2022 Peugeot 5008 GT Sport Review Australia – Dubai Car News

SSometimes you just want to be different. I talk to a lot of people about SUVs because they almost feel like buying one is a liability. If I can’t talk them into the disappearing range of wagons in the market, we revert to SUVs.

“I don’t want an SUV though. They’re boring.” I hear it quite a bit. There are a lot of good cars of this type, and they’re hardly exciting machines – unless you’re buying a fire-breathing AMG or M or Audi RS variant that costs six figures.

I will go back to the Peugeot range of SUVs again and again. “Oh, no, too weird/French/whatever.” They buy a Toyota. But sometimes someone will say, “Oh, that’s interesting. But is it good?” I will be the first to declare my love. les voitures Françaises And then I’ll tell them:

Jump ahead.

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How much is it, and what do you get?

The 5008 GT Sport is a new specification level for Peugeot’s largest SUV.

Visually indistinguishable from the 3008 when viewed from the front, you’ll notice that it’s been stretched and the rear window has been made much straighter to accommodate a third row of fully removable seats. could

GT Sport means black wheels, black grille, black roof and, according to Peugeot, it’s been quite popular. It came with a facelift for the SUV range in 2021, but supply means we now only have our hands on one.

For $65,657 (before on-road costs) you can pick up a petrol-engined 5008 GT Sport and it’s only available that way. The diesel GT is about $600 more but doesn’t sound nearly as good (in my opinion).

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How do competitors compare on value?

There are many seven-seat SUVs, most of which start as cheaply as the 5008 GT Sport. Just like that, then, that the 5008 has a lot of focus.

As well as costing more, the 5008 is smaller and slightly narrower than its rivals, which means it’s a bit more for the city. It is technically a mid-size SUV with an extra row of seats.

The most obvious competitor is the Mitsubishi Outlander. Strictly speaking, it’s 5+2 because the third row is practically unusable. Not playing in Peugeot’s favor is that for similar money you can get the Outlander Exceed PHEV, with its real-world electric-only range.

You can spend considerably less on the Outlander and get a pretty decent interior with a less exciting four-cylinder petrol engine but you won’t get a glimpse of the Peugeot’s stunning interior.

There is also the VW Tiguan Allspace. Although it starts at least $40,000, it’s not as well equipped. You can obviously spend more and get more, but it’s very similar to the 5008 without the innovative interior and stunning exterior.

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Interior comfort, space and storage

The 5008’s interior is a complete futuristic classic. While there’s some tech going on, it still looks fantastic, which is precisely why Peugeot needs to squeeze sales out of this model for another two or three years.

Its front seats are comfortable and just the right kind of firm. Peugeot’s massage system is actually quite good with its different pressure patterns. Even some top-end cars have weaker massagers than this.

The materials in the 5008 are beautiful and the dashboard design is really cool. I’ve always loved the old-school typewriter-style keys for shortcut buttons in that brushed aluminum effect. It’s really quite beautiful and makes up for the slow touch screen.

The middle row is made up of three separate seats, meaning the center seat is no taller than usual and not too hard a case, although it does mean you’ll need to be a thin-hipped trio to fit the back. . The floor is completely flat, which also reduces forced steps.

The patterning and stitching on the seats is excellent and since it is a three seater, they are a 40:20:40 split fold. Even with the sunroof there’s plenty of legroom and headroom, and you can tuck your feet under the front seats for a little extra space.

There are also air vents to ensure that cooling or heating air is directed back there and a separate fan speed controller. You can fold the middle row forward to improve cargo space, bring small children or animals closer to the front, or improve third-row legroom.

You don’t get a central armrest in the second row, but the front seatbacks have airline-style tray tables. You can put a cup there but it doesn’t have to stay there. Kids love them, though.

Access to the third row of two seats is a bit difficult and once you get there you will agree with my assessment that these are occasional seats. There’s a cup holder and a 12-volt charger, so there’s also no USB port to keep devices charged without a dumb bulky adapter.

Peugeot 5008 Boot Space

Speaking of boot space and seamless segues, if you drop the third row of seats and put them to use, you’ve got 237 litres, which is a small hatchback’s worth of cargo.

Folding down the second row provides a whopping 590 litres. With the middle row fully folded, you’ll enjoy 1670 liters of space (measured on the roof). That’s a one-ton load capacity for a car that’s not really that big.

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How is it to drive?

The basics

If you were able to close your eyes while driving the 5008, you’d almost swear it was exactly the same as the 3008.

I drove the smaller car shortly after the big car was in and found it to be awfully similar.

Of course they are, you say, they’re basically the same car. And yes, they are, but even though the 5008 is bigger and boxier, you won’t really notice much of a difference until you look over your shoulder.

Part of the illusion probably has to do with the identical driving position and mechanical setup. The small steering wheel makes it feel instantly squishy, ​​the exceptionally well-tuned chassis maintains quick steering.

The Ford Escape has sharp steering and it can feel very messy at times, but Peugeot engineers have successfully dialed in the direction change.

Where you will notice the difference between the two is the overall ride quality. The slightly longer wheelbase of the 5008 provides a more composed ride than usual. You’ll note I didn’t say “better” because they’re both comfortable cars with one person or a full complement on board.

At first glance, the idea that a seven-seat SUV can only be lifted by a 1.6-litre turbo with 133kW and 250Nm seems a bit silly. And it should, but the eight-speed automatic transmission does a great job of making the most of the modest outputs.

It will noticeably slow down when fully loaded, but the willing engine and well-calibrated shifts of the transmission keep things simmering. The 1.6 isn’t quite as good at hitting the lag as its 1.2-litre three-cylinder version, but it’s only moments away from getting in your way as peak torque arrives at 1650rpm.

The diesel is plenty quick but the petrol in the GT Sport is simply a better engine, with less lag and a more flexible feel even if the diesel pulls hard.

I’ve run both engines a lot in this car now and despite feeling sluggish, the petrol is good.

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How about the fuel?

Peugeot claims 5.6L/100km on the combined cycle, which seems a bit ambitious for a large seven-seater.

I got 7.5L/100km in the week I had it, which included mostly suburban running, so it’s not bad. The official figure is remarkably close to the 2.0-litre diesel’s 5.0L/100km.

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How safe is it?

The Peugeot 5008 shares a five-star ANCAP rating (as of 2016) with the 3008, a similarity in construction.

Curtain airbags extend to the third row, which is worth checking out if you’re cross-shopping against the larger Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe.

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Warranty and running costs

Peugeot offers a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty with five years of roadside assistance.

A capped-price servicing scheme lasts for five years and requires you to return to the dealer every 12 months/15,000km.

The company now offers prepaid servicing plans that offer significant savings over pay-as-you-go servicing. At a recent Peugeot event to launch the 308, executives said it was to counter the perception of high service costs on European cars, although limited-cost servicing has been available for some years.

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Decision

Peugeots are not for everyone. They aren’t cheap, they aren’t all-wheel drive and for some, they just can’t live up to the reputation that has long held back its authenticity.

Peugeot, like its Citroen sibling, does interesting things and does it really well.

The 5008 isn’t the best seven-seater SUV out there, but it’s definitely the pinnacle when it comes to style and appeal.

It’s great to drive, looks fantastic and has plenty of space for a car of its footprint. Even though the tech is a bit run down, it still works well while the rest of the car remains fun and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Of course as good as its competition, and often cheaper, the 5008 is suitably individual – but has substance to go with it.

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2022 Peugeot 5008 GT sports specs

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