Meet the well-designed and excellent Peugeot 5008

Although it doesn't really look old, you'll be surprised to know that the Peugeot 5008 was introduced already seven years ago. After the new generation of the little brother 3008 was introduced not long ago, it was the turn of the 5008 to be renewed.

In the outgoing generation, there were only gasoline and diesel versions, which together sold about 5,000 units in Israel, about two-thirds of them in the gasoline versions. So, towards the planned extinction of the diesel sipper in Europe and Israel, the Peugeot 5008 is very electrified, with three fully electric versions (to be called E-5008) and with two hybrid versions, one mild and one plug-in, which will not arrive in Israel due to the cancellation of the tax benefits for such vehicles.

To test for the first time the new 5008 we floated all the way to Sweden, the country of IKEA, Abba and Nils Holgersson. When you think of Sweden, one of the largest countries in the European Union, you immediately think of a cold, rainy and even snowy country.

But the weather did not brighten our face and a hot summer sun like in the Middle East greeted us as we walked towards the parking lot where the launch cars were waiting to be loaded. Come on, at least we can test the air conditioner under the conditions of the Holy Land. Spoiler: he was just fine.

During the walk and before we set off, we will go over the data and numbers page, with your permission: during the launch drive, we drove one of the five versions on offer. The basic electric version in the top GT trim level with 210 hp from a single engine, a 73 kWh battery, a high curb weight of 2.2 tons, a fairly long acceleration of 9.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a maximum speed limited to 170 km "that. Did you manage to read it in one sitting?

The power unit of the interesting mild hybrid version is based on a new version of the 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with a Mild-Hybrid system and a dual-clutch robotic six-speed gearbox.

Another significant difference between the hybrid version and the other versions is a rear suspension in a simple and cheaper torsion beam configuration compared to the multi-link suspension in the other versions. She was not available for testing at launch. 

Design: At first glance in the parking lot, the 5008 resembles the previous generation in 2020, which underwent a facelift. A closer look will reveal that this is a completely new design. The new face includes a grill that integrates in small cubes with the color of the vehicle, split lighting units for day/road lighting and "a lighting signature that corresponds with the claws of a lion", according to the design team.

The profile is more dynamic than that of the outgoing model and looks less boxy. Above the line of windows and along the roof runs a beam in matte silver color, which combines with elements of the same color in the rear bumper. The rear lighting units are also designed with the element of the three lion claws in the lighting. 

Light and aerodynamic 19- and 20-inch rims fill the wheel wells well. Although the design reminded me of forgotten Citroen AX and BX rims from the 1980s, the 5008's design team did not flow with my train of thought.

To improve the level of sustainability of the body and its ability to survive in the sun, the insulating rubbers between the doors and the windows themselves were lowered under the body of the vehicle, and plastic parts around the wheelhouses and at the bottom of the body were painted a shiny black color. A brilliant idea - is this the beginning of the end of the black plastic that bleaches in the Israeli sun?

The cabin: like the outside, the interior design looks at first glance like an evolution of the outgoing model: the small and truncated steering wheel, the central console that almost hugs the driver and the fabric that wraps the dashboard and doors.

But a second look shows that this is a completely different cabin. Let's start with the unique floating dashboard in front of the driver. There are two versions of the board: one 21-inch screen and a board that is divided into two 10-inch screens each. The GT version we drove at the launch had the big screen and is of the highest quality. 

True to the sporty allusion of its name, all the trims in the passenger cabin are black and combined with gray fabric. According to the designers, the fabric should be similar to the fabric of a home sofa and remind of the house.

The truth is that this is a material that is pleasant to the touch, even if we have seen it in previous Peugeot models. Below the main panel and the ventilation openings we will find the i-toggle, which is a smaller screen designed for shortcuts to the most useful functions and can be customized. Definitely useful.

In the cabin there is a lot of use of shiny black plastic that gets dirty easily with fingerprints. For the cleaning patients, it is recommended to keep a microfiber cloth in the door pocket. 

As someone who knows quite a few of the 5008's potential customers, one of the most important features of a 7-seater passenger carrier is the interior space. The passengers in the front enjoy standard space, no complaints except for the glove compartment which stops at the passenger's knees if he leaves too much room for the child behind him. The driving position is good, and the steering wheel and seat adjustment options are varied. 

The bench in the second row is not divided into three separate seats as before, but divided into one third and two thirds and designed as two separate seats with side support. The space is excellent for older passengers, both for legs and head.

