Peugeot 5008 1.6 Plug-in Hybrid 195 GT 5dr e-DSC7

Ten Second Review

Peugeot has reinvented its seven-seat 5008 SUV in this third generation form. Thanks to the new STLA platform, there's now a full-EV version - and a Plug-in Hybrid. Plus the cabin's been completely redesigned and pushed up-market. Family transport just got upgraded.

Background

What kind of car should a family seven-seater be? MPV or SUV? Peugeot's changed its mind on that over the last few decades, originally launching its three-seating-row contender, the 5008, in 2010 as an MPV people carrier. The second generation version of 2017 though, morphed into a trendier-looking SUV and that approach continues with the MK3 model we're looking at here, introduced in 2024. Like its two predecessors, it's basically just a stretched, boxier version of the brand's 3008 mid-sized SUV. Which means that this time round, it can also be had in full electric E-5008 form, courtesy of the new STLA platform that now undergirds this third generation design. A 48V Hybrid version's being offered. And a Plug-in Hybrid variant for the first time too. The 5008 remains Peugeot's answer to cars like Skoda's Kodiaq and Nissan's X-Trail. And now provides stiffer competition for these two family SUV favourites. It ought to find a ready market.

Driving Experience

A family-sized seven-seat SUV isn't meant to be thrown about. But it should be capable of safe, high speed handling, should circumstances demand that. If you want us to get right to it, that's what's been delivered here. Don't expect to particularly enjoy the back doubles on your way home from the school run. But if necessary, the 5008 will get you through them surprisingly quickly if your kids have made you late for your first appointment of the day. At the wheel, the unusual driving position of the 'i-Cockpit' design takes some getting used to, but does encourage wrist-flick direction changes aided by this Peugeot's relatively light weight by class standards. There are three powertrain choices this time round. Arguably, all you really need is the base Hybrid 136 48V model, which has a 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine and a dual-clutch 6-speed auto gearbox with an integrated 22hp electric motor. This time round though, that unit is joined not by a diesel (that's been dropped) but by two powertrains you can plug in. The Plug-in Hybrid 195 versions are based around a 150hp 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a 21kWh battery that energises a 125hp electric motor; which claims to be to drive the car for around 48 miles on battery power. The final alternative is the full-electric E-5008. All you really need here is the 211bhp 73kWh single motor E-5008 model that most customers will choose. It's not particularly fast for an EV, making 62mph in 9.7 seconds, but there's plenty of pulling power that makes the performance quite enough for family duties and eager enough for a 2.2-tonne family car. EV range is 311 miles. If you do want to go faster, there's a dual motor drivetrain available, offered either with the 73kWh powerpack or (conditionally) with a larger 96.9kWh battery, which needs a gutsier 227bhp motor, gets to 62mph in under 7.0s and claims a range of 415 miles. On all E-5008s, there are three stages of selectable regenerative braking and three main driving modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport', with an extra '4WD' setting available on the dual motor models. Peugeot claims the underfloor battery pack gives the car greater stiffness than its combustion predecessor, which should help handling. A multi-link rear axle bolted to this MK3 5008's new STLA Medium platform features on the E-5008 and ought to help clump all that weight over speed humps and poor surfaces; combustion 5008s make do with a cruder twist beam set-up.

Design and Build

You wouldn't call this third generation 5008 pretty, but it looks quite futuristic - perhaps more the kind of car the current 3008 would have been if Peugeot hadn't decided to make that model a coupe-style SUV. As you'd expect given the need to fit in three seating rows, this 5008 is much boxier than its stablemate - and pretty large, the new STLA platform facilitating a length increase of around 150mm over its predecessor, which means it's now slightly longer than a rival Skoda Kodiaq. Overall, it's 4.79m long, 1.69m tall and 2.1m wide (including the mirrors). So not quite Kia EV9 territory, but not far off. Inside, it certainly feels like a car designed in the new electric era, the up-front cabin space replicating the 3008 design. Which means it's unusual and different, with a high dual-level centre console and an upper 'floating' 21-inch panoramic screen pod. This houses the infotainment system and, to the right of it, the driving information display, which as usual in a Peugeot you view over the top of the wheel rather than through the spokes. There's a small squared-off steering wheel, while swathes of grey fabric on the doors and the 'spine' that connects the dash to the centre console create cool Scandinavian-style vibe. But practicality will be a key requirement for 5008 customers - who may be disappointed to find that the three individual second row seats of the previous generation model have been replaced by a different configuration. This one lacks the old individual ISOFIX points but offers two larger more comfortable outer seats, flanking a narrow one in the middle that does without the child seat mount. The bench base slides by up to 150mm and the backrest reclines: even before you start fiddling with this, there's plenty of head and legroom. The third row isn't too difficult to get to and, thanks to this MK3 model's extra 60mm of wheelbase length, is now a little more spacious - though it's still clearly primarily intended for kids. A version without third row seating may in future be offered. With the third row in place, there's 259-litres of boot space. Fold the rear-most seats down and the revealed completely flat area is 748-litres in size. There's 1,815-litres of space with the second row folded too.

