s a gorgeous space… so long as you’re okay with having a teeny-weeny steering wheel that sits low in your lap and you have to look over the top of. That’s the way Peugeots have been for years now, but this iteration of the i-Cockpit design is a little different. The curved 21-inch display for the driver and the infotainment system is a sleek bit of kit, and has a heap of interesting menus and graphics, too. You can configure the digital instrument cluster in multiple ways using the (occasionally confusing) stalks and buttons, and the central multimedia touchscreen has a heap of menu pages on offer, too. What I like about this screen setup is that the climate controls are always anchored on the display when you’re using the native menus and commands. With Apple CarPlay operating they go away, but it’s something you get used to easily. There are a few too many ‘cute’ touches with some of the controls, though, like swiping on the seats to change between heat and cool (why not just have touch menus for either?), but while there is a lot of software-controlled tech here, it is relatively simple to come to terms with after a little while. There is another section of controls below the main screen – the so-called i-Toggles – which allow you to more easily spring between menus on the display, whether it’s for sat nav, car controls or climate management. The finer controls of the latter are done on screen (fan direction and temperature, for instance), but there are also a few buttons for things like demisters and recirc. There’s a volume dial between the seats, too, and while the electric park brake is in a relatively conventional position, the gear selector is up on the dash. Storage is quite good up front, for a French car. There is a wireless phone charger below the dash shelf, and a covered middle bin with USB and 12V charging options, not to mention takeaway-friendly cupholders between the seats and a decent centre console area. Big door-mount bottle holders also help. The smarts are there, and the sensation is great too. There’s a lovely finish to the materials, and the cloth-like dashboard trim is a gorgeous thing to look at (though I do fear that it mightn’t be the best for those who often eat when they drive, as it could stain). The seats are exceptional as well, with heating, ventilation, and massage functions up front, and the cabin material quality is superb. Second-row space is okay in terms of legroom, while the middle bench is split 60:40 and apart from having folding seatbacks it also slides, with the smaller section on the kerb side. I managed to easily fit my large frame in behind my own driving position with room to spare for my legs and feet, and there’s an almost-flat floor back there, too. But headroom is a little tight, so bigger bodies might find it a touch cramped, even with the overhead glass roof. The amenities are good in the second row, with a flip-down armrest and cupholders on offer, plus a couple of USB ports, directional air-vents, map pockets, bottle holders in the doors, soft padded sections where they should be, and ambient lighting in the door tops. Plus there are sunshades in the top-spec GT Premium, too. There is a tilt-and-slide mechanism on both sides of the middle row, allowing easier access to get into the third row. But those back seats are best left for those who are small and nimble enough to get in, and also those who don’t need a child seat, because there are no top-tether or ISOFIX points in the very back row. It is a really tight third row. I couldn’t physically fold the second row forward far enough to allow me to fit in there with any comfort, and both knee room and foot space are laughable for someone my size. There’s also no third-row air vents or charging options, and there’s just a wee bit of storage, too. And be mindful: if you’re actually going to use those third-row seats, the middle-row-middle-seat belt comes down from the ceiling, and it could prove a hazard for back-seat ingress and egress. Boot space is okay with the third row in play, though, with a claimed 348 litres of cargo capacity behind it, expanding to 916L with the third row folded down. According to Peugeot, there’s a total of 2232L of storage capacity available with both rear rows folded. The boot has some neat tricks, including a partition that allows you to position the cargo floor in a certain way, making space for backpacks or luggage. And there’s hidey-hole stowage under the third-row seats as well. There’s no spare wheel, though. Just a tyre repair kit. What’s under the bonnet? Surprise! It’s the same powertrain as seen in the more compact, related Peugeot 3008 medium SUV. Now, that claimed fuel consumption is pretty eye-opening, and if you can achieve it you will be very, very happy. You might also be some kind of sorcerer, because I couldn’t get anywhere near it on my test. Doing the sort of stuff you might do in a seven-seater – like urban, highway, freeway, errands and a bit of country road stuff – I saw a return of 8.0L/100km. Yes, that’s a fair bit higher than the claim! I saw similar figures in the 3008 Hybrid, for what it’s worth. Just be aware that you have to fill it up with 95 RON premium unleaded, too. How does the Peugeot 5008 drive? It’s a delight, really. One of the main reasons is the lack of annoying bing-bong active safety announcements (more detail on that below) but, generally, this is a pretty joyful thing to live with. The engine isn’t a firecracker, sure. With combined outputs of 107kW/230Nm, you won’t want to be running around with seven on board at all times. But it is way lighter than some other seven-seaters at 1671kg, and the engine is up to the task if