Driven: Peugeot bolsters SUV ranks with new 5008

PEUGEOT has made a significant move in its quest to rebuild the French brand’s image and standing in the Australian marketplace, launching the reborn 5008 that enters the volume-selling mid-size SUV class as a highly specified, premium seven-seat option.

Described by PSA Group executive vice-president and operational director for the India-Pacific region, Emmanuel Delay, as “the only true seven-seat French SUV”, the 5008 joins the shorter five-seat 3008 (occupying the same segment) and the smaller 2008 crossover as the third pillar in Peugeot’s SUV stable and an important growth stimulant under the tenure of independent distributor Inchcape Australasia, which took over from Sime Darby in June last year.

The 5008 has arrived in three generously equipped variants, starting at $42,990 plus on-road costs for the Allure turbo-petrol, rising to $46,990 for the mid-tier GT-Line (with the same powertrain) and topping out at $52,990 for the diesel-only GT.

Speaking to GoAuto at the 5008’s national media launch in New South Wales last week, Peugeot Citroen Australia’s new managing director Anouk Poelmann declined to reveal sales targets for the model but is expecting year-on-year growth and rated European brands – both mainstream and prestige/luxury marques – as its key rivals.

She added that the company is not expecting sales cannibalisation of the closely related 3008 as the 5008 enters showrooms and occupies the same market segment, and pointed to internal research that shows prospective customers are looking for higher-spec vehicles, hence the reason not to offer a lower-tier Access or Active model at the entry level.

The company believes such a variant would attract less than five per cent of overall sales, with Allure expected to account for 65 per cent and the remainder going to GT-Line and GT.

“I wish to reinforce here that it’s not a price-point vehicle, nor does it feel or look as such – again, holding true to our brand’s distinct personality,” Ms Poelmann said.

“We carefully studied the market and decided very early in planning the model to play to our strengths and deliver a three-vehicle range that customers actually want, rather than deliver a price point on paper.

“For that reason … we will not introduce an Access or Active model for 5008. It’s simply not worth it or needed in Australia because it does not fit our brand personality or customer demands.

“While the 5008 name hasn’t changed, everything else has.”

The previous-generation 5008 was a people-mover and sold here from 2013 to 2015 under Sime Darby, but dropped due to poor sales.

For the new generation, however, Peugeot has moved with times and transformed the model from MPV to SUV – one that is longer, wider, more spacious, versatile and even slightly lighter.

It is fully up to date in terms of design and technology and appeals to a similar audience as before, not wanting to stray too far off road with no all-wheel-drive version available and only a ‘grip control’ package optionally available for those who are after a little more reassurance in low-traction environments.

Costing $200 on Allure and GT-Line (it is a no-cost option on GT), this package is essentially a revised traction control system that includes five selectable ‘grip modes’ (normal, snow, mud, sand, ESP off), all-season tyres and a ‘hill assist descent control’ system that allows crawling speeds at 3km/h.

After announcing last month that autonomous emergency braking (AEB) will be fitted standard across its entire range (sans current GTi models), Peugeot Australia is trading heavily on the safety equipment onboard the 5008.

As well as AEB, this includes adaptive cruise control, driver attention alert, lane-departure warning, distance alert, speed limit recognition, a reversing camera (with 360-degree view), park assist, electronic stability and traction control, daytime running lamps, foglights, automatic headlights/wipers, auto-dipping rearview mirror, automatic emergency hazard signal (upon heavy application of the brakes), a full complement of airbags (adaptive frontal, front-side and full-length curtain), anti-whiplash head restraints, and ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.

Higher-level driver-assist features are optional on Allure ($600) but standard on GT-Line and GT: active blind-spot monitoring, active lane-departure warning, advanced driver attention alert and high beam assist.

Comfort and convenience features also abound in the 5008, with the inclusion across the range of keyless entry/start, dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning (with rear console vents), tinted windows, electric/heated wing mirrors, leather-clad steering wheel and, not least of all, Peugeot’s ‘i-Cockpit’ 12.3-inch head-up digital instrument panel and 8.0-inch touchscreen.

GT-branded variants have two configurable ‘interior ambiences’ with their i-Cockpit set-up.

Also standard is Bluetooth connectivity, DAB digital radio, compatibility with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink, wireless charging and USB socket, voice recognition (for radio/phone), 3D satellite navigation, six-speaker MP3-compatible audio and three 12V sockets spread throughout the cabin.

