New Peugeot 5008 test drive: Some mighty fine features to check out!
The Peugeot 5008, one of this year's AutoTrader South African COTY semi-finalists, is a new French SUV that is going to amaze you with its futuristic design, large array of modern features, spaciousness, and practicality.
Like the last model launches from the Lion brand, the 5008 range includes:
- A well-equipped Allure version, and a
- A high-end trimmed, sportier-looking GT Line version.
There are two petrol engines available for the all-new 5008 SUV:
- 1.6L THP 121kW six speed automatic turbo-petrol, and a
- 2.0L HDI 110kW six-speed automatic turbo-diesel.
These five features should grab your attention when you take the Peugeot 5008 for a test drive...
1. The compact steering wheel and stylish asymmetrical front fascia
The trendy interior layout is the first thing that you'll notice when you step inside, but also take a closer look at the upmarket materials used as well as the good quality buttons and switchgear. We adore the piano-key shortcut buttons for air-conditioning and vehicle settings, navigation, and so forth.
It feels rather strange to take hold of the diminutive steering wheel , but there's method in the madness. As per Peugeot, “With arms no longer needing to be so open and wide to grasp the steering wheel, the breadth of movement during manoeuvres is reduced, thus making the driver more responsive and agile, in a more relaxed driving position.” In other words, it's just easier to drive, especially in the city.
We are smitten with these piano key buttons...
Related: New Peugeot 5008 review
2. Peugeot's driver-centric i-Cockpit
Peugeot says that for several years now, they've been “profoundly rethinking the driving cabin environment in order to offer a superior automotive experience."
The above mentioned compact steering wheel, head-up virtual instrument panel and large central touchscreen all make up the Peugeot's i-Cockpit. See how easy it is to concentrate on the road ahead when you don't have to focus twice when switching your gaze between the instrument binnacle and the traffic in front of you.
Related: 10 things we love about the Peugeot 5008 (video)
And the central touchscreen intuitively displays all comfort controls (radio, air conditioning etc.) and offers natural control of all the vehicle's information and equipment. The i-Cockpit features voice control, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is standard.
Oh, and look out for the i-Cockpit® Amplify button in the middle of the dashboard to “instantly stimulate four sensual experiences at once”. This gives you the option of customizing the cabin to soothe the senses, through
- adjustments to screen colour and compartment lighting intensity;
- musical ambience settings and acoustic profiles;
- multi-point seat massage programs (on GT Line models)
- a fragrance diffuser with a choice of four different fragrances!
3. Radar- and camera-based semi-autonomous driving assistance systems
All models are equipped with an array of semi-self-driving tech. This forms part of Peugeot's Safety pack, which include Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS) and Distance Alert Systems (in the GT Line), as well as Active Lane Keeping Assistance, Driver attention warning, Smart Beam Assistance, Speed recognition, and Adaptive cruise control with auto-stop feature.
While the adaptive cruise control system we've encountered isn't the most user-friendly, one eventually gets used to operating the fingertip controls mounted to the minute steering wheel to set your speed limit and preferred distance between yourself and the car in front of you.
Active blind spot monitoring, Park Assist and Visio Park (with an array of cameras for 180-degree vision on the GT Line variant) also ensure you and your precious cargo stay safe, and your 5008 remain as handsome as the day you drove it from the showroom floor.
Related: Re-inventing Peugeot in SA
4. Standard safety equipment
While you can't really "check out this feature" when you test drive the 5008 (unless you drive into a tree, which we don't recommend), we feel that we should mention the 5008's 5-star EuroNCAP rating and other passive/active safety gear such as ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill-start assist, traction and stability control, six airbags, privacy glass, and fog lamps. GT Line models also have sat-nav. The award-winning 3008 and 5008 share that five-star rating as they come equipped with the same amount of safety features.
5. Removable rear seats!
The third row seats are not always in use, and should the need arise to load unusually long or oddly-shaped items, both seats can easily be removed by pulling a lever, and re-installation is easy-as-pie too. With all 7 seats in an upright position, the boot is still a gargantuan 780 litres, which can be increased to 1940 litres when you fold the seats flat. And did you know that the third row seats can fold, recline or tumble forward independently? Also take note of the retractable window blinds and 'airplane' trays attached to the front seats. Whether you're taking the kids camping or embarking on a mountain bike trail with bikes in the rear, you can't go wrong with the 5008.
*Current pricing
- Peugeot 5008 16T Allure, R534 900
- Peugeot 5008 2.0HDi Allure, R554 900
- Peugeot 5008 1.6 GT Line, R579 900
- Peugeot 5008 2.0HDi GT Line, R599 900
(*Correct as per November 2019)
For more info, see the Peugeot 5008 brochure here.
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Launch report: Re-inventing Peugeot in South Africa
Source: Peugeot SA