To allow for increased space in the third row, the second row of seats can move forward and backward on a 15 cm track. With side curtains that roll out of the door, a flat floor, air conditioning vents, separate climate control, padded seat backs and separate map lighting, the row The second enjoys an excellent living space.

And now we'll move on to the intriguing part of the passenger cabin: after using the folding mechanism of the second row of seats that lifts the entire seat in the second row and makes access easier, in the third row we will find real rear seats, a rare thing in 7-seater vehicles of this size.

We freaked out and discovered that two full size adults can sit here, but only when the seats in front of them are moved forward on the rail. Yes, with a height of 182 cm I was able to sit in the back with room left for the children in front of me. Definitely impressive. 

Behind the electric tailgate you can see another surprise. The trunk can hold cargo even when the third row is in use. Two trolley suitcases managed to fit in there when the cabin floor was raised.

You can also store the roll-up cover of the trunk under the floor instead of throwing it in the warehouse. When the back row is open, the volume of the trunk is a relatively generous 348 liters for the category, including the space under the floor. When you fold the two seats in the third row, the volume increases to 916 liters. And when you also fold the second row and prepare to sleep in the car, the volume reaches 2,232 liters. Your kids will probably want to car camp every night.

On the road: at the launch we drove hundreds of kilometers on the E-5008 on various roads across Sweden and came back to tell the story. The 5008 brings a high ride quality under its tires, in a way that is well suited to the need for such a passenger transporter.

As expected, most of the Swedish roads are paved with good quality, but it was possible to be impressed by the ability of the suspensions to cope with sewer openings, road breaks and many deceleration lanes. Despite tires of a respectable size (235/50R20) the 5008 manages to absorb the road ailments listed above in an excellent way.

It's not the most comfortable car I've experienced at city speed, but the suspension work is excellent considering the difficult opening figures: the high weight and the size of the rims. The adherence to good insulation leads to minimal wind and road noise.

Since this is important for the family, we also tested the experience of traveling in the second row. Those staying in the back seat enjoy good ride quality, as do the parents sitting in front. The GT version included a panoramic roof along the length of the passenger cabin with an electrically retractable fabric curtain.

The sunroof also lets in a lot of light for those sitting in the back, and the glass window itself opens above the heads of the driver and front passenger. The 5008 is equipped with a climate control system with three control zones (the third for the second row occupants) but without dedicated openings for the third row. rope.

Performance: The 5008 allows a choice between three driving modes: Eco, Comfort and Sport. Since it does not have adaptive suspension, the changes are concentrated in the calibration of the steering wheel, pedal response and power consumption (due to the air conditioning system).

Due to the high curb weight and the reasonable engine power, the feeling is that it is not very fast as we are used to today in electrically driven cars. Despite this, there won't be any problem going on a detour or driving on mountain roads. 

Sport mode improves pedal response to acceleration. It was not possible to really measure power consumption and charging times. According to the consumption we experienced in practice, it is certainly possible to travel for ranges between 400 and 500 km. It will be interesting to check the more expensive versions, with an enlarged 98 kWh battery and an estimated combined range of 660 km, if they arrive in Israel.

Road Handling: We still remember Peugeot with youthful fondness for the fun cars they used to make a few decades ago. Since then, a lot of water has flowed in the Seine, but Peugeot has already burned the flag of driving pleasure. Today they boast sustainability, connectivity, efficiency, excellence, design and experience - end quote from the press release. If even Peugeot doesn't boast about it anymore, then we'll check it out ourselves. 

Although we drove on the roads of Sweden, we are not Stig Blomqvist, this is not a 205 T16, and we are not in Rally Sweden (look it all up on YouTube and thank me later). Nevertheless we managed to cross some interesting winding roads between peaceful Swedish villages. Despite a high curb weight, the road behavior is overall good and a sense of security is added. The reaction to weight transfers by the pedal is not sharp, and it is difficult to get the 5008 out of balance. 

The bottom line: the E-5008 appears at first glance to be a disappointing evolution of the outgoing model and not a revolution, like the one made by the previous generation. But on second glance, it does everything that is expected of such a passenger carrier in an excellent way: the design is handsome and pleasant, the passenger cabin is well-designed and rich, the interior space is excellent for seven people, the ride quality is excellent, and the driving range is promising. 

In addition to all these features, the 5008 is expected to be the only 7-seater electric car in the segment that is not a luxury car, when it arrives in Israel in the first quarter of 2025. With appropriate pricing, it may be the king of this category, with no competitors on the near horizon. And rightly so. 

Daniel Sakeli, who was a guest of Peugeot in Sweden, participated in the preparation of the section.