Peugeot 5008 1.6 Turbo Luxury Review: The Lion's Den

What we like:

Spacious and versatile interior

cozy interior atmosphere

punchy performance from turbo motor

thank god Peugeot has abandoned the 4-speed autobox on this one

comfy ride

What we dislike:

Not as stylish as its Citroen Grand Picasso cousin

rolls quite a bit during cornering

Step into the cabin and you'll immediately appreciate the effects of the vast and steeply raked windscreen. The screen is so huge and its base is so out of reach that you'd have to do more than just stretch your arms to insert a cash card into the IU. Unlike in the Grand Picasso though, the 5008's windscreen doesn't stretch all the way to above the driver's head.

The driving environment is also very different from the Citroen's, thanks to a more conventional layout that offers less storage spaces and quirkiness than the Citroen's more unique dashboard design that features a centrally mounted LCD instrument cluster, separate air-con controls for the driver and passenger as well as that trademark fixed hub steering wheel. The Peugeot on the other hand, offers a dash that is a variation of the 3008's as well as other models in its range.

A neat thoughtful touch is the wide-angle child minder mirror above the rear view mirror. To make up for the lack of storage spaces on the dash, the console between the two front armchairs offer a cubby hole that is huge enough to swallow the ta bao for the family. The front seats don't offer electrical adjustments but they're comfortable and offer enough adjustments to suit most body sizes. The driving position is pretty much spot on and the front quarter glass area offers a good view out when making turns out of junctions.

At the rear, the seats slide fore or aft to adjust for legroom or for even more legroom in the rearmost row. Passengers seated on the second row will appreciate the air-con vents and the flat floor design. The Peugeot's 4529mm length is slightly shorter than the Citroen's 4585mm length but is longer than the Touran's 4407mm means that it offers more legroom in the third row than the VW and just about matches the Citroen's. The 5008 might not offer as much space at the rearmost row when compared to larger MPVs but an average sized adult can at least feel comfortable enough when seated at the back on short to medium journeys.

As expected, the rear seats in the Pug can easily be folded away modularly to convert it into a load carrier. The seats are simple enough and straightforward to operate as well so you won't break a sweat along the way. With all seats folded down, the 5008 offers a flat load area that is rather cavernous. In addition, the front passenger seat can be tumbled forward if that wardrobe buy from Ikea needs to be transported home. There's a reasonable boot area with all seats in place that is enough to take up shopping bags and overnight luggage. A particularly nice touch is the rechargeable torch in the boot. It doubles up to light up the boot when in position.

With so much to like, it isn't hard to see why that the 5008 is our MPV of the year in 2010. Moreover, the 5008's classification in Cat A means it has a slight price advantage over its Japanese competitors while being better equipped, bigger and offers better performance.

Credits: Story and Photos by Raymond Lai