what is the difference between the 3rd generation and the old generation?

The impact of the chain and the durability of the obstacles, the new Peugeot 5008 continues to grow. Originally a small family car, released in 2009 and beautifully distinguished from the 3008, it was in fact quickly transformed into an SUV under the pressure of customer demand for this body type, and the second generation instead took the form of the elongated 3008 in 2017. Seven years later, the third rears its head. A nose that is compelling to say the least, like its new overall design.

Based on the new STLA Medium modular platform from the Stellantis group, it begins its work mainly with the introduction of the 100% electric versions “E-5008” which will be combined with a plug-in hybrid version. With the accommodation of the battery that this requires, it is necessary to raise its passenger compartment and its total length, which gains 5 cm (1.69 m). Whether for the same reason or to maintain a certain sense of proportion, the length and width increase at the same time by 15 cm (4.79 m) and 5 cm (1.89 m).

A major development that recalls the growth of 2008, which became one of the largest in its category during the transition of its generation, on the edge of the upper segment, between the city SUV and the compact SUV. Today, it is the 5008 that seems to hesitate between a family SUV and a street SUV, closer to the Kia Sorento (4.81 m) than the Renault Espace (4.72 m).

What the 3008 lacked

With its high body line, it manages to hide its height advantage. And with its almost vertical tail, in any case straighter than that of the 3008, it brings back the profile of the original 5008. It also uses a high side lighting strip, extended to the rear roof pillar and replaced with matte. color and the abandonment of the use of all chrome in this generation. The sculpted tailgate blends in with the aggressive styling even better than the 3008, where it rises disproportionately below the nearly non-existent rear window. With its cut-out “claw” headlights complementing the black belt that connects them, the 5008 thrives on change.

In terms of the bow, it is similar to that of the new 3008 with its attractive grille gradually blending into the bodywork, its beautiful, high-mounted headlights, its reoriented claws and its thin, very balanced hood. Everything is more effective than in the compact, including the integration of large matte black rims, almost perfect and a little tortured, more logical on this big car. And it’s still worse than the old 5008, with more finesse on details, curves on various parts of the body, relative rotation at certain angles. We also get this emphasis on the bodywork through its junction and glazing without visible joints, again to support the effects of strength and smoothness.

Immobilize passengers

Taking over the 3008’s dashboard, the 5008 achieves a similar step up in presentation compared to its predecessor. If we get this desire to cover the occupants and separate the driving area from the front passenger by the main central console, the implementation is intended to be more airy. The arch that runs from this console up to the dashboard has been repositioned on the driver’s side, even if it means lowering the left edge of his right knee. Passengers then benefit from more breathing space. The decorative insert, sometimes made of wood on the old ones, is replaced by a concave strip that is not available for touch, carbon effect or aluminum depending on the finish. This last material is accompanied by an ambient light reflected in it, whose customizable color can be appreciated even during the day.

The remaining surfaces are often covered with a mottled fabric, reducing the “plastic” appearance of the upper parts of the furniture. While the lower parts are meant to be lower quality. In the middle, the piano-style buttons disappear in favor of a touchscreen strip with 10 configuration shortcuts, returning to the main multimedia system screen. If the word “between” can still be used. The former’s digital instrument cluster and touchscreen tablet above the air vents have actually become one, in a floating design a few centimeters from the dashboard.

In the entry-level “Allure” range, the separation remains between two 10-inch displays. On the range-topping “GT” model, the panel is continuous and measures 21 inches diagonally. In order for the meters to be in front of the driver, this requires the multimedia screen to be repositioned slightly to the left and forward well below the windshield. It’s enough to mess up the steering wheel markings and make on-screen performance more difficult to achieve. But the effect of renewal is guaranteed.

The interface is more modern than on the old 5008 board, more fluid. But it is not a memory in the field since, despite this new avant-garde layout, it only uses the 308 system, among others. We remember the appearance of advanced voice control supported by ChatGPT artificial intelligence but nothing that makes a difference in the multimedia experience in Peugeot.

Allocation des areas

The impact on the size of its new platform also has a significant impact on the design of the living space. Especially the back. As before, there are seven seats on board and currently, the version that skips the third row is not available. The need to use the floor for batteries, for example, eliminates storage hatches in the floor. And the loading threshold is raised. It turns out to be higher than that of 3008.

The middle row loses its three individual seats, a legacy of the first generation as a small car. From now on, it’s a 2/3-1/3 bench but one that retains its 15-centimetre downhill performance and three reclining backs. The one in the middle even includes an arm rest. On the other hand, this place is narrower than before, this time you prefer to travel with side seats, which restore the lost centimeters in the middle.

The third row is the most welcoming

This provision however has other benefits. There is already a well-thought-out mechanism for enabling access to the last layer. And once it is installed in these seats, the comfort goes up compared to the old one. On the left seat, removing the floor slider by choosing a bench seat makes it easier to slide your feet down. And both seats benefit from a thicker and more flexible seat. The rear seats are also high and adults will have enough room to travel comfortably. Conversely, the seats are not insulated when the backrests are closed. Always so that you do not enter the battery and participate in this important threshold height in the trunk.

In terms of cargo space, the advantage mainly benefits the seven-seat configuration. Thanks to the bin under the floor that overflows under the two rear seats, for an additional 80 liters. With all seats occupied, there is 259 liters left, up 93 liters compared to the previous 5008.

In the five-seat configuration, volume increases to 748 litres, still among the best on the market but down 32 liters although it is more impressive on the outside. Finally, by folding all the backrests, a reduction of 47 liters is observed, for a total of 1,815 liters. But the floor remains flat.

Exhaust carbon removal

A good part of the modification of the 5008 therefore follows the technical and electrical requirements of the model. The diesel disappears and the petrol becomes a mini-hybrid, with a 136-horsepower access version equipped with an “e-DCS6” double-clutch gearbox and its integrated electric motor, powered by a small 48V battery. The “e-DCS7” version, with one more ratio and 195 horsepower, will include a plug-in hybrid version of the 5008, announced with an autonomy of 80 kilometers in electric mode.

But most versions are electric, with a choice of 210 or 230 horses for two-wheel drive and 320 horses with two motors and four-wheel drive. To ensure the declared ranges between 500 and 660 km according to the WLTP mixed cycle, the on-board accumulators have a capacity of 73 or 98 kWh, the first already exceeds only 500 kg… Like the 3008, the 5008 should lose somewhat in the dynamics of driving a car. Indeed the weight of change.