For years, reviewers have used the phrase ‘je ne sais quoi’ to describe French cars, a way to almost excuse some of their idiosyncrasies for charm. Yes, while those qualities have made for some of the most iconic and lovable vehicles over time, they tend to wane as the cars get bigger and practicality becomes more important. And there’s nothing quite like a seven seater to put this to the test, can Peugeot balance personality with the sensibility needed for this vehicle segment? That was exactly the question I set out to answer with this review.
Now those of you who know your cars will remember when the 5008 first showed up, it was a strange MPV cross thing before it progressed into an SUV in its second. Now in its third generation, Peugeot have retained the second gen’s boxy looks but added a touch more flair to it. For one, the styling is unmistakably lion-esque. Where some brands struggle with their identity across a range of vehicles, Peugeot thrive. Everything from the compact 208 hatchback to their 9X8 endurance hypercar can be identified as belonging to the same brand. Similarly, the 5008’s styling is credit to their craft.
The front uses the brand’s now signature pixel LED headlights with a grille that sports the Peugeot’s revised logo, one that has donned the nose of its cars since the beginning of this decade, although I do miss the old lion. The shield can also be seen down the sides of the vehicle. There is a lot of real estate available here so kudos to Peugeot for making use of the space available to further strengthen their presence.
New Zealand is only receiving the 5008 Hybrid model in its GT trim for now but that’s really the one you want anyway! All models are two tone as standard with six different colours available to compliment the standard ‘Black Diamond’ roof. Our review model was painted in ‘Okenite White’, one of five optional shades, have to say that ‘Obsession Blue’ would probably be my pick of the bunch but even in what is normally a bland colour choice, the monochrome look suited the 5008 well. 19 inch ‘YARI’ wheels are also standard on the GT model, no complaints again because they do look good and gave this review car a classy tuxedo like appearance.
The underlying lion theme continues to the rear with the ‘claw effect’ 3D LED taillights. As they have plenty of real estate available on this massive tailgate, ‘Peugeot’, ‘5008’ and ‘Hybrid’ are all spelt out in ‘Basalt Grey’, it might sound like badge galore but the work has been done tastefully, much like the interior.
Upon first stepping into the interior and seeing the i-Cockpit setup, I was instantly confused and as I had to drive away quickly, there wasn’t a chance for me to get familiar with the system so it didn’t go down well initially. Something journalists can often be guilt of when jumping from car to car. However, upon returning to the car after work and taking a moment to get familiar with the system, I have to give credit to Peugeot for a job done well here but more on that later.
Our review model came with the optional ‘GT Leather Upgrade’ ($5,990) which meant 7 leather clad seats, all comfortable. The front two also have heating and ventilation along with several massage functions, the ‘Cat Paw’ in particular proved to be a favourite over the course of my review, there’s also seat heating for those in the middle row. The dashboard and doors also make use of textured fabric inserts as well as soft touch materials to provide for an upmarket feel, you can’t knock this car for quality or features.
Speaking of features, we return to the i-Cockpit discussion which began earlier on. Yes, it’s confusing as first but take a moment and it makes complete sense! I found the i-Toggles shortcut menu to be a brilliant addition as most people will regularly use only a few of the features available on most infotainment screens. This smaller touchscreen allows the driver to setup their most used shortcuts in one place meaning that a temperature adjustment or route change is just a touch away at most. Yes, it’s another screen that will inevitably get dirty and scratched but it is also a brilliant application of technology and genuinely made it seem easier to access the car’s features without having to hunt around menus on the larger infotainment screen.
A big part of the new i-Cockpit experience is also the way in which the setup surrounds the driver. Not only do you have the infotainment and gauge cluster screens curving around you but the centre console is also raised on the driver’s side, offering a feeling of being cocooned. Couple this with the small go-kart like steering wheel and you have a cockpit reminiscent of a Le-Mans style hypercar, or at least the closest thing you can have to that in a 7-seater SUV. This setup itself should suggest to anyone that although the 5008 may be a stylishly dressed people mover, it still has a sense of sportiness at heart.
And it does indeed feel sporty, the 5008 GT doesn’t handle like a 7-seater SUV should. That comes thanks in part to its quick steering ratio as well as compact dimensions for the category. It measures in at under 5m (4.79m) with a width of 1.63m without mirrors and a height of 1.69m, yet it will still seat seven people in relative comfort, impressive.
Maneuvering on faster twisty roads is nearly as effortless as parallel parking it in the city but through it all, you do feel this sense of fun enveloping you. Something that is realised when you mash your foot to the floor and hear that angry little three cylinder turbocharged engine rev away. Yes, you did read that correctly. This 5008 GT is powered by Peugeot’s PureTech 1.2L three cylinder turbocharged engine, coupled with a 48V mild-hybrid system in this Hybrid model. A 6-speed ‘Dual Shift Clutch Automatic’ gearbox helps extract the 110kW and 230Nm that this powertrain has to give. Yes, 145hp is not a lot particularly in a larger vehicle like this one and while it was fine for the most part with three people in the car but there could be trouble if it’s fully loaded and you are heading for an uphill onramp.
As I spent most of my review period driving on my own, the power on offer was more than enough and it is helped along by the mild-hybrid system which sees the 5008’s efficiency improve remarkably on motorway journeys. The claimed WLTP figure is 5.4L/100km while I managed to average 7.2L/100km during the course of my 400-500km road test which spanned traffic, open motorways and city driving. All things considered, that is not a bad economy figure for a 7-seater SUV but it could do with a tad more power.
The Verdict
Unsure what to expect from the 5008 GT Hybrid at first, I returned the keys having been seriously impressed. It’s undoubtedly one of the best looking 7-seater SUVs out there and is laden with equipment as previously described, particularly when that optional leather upgrade is applied. All this while also handling well and being plentifully practical yet still remaining connected to its French roots. The biggest drawback was the power on offer, an important point to consider for those who will regularly carry 5-7 people. Although, add a little more hp (power, not the sauce) and Peugeot have a winner on their hands.
2025 Peugeot 5008 GT Hybrid: 4.5/5
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Car courtesy of Peugeot New Zealand and Armstrong’s. Words and photos by Matthew D’Souza