The driver and front passenger are provided with seat height and lumbar adjustment, the latter flat-folding to double as a picnic table, while the seat trim starts at a faux leather/cloth combination for Allure and upgrades to a double-stitch detail on GT-Line and a pseudo leather/Alcantara combo on GT.

Genuine ‘Mistral’ leather is a $2700 option on GT, while Nappa leather adds $3700 on GT-Line which takes it up to the GT’s otherwise standard seating level at the front with electric operation, heating and massaging functions, position memory and extra adjustability. Leather can be specified on Allure for an extra $2500.

GT-Line and GT also come with full LED headlights (up from halogen), LED foglights (with static cornering function), power-folding door mirrors (with auto-dipping function in reverse), electric tailgate (with foot operation), ‘twin exhaust effect’ trim, sportier front bumper design, a ‘black diamond’ roof (Allure uses body colour), extra chrome detailing and a ‘dynamic sport pack’.

GT stands alone with wheelarch extensions (catering for its bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, up from 18”), additional chrome trim, the previously mentioned higher-grade seating arrangements, sportier dynamics – and its diesel power.

As already seen on the smaller 3008, two Euro 6-compliant 16-valve four-cylinder engines are available – a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel – and both drive the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The petrol engine used on Allure and GT-Line has multipoint direct injection and variable valve timing on inlet valves, turning out 121kW of power at 6000rpm and 240Nm of torque from just 1400rpm.

Tipping the scales at 1473kg, the 1.6 THP petrol variants can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 10.5 seconds, hit 1000m in 31.7s and reach a maximum speed of 201km/h. Combined-cycle fuel economy is 7.0 litres per 100km/h, or slightly thirstier at 7.3L/100km when grip control is specified.

CO2 emissions come in at 156 grams per kilometre and 165g/km respectively.

The diesel-only GT uses a 2.0 BlueHDi four-cylinder common-rail direct-injection oil-burner that produces 133kW at 3750rpm and 400Nm at 2000rpm. It is slightly quicker than the petrol variants to 100km/h, achieving the benchmark time in 10.2 seconds, and three-tenths ahead to 1000m (31.4s), while top speed is listed at 208km/h.

The diesel is heavier at 1575kg, but has the advantage of an automatic engine-idle stop system to help keep a lid on consumption. Indeed, this is a key selling point for the top-spec 5008 given its combined-cycle mileage is just 4.8L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 124g/km.

Resting on a 2840mm wheelbase, the 5008 measures 4641mm long, 2098mm wide (door mirrors included) and 1646mm high. It is built on the same PSA Group EMP2 modular platform as the 3008 and various other models.

The luggage compartment can hold 780 litres (according to the VDA measurement) with the rear seats up, extending to 1940L with them folded. The third-row seats can be stored under the floor or removed completely.

Suspension is by way of pseudo MacPherson struts up front and a semi-independent torsion beam axle at the rear. An electric power steering system is used and disc brakes are present at all four corners, vented up front and solid at the rear.

GT has a firmer steering and suspension set-up and revised throttle mapping and transmission shift points.

Standard wheel sizes are 18-inch alloys on the petrol variants with 225/55 R18 tyres (the grip control option brings an M+S mud/snow tread pattern) – an 18-inch steel wheel with space-saving 135/80 tyre is provided as a spare – while the diesel offers 19-inch alloys with 235/50-section rubber but makes do with a puncture repair kit in lieu of a spare wheel.

Maximum braked towing capacity has just been revised for petrol variants sold in Australia, climbing from an insufficient 600kg found overseas to 1350kg, while the diesel remains at 1500kg.

Grip control is a no-cost option on GT because it incurs a “walk back” to the 18-inch all-season wheel and tyre combination. Other options across the range include metallic paint ($690), ‘premium’ paint ($1050) and panoramic sunroof ($2000).

Servicing costs are said to be cheaper than the previous 5008 (and servicing intervals longer, now out to 12 months/20,000km), with the petrol costing $1722 over the first three years and the diesel $1649.

A five-year warranty is in place until the end of March, whereupon it will revert to the usual three-year/100,000km cover.

2018 Peugeot 5008 pricing*

Allure (a)	$42,990
GT Line (a)	$46,990
GT (a)	$52,990

*Excludes on-road costs