Peugeot's 5008 Is For Those Who Want to Stand Out

Peugeot has had somewhat of an uneven history here in the Philippines. It had a short but memorable stint in the country in 2005, but in 2012, the brand established a more serious competitive presence when Eurobrands Distributor Inc. took over. The lineup back then included sedans, a compact crossover, and a sporty coupe, led by the 3008, the 5008, the 508, and the RCZ. 

This year, Peugeot announced that it has a new partner distributor in Manila—Astara, which was formerly known as Bergé Auto. This means a more aggressive push to reintroduce the French brand to Filipinos, which it sorely needs given the noticeable absence of the Peugeot marque on local streets.

Personally, the last time I drove a Peugeot, it was a 508 and it was 2014. I remember getting appreciative looks from passersby and even inquiries about the car from total strangers. Again, it’s probably because there aren’t too many cars here carrying the brand with a lion standing on its two hind legs and two front paws out in an attack stance.

Photo by PJ Cana.

Peugeot 5008 drive

Eight years later, I found myself behind the wheel of a Peugeot; this time, it was a 5008. The seven-seater SUV is the current “hero” model for the brand, at least here in country. (The smaller, five-seat 3008 was launched just a few weeks later). In terms of looks, the 5008 is quite a headturner—the black model that arrived just outside my gate might bear some similarities to other models in its class, but there’s no mistaking it’s a Peugeot when you’re looking at it from the front. Besides the distinctive standing lion logo over the frameless grille (and “5008” just above it), the sculpted and sloped hood and the attention-grabbing LED headlights are unlike anything that’s out there.

Photo by PJ Cana.

The 5008 is powered by a 1.6-liter Twin Scroll Turbo High Pressure Engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission capable of churning out 165hp and 240Nm of torque. That translates to adequate power when overtaking trucks and other SUVs on city roads with just the barest nudge on the accelerator.

Inside I’ll admit it took a while to get used to where everything was. There’s a range of practical (meaning physical) buttons and knobs in the dashboard—multimedia, climate control, navigation, etc. This is great if you’re still the old school type that likes everything to be tactile, but the 10-inch color touchscreen works just as well, too. Bluetooth connectivity was a breeze and the speakers emitted crystal clear audio. And that panoramic sunroof that stretches nearly all the way out to the back is an exceptional feature that will please any fan of the outdoors.

Photo by PJ Cana.

One minor inconvenience is the door lock has been relocated to one of these buttons in the center console instead of the more conventional position in the driver’s side door; I had to look for it the first time to unlock the door in order to let a passenger in. But that’s a non-issue if you’re going to drive this every day. A big plus is that the vehicle is capable of wireless phone charging, which I discovered after placing my phone on the center cavity and a phone icon lit up green. That’s a nifty feature that’s much appreciated in today’s world where we’re practically glued to our phones 24/7.

A calm, comfortable ride 

A definite highlight of driving the 5008 is the butter-soft suspension that somehow deadens the impact on off-road surfaces. I’ve driven other vehicles in this class and you’ll have to look at top-tier luxury models to experience a calmer, more comfortable ride. 

Photo by PJ Cana.

I took the vehicle on a laidback drive up to a picnic spot in Tanay, Rizal. There was a stretch of rough, unpaved road in the last 300 meters to the location that was pretty brutal, and while I don’t think Peugeot meant for the 5008 to take on such punishing conditions, it’s nice to know that the vehicle handled it like a champ. I also managed to jump in and check out the middle row, which offered surprisingly adequate legroom. (Unfortunately, I was unable to check out the last row with the two extra seats, but cargo space when the seats are folded was plenty). 

That just made me think of all the places and situations that you can bring this SUV to: an out-of-town excursion with six of your closest friends, a family getaway to a nearby beach or mountain resort, a quick run to the supermarket or hardware store to replenish supplies, or a solo trip to a quiet campsite—the 5008 is exactly the kind of vehicle you’d want or need.

Photo by PJ Cana.

And if you’re the type who absolutely has to stand out in a sea of sameness, that’s just another reason a Peugeot is the brand for you. 

The SRP of the Peugeot 5008 is P2.26 million. It is available in Emerald Crystal, Nera Black,
Pearl White, and Amazonite Grey. For more information, visit the website.