Peugeot 5008 SUV - Interior & comfort

Is your car’s dashboard made of black plastic? Does it feature rotary dials for the climate control below an infotainment screen? Is its gearlever the same as almost every gearlever you’ve ever held? If you’ve answered yes to those questions and fancy a change, look no further than the Peugeot 5008 – it sure is different, and makes a welcome change from the conventional familiarity of the Skoda Kodiaq, for example.

Peugeot 5008 dashboard

The piano-style keys, cloth inserts and digital dashboard may look cool, but they’re also very well made, lending the 5008 a distinctly premium feel. The wraparound dashboard design promotes a pleasant feeling of protection and, save for the almost-identical Peugeot 3008, there’s nothing else like it on sale today.

Peugeot has taken the generous decision to fit all 5008s with its i-Cockpit digital dashboard. It’s a neat system that allows you to view route guidance from the sat nav, say, without having to glance away from the dead-ahead. It was updated for the car's facelift, getting a new 10-inch infotainment display and an updated version of the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Something you may have to glance away for, annoyingly, is the air-conditioning. You know those rotary dials we mentioned above? They’re a default style of switch for a reason, as they can be operated intuitively and by touch alone. The 5008’s heating and air-con controls are brought up by one of the seven silvered piano keys, which is a neat concession, but once selected, you’re forced to use the touchscreen if you want to change a setting. This is about the only negative in the whole interior though, and it’s one we’re willing to overlook.

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Equipment

The 5008 range is currently split into three trims: Active Premium+ marks the entry point and is followed by Allure Premium+ and range-topping GT. In addition to the i-Cockpit and touchscreen, all 5008s get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign detection and a driver fatigue monitoring system, plus LED lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and a reversing camera.

The Allure Premium+ trim – with its 10-inch infotainment screen, sat nav, 18-inch alloy wheels, aluminium front door sills, pedals and roof rails, and part-leather-effect seats – is likely to be the pick of the range. This version also gets a contrast black roof, keyless entry, swathes of fabric trim, ambient lighting, rear tray tables and window blinds. 

GT adds adaptive LED headlights, a black contrasting roof, adaptive cruise control and an interior makeover. The facelift also added new half-leather seats with copper stitching. Previously, a GT Premium model was offered, bolstering an already-strong kit list with features like a Focal stereo system, heated front seats and a powered tailgate.

Options

Metallic paint should come in at around £600, while convenience-boosting features like a powered tailgate (£400) are also likely to prove tempting. The standard stereo system can be upgraded to the Focal premium speaker system for around £600 and it's also possible to add a wireless smartphone charger for £120.

Night vision technology can be added to the GT trims for £1,300, while an opening panoramic glass roof costs £900. You can also upgrade the alloy wheels for around £300. As part of the facelift, it's also possible to upgrade to Red Nappa leather upholstery and a dark lime wood door trim for the first time.