Sector: Compact MPV Price: £24,245 Fuel: 54.3mpg CO2: 135g/km

Peugeot has added a new 308-inspired front end on the 5008 MPV. It’s a relatively subtle update, comprising reshaped headlights and a new bumper, but losing the fussy grilles and chrome accents for the new corporate front end does a convincing job of taking the car upmarket.

Badging is a little confusing here. Peugeot no longer offers a large MPV, apart from the van-derived Expert Teepee, but despite the 5008 nametag this is based on the same platform as the old 308 and last-generation Citroen C4 Picasso. It’s a compact MPV, rather than a true part of the sizeable 508’s model cluster.

Peugeot has put its efforts into the 2008 and 3008 crossovers in recent years, leaving sister brand Citroen’s Picasso series as the group’s headline MPV offerings. Helped by customer tastes, the mechanically similar 3008 has sold 56,323 cars since it arrived in the UK at the end of 2009, while the 5008 has sold 14,026 despite only arriving a few months later.

While this hasn’t had the recognition of the C4 Picasso, it does benefit from some shared DNA. The middle row features three individually sliding seats, of which the outer two have bases which tip upwards to allow access to the third row. These rise easily out of a concertina boot floor to seat seven.

Collapse all except the front row and there’s a completely flat load area from the tailgate to the front seatbacks, and the squared off back end means this is very flexible for what is still a relatively compact car. With the rearmost rows folded flat, it can swallow 2,104 litres of luggage, and on Active and Allure trim levels, every seat except the driver’s can fold flat though the seatback is slightly higher than the rest of the load area.

What it doesn’t get is the new EMP2 platform found under the new C4 Picasso family, and the packaging benefits which come with it. This means the third row seating is really only for short journeys and short people, with limited headroom despite the back end shape and shallow footwells, and luggage for seven would require a roof box. But, with the rear seats folded, the boot space is wide, flat and very usable.

Peugeot is enjoying high popularity for its best-equipped models, and the same is true of the 5008. Over half (58%) of UK sales are the top Allure trim level, which includes a panoramic glass roof, satellite navigation and sun visors for the second and third row seats.

Engine options are starting to look a little dated, though. The 5008 features PSA’s familiar 113bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine, fitted to 84% of UK cars, but it doesn’t feature the e-HDI ‘micro hybrid’ system unless you opt for the clutchless manual gearbox. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions without this are looking a little outdated, but the claimed 54.3mpg does seem achievable on motorway journeys with a steady right foot.

Next generation BlueHDI diesels are arriving in time for Euro 6, and these should help nudge running costs a little closer to competition. With the better looking new nose, that stands to help make this a more appealing option.

Verdict:

Understated and smart, with a flexible and well-designed interior, the 5008 is a decent MPV but now outclassed by the new C4 Picasso and outstripped on desirability, for drivers who don’t need the third row of seats, by the robust 3008 crossover