Peugeot 3008 and 5008: first drive of the updated SUVs

The Peugeot 3008 and 5008 have become bywords for success for the French marque. In their second generation, they made the most of the crossover and SUV boom that has swept - and continues to sweep - across Europe, erasing every outward trace of their predecessors’ MPV form. Since then, they have simply kept on selling…

More than 1.1 million examples have been sold since the current Peugeot 3008 and 5008 generations were introduced, in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Their success has been repeated in Portugal, where it has even made Peugeot the best-selling crossover and SUV brand. The 5008 is the outright leader among seven-seat SUVs in Portugal, while the 3008 is surpassed only by the Nissan Qashqai.

Success does not, however, mean resting on one’s laurels. That is the reason behind this update, which gives both models a refreshed appearance and strengthens their technological equipment offering.

We have already covered the changes made to the new 3008 and 5008 in detail, but the most significant revisions are concentrated at the front. Both now wear an entirely new face, brought closer into line with other Sochaux models, as shown by the revised lighting signature and the model designation positioned above the grille.

Elsewhere, there are fresh colours, wheels and trim materials, alongside a higher-resolution digital instrument panel, a 10-inch touchscreen and additional equipment. Highlights range from Night Vision and adaptive cruise control to more advanced driving assistance systems, culminating in the option of semi-autonomous driving in versions fitted with the EAT8 automatic gearbox.

As for powertrains, the only addition is the 180 hp 1.6 PureTech petrol engine paired with the EAT8 automatic gearbox. The remaining petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains carry over unchanged from the models already known, although they have been adapted to the latest emissions-standard requirements.

Peugeot 3008 HYBRID4

For this first dynamic drive on Portuguese roads, I had access to a Peugeot 3008 GT HYBRID4 - the most powerful, quickest and… most expensive model in the range - as well as a Peugeot 5008 Allure 1.5 BlueHDI EAT8.

Although the 3008 HYBRID4, one of the range’s two plug-in hybrids, is not an entirely new proposition - nor is it new to the Razão Automóvel fleet, as João Delfim Tomé had the chance to test it almost six months ago, before the facelift - it was new to me, as I had not previously driven it.

What immediately stands out is this SUV’s performance. It propels itself towards the horizon with real purpose, without question. Yes, I know it has 300 hp and 520 Nm, produced by combining the 200 hp 1.6 PureTech with two electric motors, rated at 110 hp and 113 hp, one of them mounted on the rear axle. But this is also an SUV weighing around 1900 kg. Apparently, that matters very little. The electric motors’ instant torque delivers responsiveness ranging from pleasing to “blimey, that felt more like a kick”, with the combustion engine swiftly joining in.

Beyond its performance, the refinement is equally surprising. A short motorway run confirmed how effectively it suppresses road and aerodynamic noise, aside from a slight turbulence around the A-pillar and door mirror area.

At steadier, more moderate speeds, the other qualities of the 3008 HYBRID4 and its powertrain become easier to appreciate. There was not enough time to verify its 59 km electric range, but there was enough to establish that Hybrid mode appears to manage the combustion engine and electric motors more evenly than the Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid - fitted with one electric motor and 225 hp - which I found relied too heavily on electric power and depleted the battery quickly.

In this mode, achieving consumption of around 5.0 l/100 km is not difficult. On the motorway, using the combustion engine alone, this rose to figures of roughly 6.5 l/100 km.

During my time behind the wheel of the 3008, I was also able to confirm its high level of comfort, both from the suspension and the seats. In this HYBRID4’s case, perhaps because of its considerable weight, the suspension does struggle somewhat with sharper imperfections, responding more noisily and firmly - something I did not experience in the larger yet lighter 5008.

Peugeot 5008 1.5 BlueHDI

Turning to the 5008, which I also drove, albeit for less time, it featured not only the diesel engine and EAT8 automatic gearbox but also the more modest Allure Pack specification. Its presentation is more restrained than that of the 3008 HYBRID4 GT, inside and out, and it is not as generously equipped.

The 5008 is defined by its longer wheelbase and overall length, dimensions that allow it to accommodate a third row with two folding seats. While these two extra seats are the 5008’s main reason for being, it was the second row where I found its greatest advantages over the 3008.

Not only are there three individual seats, but they also slide fore and aft, bringing a versatility the 3008 cannot match and a great deal - truly a great deal - of legroom. Fold the third row down and you also gain a boot whose usable floor area must rival that of some studio flats…

For anyone needing space, or regularly travelling with a full load of people or belongings, the Peugeot 5008 is undoubtedly the better-suited choice. That led me to have a few reservations about this 1.5 BlueHDI. There is nothing wrong with the engine itself - I like it a great deal - but, while its 130 hp moves the 5008’s nearly 1600 kg competently, the fact remains that I was the only person on board.

Looking in the rear-view mirror at the length of car stretching out behind me, and imagining it filled with passengers, would it still be up to the task? That is something we are keen to establish on a future, longer test. The 5008 has other powertrains better suited to that role, such as the more appealing 180 hp 2.0 BlueHDI. Unlike the 3008, the 5008 has no hybrid variants, although in the Portuguese market this engine brings an absurd €7000 increase in price.

In conclusion

Despite the facelift and the expanded technology, the updated Peugeot 3008 and 5008 remain true to themselves from behind the wheel. No chassis revisions were announced, and comfort still takes priority over dynamic sharpness.

For some, the i-Cockpit remains challenging: to see the instrument panel, the driver has to look over the small, non-round steering wheel. It does not bother me and I rather like this solution, but I understand that others may find it impossible to achieve a satisfactory driving position. I would simply welcome a little more steering weight, as it feels too light in Normal mode. At times, this can create extra body movement, because the lack of resistance and the wheel’s compact dimensions can encourage more abrupt steering inputs than intended.

Neither Peugeot offering is among the most affordable choices, but their prices are not far removed from what is found elsewhere in the segment. The Peugeot 5008 Allure Pack 1.5 BlueHDI EAT8 costs almost €43,000, while the Peugeot 3008 HYBRID4 GT exceeds €54,000. These are high figures, but they are offset by a distinctive image that stands apart from more conventional alternatives, adequate quality and a pleasant on-board environment.

In the case of the plug-in hybrid offering, the HYBRID4 GT variant is available only to private buyers. For companies, the HYBRID4 version is offered solely in Allure and Allure Pack trim levels.