Peugeot 5008: joie de vivre of motoring

Peugeot will always have a very special place in my heart. In 2016, Peugeot flew us to the Paris Motor show in France for the launch of the 3008, 5008, and Traveller van, followed by a unique and intensive brand immersion that truly allowed us to see what makes the proud French brand tick, why they design and engineer their cars as such, and why, as an automaker, they seem so foreign to us Filipinos weaned on generations of Japanese, American and Korean cars.

I drove the Peugeot 5008 briefly (as well as the 3008 and Traveller van) from Peugeot’s hometown of Sochaux in the Montbeliard region in France, to Neuchatel in Switzerland, then back to French territory in Chamonix to see the Alps, and our final push to Bologna in the Modenese region of Northern Italy, home of the Italian sports car makers Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani, to name a few.

This road trip was truly epic, as it was the longest land-based journey I had ever undertaken in my life, surrounded by beautiful vistas, art, amazing food, and of course, friendly people.

Contrary to belief, outside of Paris, the French are in fact, very warm and friendly.

So now, back on local roads, how does the 5008 fare? My mother owns the previous 5008 model, and it was impressive: fast, fun, engaging to drive (MPV or not), and very solid.

Only the suspension has shown wear in over 5 years of use, but it’s still running strong. So trying the new 5008 was going to be interesting.

At the launch of the 5008 alongside its siblings, Peugeot made a huge effort to improve design, engineering, and build quality, while slowly integrating fuel-saving measures (as well as reducing exhaust emissions/carbon footprint), plus a push to move the brand up-market versus its previous, very mass-market feel.

The new 5008 uses Peugeot’s EMP2 (efficient modular platform 2) platform that is highly versatile.

Designed primarily for small to medium sized cars, it can utilize a range of transverse mounted engines, can do front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and the rear can accommodate either a sophisticated multi-link or a basic torsion bar axle depending on intended use.

The platform can also utilize a low or raised ride height without affecting suspension geometry.

Extensive use of light-weight, high-carbon steel and aluminum helped shed 70 kg alone from its predecessor.

Powering the new 5008 is a 1.6-liter THP (turbo high pressure) direct-injected turbocharged engine that delivers a modest 165 horsepower and a more useful 240 Newton meters of torque.

Six airbags are standard, as well as traction/stability control, and ABS-EBD brakes with brake assist.

There’s hill start assist as well, and sonar parking sensors. Clearly, the 5008 arrives well-spec’d in our country.

On first glance, you can’t seem to decide: Is the 5008 a MPV/mini-van like its predecessor, or is it a crossover SUV?

Regardless, the 7-seater looks good, with its futuristic front fascia, emblazoned proudly with the Peugeot lion logo, which the Peugeot brothers saw as having similar attributes to the products, particularly the saws and knives the company originally produced over a century ago: strong teeth like those of the lion, suppleness of the blade like the lion’s spine, and swiftness of cut like the lion pouncing on its prey, as I saw at the Peugeot Museum in Sochaux.

The interior is beautiful. I can’t seem to find any other word to describe it. Audi is sophisticated, BMW is sporty, Ferrari is exotic, Lamborghini is weapon-like, and Porsche is focused. But Peugeot’s is truly beautiful.

The clean dashboard is like a flowing sculpture made by thousands of years of the elements hemming and chiseling it to shape.

The gearshift lever is like some erotic art piece, and overall, mixes well with the retro dip switches, as well as futuristic digital displays.

The seats are interesting as well. Half-leather and half fabric, with a somewhat coarse material being the choice.

Immediately, my wife, who is a savvy fashion admirer, recognized the fabric as being somewhat similar to the classic Channel tweed blazer admired by women the world over.

Fashionable and stylish, with a nod to the great French design house of Channel perhaps?

On the road, the 5008 behaves like a hot hatch with lots of attitude: it’s hyper-active, manic, highly responsive and truly fun to fling about.

Going up Tagaytay, the 5008 shrinks in size, swallows up short straights with tenacity, and changes directions rapidly.

Grip is impressive, and you feel confident getting the tires to squirm and slide just a wee bit beyond its limits, while handling and response remain as predictable as ever.

The brakes are strong, firm and well-modulated, allowing you to really press on, overtake, and dive into tight openings aggressively.

Believe it or not, I had so much fun thrashing this family-oriented MPV cum crossover, it’s hilarious.

Ride is excellent: typically French firm, but with far more compliance versus a typical German brand. And the 18-inch wheels and chunky 225/55R18 Continental tires look perfectly proportioned for the car.

I’d expect no less than the French finding perfect practical proportions in their cars.

On long drives, the driving position is excellent: the steering wheel sits low, putting less strain on your shoulders. It takes a lot of getting used to, but makes perfect sense after 4 hours slogging behind the wheel.

At night, the mood lights give the 5008 an ambiance of French chic, like enjoying a night out in one of the many night spots in Paris.

Fuel efficiency is excellent: 9km/liter on my traffic-ridden drive up to Tagaytay, and an impressive 14 km/liter going down late in the evening with barely any traffic.

As miles accumulate on the tight new engine (less than 4,000 kilometers under its belt), mileage should improve further.

The 5008 won’t be for everyone. It’s quite expensive, occupies a slot in the segment that’s not exactly here nor there. But to those who will buy the 5008, know that it is an excellent automobile, with excellent engineering, and a truly unique and beautiful design with a very special interior.

And it truly encapsulates the joy of driving, MPV or not.