South Africans with a population-bolstering propensity will soon be treated to the option of a seven-seat Peugeot MPV, an alternative to established contenders like the Toyota Verso, Mazda5 and Renault Grand Scenic.
Design-wise the 5008 is evidently related to the 3008, except the styling portrays less off-road ambition and more of a people-carrier vibe.
Lighting was a key facet in the cabin design, the 5009 boasting a large windscreen and 1.69m2 panoramic glass roof. The MPV has three rows of seats, including three individual sliding and reclining seats of equal width in the middle row and a third row that Peugeot claims can accommodate two adults.
This MPV makes it easy to cater for the family's thirst on a long road trip thanks to a 10.5-litre centre console between the front seats and there's also a glut of small storage compartments for junk hoarders.
Entertainment is sorted too, the flagship 'Allure' model incorporating a 'Video Pack' multimedia system with two seven-inch colour monitors plonked onto the back of the front headrests.
High-tech gadgets upfront include a head-up display for essential driving information and the radar-based Distance Alert system that tells you, in seconds, how close you are to the car in front. Passive safety is sorted by standard curtain-level airbags covering all three rows, in addition to the usual front and front side bags.
Standard comfort items include automatic climate control, electronic parking brake, automatic windscreen wipers, rear parking sensors and a CD/MP3 player with USB slot and steering wheel controls. Leather trim is standard on the Allure model.
When extra luggage space is needed, the second and third seat rows can fold flat into the floor and with just the back row folded down the 5008 offers between 758 and 823 litres of boot space below the parcel shelf, depending on the positioning of the middle seats. Fold the middle seats too and you have a 2506 litre vortex to play with (or in).
Two engines are offered, these being the familiar 115kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbopetrol and 110kW/340Nm 2-litre HDi turbodiesel motors, the latter mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
PRICING:
1.6 THP Active - R282 000
2.0 HDi Active - R302 000
1.6 THP Allure AT - R314 300
Prices include a five-year/90 000km service plan and three-year/100 000km warranty.