Market and Model

5008 pricing now starts from around £38,000 - that's for the 48V Hybrid 136 model. You'll need over £43,000 for the Plug-in Hybrid 195 variants. And from around £48,000 for the E-5008. It's just over £51,000 for the E-5008 Long Range. Across the line-up, there are two main trim levels, 'Allure' or top 'GT'. 'Allure' trim includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, cruise control, body-coloured accents for the front grille and keyless entry. Plus ambient lighting linked to the drive modes, a wireless smartphone charging pad and wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring built into the panoramic 21 inch HD curves display. There's keyless entry, tri-zone automatic climate control and an HD reversing camera with a wash system and rear parking assistance. 'GT' spec upgrades you to 20-inch wheels and adds a contrasting black roof and rear spoiler, as well as a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, pixel LED headlights with adaptive high beams, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functions, a hands-free opening tailgate and front parking sensors. You also get a hands-free electric tailgate and Alcantara upholstery. Each spec level can be specified with a choice of various different options packs. There's lots of camera safety kit too, including autonomous braking and Lane keep assist. And there are six different paint colours.

Cost of Ownership

We'd suggest you start your search for a 5008 with the Hybrid 136 variant you can't plug in. This self-charging Hybrid powertrain can operate more than 50% of the time in zero-emission all-electric mode during low-speed urban cruising, offering improved fuel economy of up to 15% over the old PureTech 130 model for fewer trips to the pumps, and a significant reduction in CO2. The actual 5008 Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 figures are 44.6-52.5mpg on the combined cycle and around 120g/km of CO2. Thanks to the CO2 reduction, the Hybrid powertrain has a reduced rate of Vehicle Excise Duty and a lower rate of Benefit-in-Kind Tax for company car drivers (30% compared to 34% for the old-shape model's BlueHDi 130 diesel unit). But of course that's nothing like as good a tax return as you'd get from the plug-in 5008 models Peugeot really wants to sell you. The Plug-in Hybrid 195 variant will go 48 miles on a charge. While the 73kWh E-5008 has an EV range of 311 miles - which extends to 415 miles for the 96.9kWh version. To get near to these, you'll have to make frequent use of the provided 'Eco' drive mode and the various settings (low, medium and high) of the regenerative braking system. Peugeot claims an efficiency figure of 3.6 miles per kWh for the entry-level E-5008 variant. This is aided by eco tyres, friction-reducing bearings, a slippery drag coefficient of 0.28Cd and a heat pump which will preserve range in cold weather. As for E-5008 charging, well little surprisingly, the STLA Medium platform hasn't been engineered with the 800V architecture that would enable use of the latest breed of ultra-rapid DC public chargers. But with its 400V system, the E-5008 can charge at up to 160kW, which allows for 20-80% charge in 30 minutes, with a charging rate of 2.4kWh per minute at its peak, at which point 62 miles of range are added every 10 minutes. The E-5008 gets an 8-year/100,000 mile warranty.

Summary

If you like Peugeot's 3008 but need more cabin space, this 5008 continues to be a logical step up, with sophisticated, luxurious packaging that we think many potential customers will like. The cabin feels more avant-garde than anything else in the segment. And the E-5008 variant was at launch the only seven-seat model in its class. You might not like the divisive 'i-Cockpit' driving position. Or the fact that you can't have AWD on the combustion models. But these aren't deal-breakers. What matters is that the third generation 5008 feels special in a way that no other car in the segment does. In a way that's uniquely Peugeot.