The first generation of the Peugeot 5008 made its debut back in 2009, and it was then a compact minivan. It shared its underpinnings with the smaller Peugeot 308 hatchback and as such, this is almost the same platform that’s used by both Peugeot and Citroen for many of their cars. The 5008 did quite well in several markets around the world. However, with the rise of the Crossovers, its days were numbered. The first-generation 5008 lasted for almost seven years before it got replaced by its successor in 2016. Where the first avatar was a compact minivan, Peugeot smartly transformed the new 5008 into a mid-size crossover SUV – a category that never goes out of style in this day and age.
Shortly after its release, the second-generation Peugeot 5008 quickly gained traction among the masses. The 2019 Peugeot 5008 is the French carmaker’s flagship offering in many markets (including the UAE), and is also one of their largest models. Although it looks quite similar to the less expensive 3008, the larger 5008 can seat seven people. And in the UAE, the 2019 Peugeot 5008 rivals the Kia Sorento, Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Chevrolet’s Traverese.
Exterior
The exterior design of the 2019 Peugeot 5008 projects a sense of sturdiness and style, with a touch of urbane chic. The front fascia will strongly remind you of the 3008, and the new 5008 is not much different from the former. There’s a steeply-raked windshield, the chrome-laced grille which is wide and wears a large Peugeot crest in the middle, striking-looking LED headlights with eyebrow-design LED daytime-running lights, chiseled bumper with integrated foglights, multiple air intakes, and a faux skid plate.
The elongated side profile looks neat and isn’t too flamboyant. The main highlights here are the stylish 19-inch alloy wheels, black plastic cladding, flared fenders, thick chrome bar on the doors, and a decently high ground clearance. The more upright back end gets a high roof spoiler, stylish LED taillights, and a jutting rear bumper with well-placed rectangular dual exhausts. The 2019 Peugeot 5008 comes in at 4.641 meters in length, 1.844 meters in width, 1.646 meters in height, and has a wheelbase measuring 2.840 meters. And with its last row tucked away, the Peugeot 5008 can haul up to 952 liters worth of cargo.
Interior
Just like in the 3008, the cabin design of the 2019 Peugeot 5008 is quite sophisticated and attractive in its appeal. From the driver-centric dashboard, quirky gear selector and steering wheel design, to the all-digital instrument cluster – it’s all trendy and really chic. The build quality and cabin materials are mostly good, with just a few bits of scratchy plastic around. The first and second row offer loads of room for adults, though the third row is definitely only for children. Overall, this is a fairly comfortable and relaxing cabin.
As for its equipments and features, the 2019 Peugeot 5008 gets acoustic windshield, automatic LED headlights, power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, all-around parking sensors with rear camera, front seat massage, head-up display, a 10-speaker premium sound unit, and an 8-inch touch-infotainment display with navigation. The new 5008 also comes loaded with a plethora of airbags and electronic nannies.
Engine and performance
The front-wheel-drive 2019 Peugeot 5008 gets a 1.6-liter turbocharger four-popper with 165 hp and 240 Nm of torque. This, along with a 6-speed automatic gearbox means that the 5008 can hit the ton in 9.2 seconds, a top speed of 206 km/h, and return 6.1 L/100 km.
Verdict
The 2019 Peugeot 5008 range is priced between AED 100,000 and AED 135,000 for the base and fully-loaded variants, respectively. Meanwhile, insurance premiums start from AED 2,250 and AED 3,038.
