Peugeot’s 3008 big brother tested

Date Published: 28-Apr-2010

I had a bit of a lucky escape last week not getting stranded in Spain like many of my Motoring Writers’ Association colleagues. A gang of them went to the south of that country to try out the new Peugeot RCZ, which has been getting rave reviews when the volcanic cloud over Europe grounded them for four extra days. They tried a variety of ways and modes of transport to get out of there but because I was obliged to attend the wedding of my friend’s daughter on Thursday and a function to celebrate 50 years of the Galway Motor Club on Friday, I stayed at home and happily missed the mayhem that ensued there. It is a Peugeot experience that they won’t forget for some time.

However I did have my own personal Peugeot experience last week in a Peugeot 5008 which I had out on test for the week. The 5008 is a bigger brother of the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2010, the Peugeot 3008. It has seven seat compared to five, is bigger all-round and because it’s bigger it isn’t quite as neat as the excellent 3008. That additional bulk does have an effect in the handling, the driving experience and the overall performance of this car compared to the other.

Let me say from the outset that the 5008 is a fine car. It will give you more options if you have a bigger family but it fails to match the 3008 for sheer drivability. In fact few cars do and certainly few other MPV’s come even close. It may be a bit naive to expect the 5008 to match the 3008 but there is no comparison between the two on a basic driving level.

That said we must review the 5008 on its merits. Peugeot has a good pedigree for producing big MPV’s. Indeed the whole MPV idea started in France. The 5008 follows on from that rich history. However this latest car in that lineage is a far cry from their last effort, the 807. It is a modern MPV with high levels of comfort, safety and a huge amount of space. It is also packed with smart technology especially in the top specifications trims.

Flexibility is a key strength of the 5008. It comes with an innovative flat-folding rear seat arrangement. Passengers can easily access the third row seats from the second row. With one easy movement, the seat cushion lifts and the seat back moves forward, freeing up maximum space to allow entry to the third row, where two full size seats also fold individually into the floor. There is nothing too complicated about the set-up and that increases its functionality.

Peugeot use the same1.6 HDi FAP 110bhp 6-speed manual combination that is available in the 3008 emitting 140g/km CO2, qualifying for €156 annual road tax. This is another area where the comparisons show a bit of a gap. This is truly one of the best diesel units in production. It is a revelation in the 3008. It is easy on fuel, has buckets of pulling power and although it has more bulk to carry here it does the job with competence without being quite as spectacular as the smaller car. But, on a power to weight measurement you’ll not be disappointed with the performance in the 5008.

On the road the 5008 is also a competent runner. Sure, there is a certain amount of body roll in the bends but it never shirks the job and is generally composed and well behaved. Again the 5008 is not quite as refined as the 3008. I did notice some squeaky panels, which shouldn’t be difficult to eliminate and some road rumble; again a symptom if its size more than anything else.

Recently Peugeot in Ireland announced the continuation of the Peugeot Scrappage Scheme offering up to €5,000 off its range of low CO2-emitting models. Catalogue prices start at €26,870 for the entry 5008 SE 1.6 HDi 110 bhp 6-speed.

For more Motoring see this week’s Connacht & City Tribunes