Review: Peugeot 5008 Allure MHEV (2025)

Peugeot are going through something of a renaissance in styling. Starting with the third generation 308, they haven’t been able to make a bad looking car. This even carries over to their full-size 7-seat SUV, the 5008. Starting out life in 2009 as a rather ugly and underwhelming MPV, the 5008 has morphed into a hit product for Peugeot and with this third generation being launched late last year, has it still got what it takes to capture the 7-seater market? 

The Styling

As I’ve alluded to, the 5008 is a great looking 7-seater. It shares a lot of styling elements with the smaller 3008 on which it’s based which is no bad thing. The aggressive “Claw Effect” DRL’s and sculpted grill give an aggressive look. As you move around the back you lose the coupe styling of the 3008 and instead get a boxy, square rear end with more aggressive, streaked tail lights. It definitely is curvier and more fussy than rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq, which manages to offer 7 seats in a more butch design but for what it’s worth I like the 5008’s unique looks. The “Obsession Blue” in the first 5008 pictured is a stunning colour and is by far the pick of the bunch.

The Interior

If you like buttons, you will not like the new 5008.  Everything is done through the 5008’s floating “i-Cockpit” infotainment system. It spans across a curved 21-inch display and has deep crisp blacks and a high refresh rate. There is a smaller display that acts as a shortcut bar for the main navigation screen. Next to this shortcut display is the gear-selector for the 6-speed automatic transmission. It can be annoying when parking this 4.79 meter SUV, having to reach up next to the wheel instead of a classic centre tunnel shifter. It is a part that is shared with lots of automatic cars and SUVs in the Stellantis range and in using it you can tell it was never meant to be placed up high and vertically.

The infotainment system is fast enough and is highly configurable with multiple “widgets” being selectable for both the gauge cluster and main screen. It is still possible to get lost in sub-menus and needlessly fussy controls. At night time it can also be difficult to deal with the glare of multiple screens especially when wearing glasses. The small amount of physical buttons that are featured are used for climate-control shortcuts such as de-misting the windscreen, and while it is nice to have them, it makes me wish for some physical dials or toggles for at least temperature controls. The centre of the 5008 is dominated by the drive mode selector, volume control and a large storage area featuring two USB-C ports. 

It’s all very stylish and angular. The fit and finish is almost German levels of quality, and features a lovely fabric material throughout. The cabin is also mood lit, with the colours being either tied to the drive mode you are in or set to a custom colour. Rear seat legroom is good, and has its own climate zone. The third row is a tight affair and only really suitable for kids or small adults, with rivals such as the Skoda Kodiaq, or Hyundai Santa Fe being roomier.

The Drive 

With such an emphasis on its drive mode selector, and a sporty small steering wheel you would expect that the 5008 is a 7-seat sports saloon, but it can’t beat its aforementioned 4.79m in length size and 1780kg weight. It lumbers around corners and isn’t rushed. Thankfully, it keeps that quintessentially French smoothness in its road manners. With that said it does drive very well and very car like, more so then some rivals from Skoda or Volkswagen with their lazy diesel engines and traditional automatic gearboxes.

I most attribute this to its powertrain, a 136hp hybrid petrol 3-cylinder that is smooth and never lacks in torque. While something with a diesel would seem like a more fitting option, this hybrid system feels more refined. It isn’t fast, getting to 100kph in 11.3 seconds and onto a top speed of 200kph, but it hustles the 5008 in relative silence. I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be worrying about long term reliability, with Stellantis as a whole not having a great reputation at the best of times. If you want more poke from your Peugeot, you can also get a more powerful 195hp 4-cylinder hybrid or in a first for this price point/segment, a fully electric E-5008 with 410 miles of range. 

The Verdict

The Peugeot 5008 is a refined, high-tech and plush 7-seat SUV that has a distinctive, well proportioned and chic design. It is a great pick for this segment and with the addition of an electric powertrain it is also very versatile. If you want a diesel, or something a bit more boxy, then some of its rivals can be more appealing, but I would say the 5008 is almost, if not the class leader at the moment.