When you think romance and the finer things in life, the French come to mind, from their passionate language to their fashion, poise, cheese and of course champagne. But let’s talk about their car making skills for a second, specifically Peugeot or as we South Africans know it, “PHIJOT”.
The all new Peugeot 5008 large seven-seater SUV is a sight for sore eyes. The French have the right idea when it comes to making an appealing car to the eye with this model. Driving around in this car made heads turn, a design that surely makes a statement, even the Malume I buy kotas from noticed it. Not only does the Peugeot 5008 breaks new ground as a large seven-seater SUV in the C segment (small family cars), it is also a great drive. Locally the 5008 is available in two engines: a 1.6-litre turbopetrol with an output of 121kW and 240Nm and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 110kW and 370Nm of torque. My assignment was the turbopetrol GT-Line and I must say, the 5008 exhibits agility like you wouldn’t believe.
The Cabin is spacious with a compact steering wheel which is reportedly the smallest on the market across all segments, this is the first thing you notice when you take on the driver’s seat. At first a weird feeling but once you start driving, starts to make you feel like you have super-strength like Superman. The 8-inch touchscreen is user-friendly and displays the information you need in cute animations. The seven central satin chrome dashboard switches offer access to the main passenger comfort and safety functions such as the radio, air conditioning, navigation, telephone and Apps. Speaking of Apps the 5008 comes with Android and Apple Car Play.
Warning: I may go on and on about this vehicle’s interior, it’s the best part!
The 5008 offers space and practicality with the middle row features three individual seats that slide and recline to offer comfort and preferred legroom for the passengers, while the two rear seats can apparently be removed (not tried and tested) to increase space. I can indeed attest to the seats being folded down to get over 700 litres of space. The safety features include Active Lane Keeping Assistance, Driver attention warning, Smart Beam Assistance, Speed sign recognition and speed suggestion, Adaptive cruise control with stop feature (automatic gearbox), Active blind spot monitoring, Park Assist and Visio Park (180° vision on GT Line).
I found the seats to be uniquely designed and comfortable, with details of stitching that looks impeccably done. Another detail that stands out in the 5008 GT-Line spec is the finishes on the door trims and the dash pad that kind of look like denim. My time with the Peugeot 5008 was surprisingly pleasant.
Model & Pricing:
- Peugeot 5008 Allure 1.6 THP R534 900
- Peugeot 5008 Allure 2.0 HDi R554 900
- Peugeot 5008 GT-Line 1.6 THP R579 900
- Peugeot 5008 GT-Line HDi R599 900