you’re using it for daily duties. The way the thrummy little 1.2-litre turbo triple works hand-in-hand with the electrified dual-clutch auto is impressive, too. It feels like you’re getting a bit of assistance from the e-motor at low speeds, where the engine might have otherwise felt laggy. And there’s bugger-all lag from this powertrain, too. It’s properly urban-friendly. Unlike most other mild-hybrids, the vehicle can drive exclusively on electric power at low speeds, but it won’t behave like some of the others out there that can carry on in full-EV mode at 110km/h. This one, though, is a charmer of a powertrain. And the gear shifts are smooth as speeds rise, too. It also feels smaller than it is on the road. Part of that comes down to the i-Cockpit and small steering wheel layout, which combined with the ultra-direct and responsive steering action means you can pivot, duck and dive into gaps without much fuss at all. But just remember, it is a longer car than it feels like it is, so you have to be mindful of the wheelbase length and the overall nose-to-tail dimensions, because it could be easy to misjudge the responsive steering and end up rolling over (or into) a kerb. Ride comfort is mostly great, too. With a longer wheelbase than the 3008 it has a more composed and balanced behaviour over most bumps, but you can still feel a bit of a jolt at the front axle over really sharp edges. It handles well, and I’d have to say it’s one of the most fun seven-seaters to drive. And it’s pretty refined, too, with a good level of sound insulation, meaning that you don’t get too much road or wind noise intrusion, even on rougher surfaces at freeway pace. There is regenerative braking so you can lift off the accelerator and decelerate without touching the brakes in some situations, though it won’t come down to a complete halt – more like walking pace. The actual brake response is strong as well. That regen braking, though, might be something you call on quite a bit, because the physical brake pedal is quite close to the accelerator pedal, so the broader-hooved among us might find the pedal box a little tight. What do you get? There are two trim levels in the 2025 Peugeot 5008 lineup. 2025 Peugeot 5008 Allure equipment highlights: 19-inch alloy wheelsBody-colour roof, rear spoiler and front grilleEco, Normal, Sport, Snow, Mud and Sand drive modes21-inch curved digital displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoOver-the-air software updatesWireless phone chargerFabric trim with “leather effect” The GT Premium adds: Diamond Black roof, rear spoilerPanoramic sunroofHands-free power tailgatePixel LED headlightsMistral Nappa leather upholsteryHeated and ventilated front seatsMassaging front seats10-way power-adjustable front seats with two-person driver memoryHeated outboard second-row seatsAluminium inlaysSecond-row window sun shadesStainless steel sill plates The step up to the GT Premium nets you a heap of luxury items, and certainly feels like you’re getting a more, er, premium experience. Is the Peugeot 5008 safe? The Peugeot 5008 has just been awarded a four-star Euro NCAP rating, based on testing conducted on the related 3008. In that testing it achieved scores of 82 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 79 per cent for vulnerable road user, and 62 per cent for safety assist. Standard safety equipment includes: Autonomous emergency brakingPedestrian detectionCyclist detectionAdaptive cruise control with stop/goBlind-spot monitoringLane-keep assistLane Following Assist (lane centring)Rear cross-traffic alertSurround-view cameraFront and rear parking sensorsTraffic sign recognition There are some lovely safety things about this car. It doesn’t beep and bong at you when the speed limit changes, despite visual warnings of such. Likewise, there’s no bing-bong tech for driver fatigue or distraction, because it doesn’t have a driver monitoring camera system – that’s actually a plus for this car, in my opinion. It has six airbags – but it misses out on a front centre airbag. Even so, it has dual front, front side and full-length curtains, covering all three rows of seats. How much does the Peugeot 5008 cost to run? Peugeot Australia offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for all new models. The brand also backs the hybrid battery pack for eight years or 160,000km (whichever occurs first). Buyers will also receive five years of roadside assistance at no extra cost. There are some interesting considerations when it comes to servicing. The maintenance intervals are lengthy at 12 months or 25,000km (not sure I’d want to leave my three-cylinder engine that long between visits, personally), and there are a few choices for the budgeting of costs for ongoing maintenance, too. Buyers can do the regular ‘capped price’ pay-as-you-go way, or opt for a prepaid servicing plan. Those plans span three years/75,000km ($1130), four years/100,000km ($1730) or five years/125,000km ($1995), with the latter offering the best savings. And you can roll the prepaid servicing into your finance repayments, too. The biggest ownership cost, though, will be resale value. CarExpert’s Take on the Peugeot 5008 If you’re thinking of this as a proper seven-seat SUV, think again… unless you only ferry very small people around. But while third-row space is very limited, it is a lovely larger SUV, and those bonus back-row spots might come in handy at some point. It’s interesting inside, a treat to drive, and certainly offers a compelling counterpoint to some of the mainstream three-row models you might otherwise consider. Click the images for the full gallery
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