Peugeot 5008 150hp 2.0 HDI Allure manual review

From the off, it’s obvious the all-new Peugeot 5008 is a very different car from its predecessor. Gone are the MPV looks and in comes SUV styling. This deliberate move into the crossover market is aimed at increasing demand and residual values.

It’s too early for pricing as the car won’t be available to order until May. However, fleets should expect the 5008 to be priced around £2,000 more than a similarly-specced version of its smaller sibling, the 3008.

The outgoing version sold just 2,000 units in 2016, but the French brand expects to exceed this in 2017 and rise to 6,000 5008s in 2017, its first full year. Around 55% of those sales will be to fleets, according to Peugeot.

The new 5008 will be available with an engine range that’s near identical to that in the 3008. While the 120hp diesel will be the most popular engine, it isn’t the most efficient. That honour, thanks to a CO2 figure of 106g/km and a fuel stat of 68.9mpg, goes to the 100hp version of the same 1.6 diesel.

Only 2.0-litre diesels were available to drive on the car’s launch, which offer a choice of either 150hp or 180hp and CO2 emission of 118g/km and 124g/km, respectively, figures that are very competitive compared with rival seven-seat MPV and SUV offerings.

The styling inside the 5008 is as impressive as the exterior. The dashboard is particularly well set-up for the driver. The car uses the i-Cockpit concept first seen on the 3008, which means a large, colour, digital speedo area that can be configured by the driver to show not only speed and revs but also sat-nav and other in-car functions.

There’s also a second, central, more traditional screen to control the sat-nav, climate control and stereo, but this is canted toward the driver, making it more difficult for the passenger to use and seems odd given the digital speedo area for the driver.

In five-seat mode there’s a 952-litre boot beneath the luggage cover, which is not only class-leading but is also bigger than those in many large estate cars.

The middle row of three equally sized seats have plenty of legroom and can be folded and slid independently, but with the optional panoramic sunroof (standard on the GT trim) there’s not enough headroom for anyone over six-feet tall. These three seats all come with Isofix points, while the two rearmost seats don’t have this feature and only really offer enough space for children.

On the road, the 5008 offers a very grown-up character. There’s little bodyroll so occupants won’t ever feel thrown around, yet the suspension is compliant enough to absorb all but the worst potholes and bumps. Refinement is good too, although it’s best to avoid the ‘Sport’ button which needlessly increases the weight of the steering and pipes in harsh engine noise, as well as making the throttle more sensitive.

Overall the Peugeot 5008 is a stylish and impressive all-round car and one that will win business off its rivals, despite a couple of small flaws.