The afternoon sun bounced off the distinctive LED “fangs” of Peugeot’s refreshed 5008 as it sat outside the French brand’s Sydney headquarters. This seven-seat SUV has always cut a striking figure among the more conventional family haulers that dominate Australian driveways, but something significant has changed for 2025 – and it’s not just the subtly updated styling.
“We’ve reconsidered our position in the market,” admitted Pierre Leclerc, Peugeot Australia’s Managing Director, as we walked around the vehicle. “Australian families want European design and technology, but not at any cost. We’ve listened, and we’ve responded.”
That response comes in the form of substantial price cuts across the 5008 range, with the entry-level GT now starting at $57,990 drive-away – a whopping $8000 less than the previous model. It’s a bold move that directly targets mainstream seven-seat SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, while maintaining Peugeot’s premium positioning.
But in Australia’s ultra-competitive family SUV market, is a price cut enough to lure buyers away from established favorites? I spent a week with the 2025 5008 to find out if this French contender has what it takes to break through.
Pricing and Lineup: The French Revolution
The revised 5008 range has been significantly simplified, with just two variants now offered:
- 5008 GT: $57,990 drive-away (previously $65,990 plus on-roads)
- 5008 GT Premium: $64,990 drive-away (previously $71,990 plus on-roads)
Both variants are powered by the same 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 133kW and 250Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.
“We’ve taken a hard look at what Australian buyers actually want,” explained Sarah Thompson, Peugeot Australia’s product planning manager. “Rather than offering multiple engine choices or entry-level variants with reduced equipment, we’re focusing on well-equipped models at sharper price points.”
This strategy puts the 5008 in an interesting position. It’s now priced directly against high-spec versions of mainstream seven-seaters like the Santa Fe Highlander ($62,000), Kia Sorento GT-Line ($65,000), and Mazda CX-90 G50e Touring ($65,000), while undercutting European competitors like the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace ($68,000) and Skoda Kodiaq RS ($71,000).
The approach makes sense on paper, but how does it translate to the actual product?
Exterior: Standing Out in the School Pickup Line
If there’s one area where the 5008 has never needed improvement, it’s visual impact. While many family SUVs blend into the background, the Peugeot makes a statement.
“I was doing the school pickup run, and three different parents came up to ask what it was,” laughed Michael Chen, a 42-year-old IT consultant who I met at a Peugeot owners’ meetup in Melbourne. “That never happened with my old Kluger.”
For 2025, Peugeot has refined rather than reinvented the 5008’s exterior. The front end features the brand’s latest design language, with vertical LED daytime running lights that extend down from the headlights like illuminated fangs. These frame a new grille pattern that varies depending on the variant – a mesh design for the GT and a more elaborate geometric pattern for the GT Premium.
The profile remains distinctively 5008, with a relatively long wheelbase, clean lines, and a floating roof effect created by blacked-out pillars. At the rear, the changes are more subtle, with revised LED taillights featuring the three-claw signature lighting that’s become a Peugeot trademark.
New 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels are standard across the range, with the GT Premium getting a more intricate design. Seven exterior colors are available, including the striking Elixir Red shown in press photos (a $1,290 option) and the new Obsession Blue metallic ($1,090).
Standing next to the Santa Fe and Sorento at a dealer compound in Sydney’s northern suburbs, the Peugeot’s European design sensibilities were immediately apparent. Where the Korean SUVs project rugged capability with their blocky proportions and prominent wheel arches, the 5008 offers a more urbane sophistication.
“It’s a different approach to family transport,” noted automotive designer Paul Beranger when I asked for his professional assessment. “Peugeot understands that many SUV buyers never leave the tarmac, so they’ve designed a vehicle that prioritizes on-road presence and aerodynamics over the pretense of off-road ability.”
This focus extends to the dimensions, with the 5008 measuring 4641mm long, 1844mm wide, and 1646mm tall – making it slightly longer but lower than most competitors. The lower height contributes to the more car-like appearance but doesn’t compromise interior space thanks to clever packaging.
Interior: French Flair Meets Family Function
Sliding into the driver’s seat of the 5008, you’re immediately reminded that this isn’t a conventional family hauler. Peugeot’s i-Cockpit layout – featuring a small steering wheel that you look over (rather than through) to see the digital instruments – remains divisive, but it’s an approach that has defined the brand’s recent products.
“It takes about three days to get used to, and then everything else feels wrong,” said Jennifer Williams, a Peugeot 3008 owner considering an upgrade to the 5008. “My husband hated it on the test drive, but now he steals my car whenever he can.”
The dashboard architecture wraps around the driver, with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster positioned higher than in most vehicles, and a 10-inch touchscreen angled toward the driver. Physical toggle switches below the screen provide shortcuts to key functions – a welcome feature in an era where many manufacturers bury essential controls in touch menus.
Materials throughout the cabin are impressive, with liberal use of soft-touch surfaces, satin chrome accents, and intricate stitching patterns. The GT gets cloth and leatherette upholstery, while the GT Premium features full Nappa leather with heating and massage functions for the front seats.
Both variants feature ambient lighting with 8 color choices, automatic dual-zone climate control, and an electrochromic rear-view mirror. The GT Premium adds quad-zone climate control, allowing separate temperature settings for second-row passengers.
The front seats deserve special mention – they’re supremely comfortable for long journeys, with excellent support and a wide range of adjustments. The driving position is relatively high for what’s essentially a large crossover, providing the elevated view that SUV buyers crave.
Moving to the second row, three individual seats can slide, recline, and fold independently – a feature not all competitors offer. Legroom is generous, and the flat floor makes the middle seat more usable than in many rivals. Each seat has ISOFIX anchors, making this a genuinely versatile family vehicle.
The third row is less impressive, with seats that are realistically suitable only for children or smaller adults on short journeys. Access is reasonable thanks to the sliding second row, but once seated, both headroom and legroom are tight for adults. This is one area where larger competitors like the Hyundai Palisade have a clear advantage.
With all seats in place, the boot capacity is a modest 237 liters – enough for a grocery run but not much more. Fold the third row flat (which creates a completely level load floor), and this expands to 702 liters, extending to 1,940 liters with the second row also folded. A power tailgate is standard across the range.
“We’ve designed the 5008 for families who occasionally need seven seats, not those who use all seats all the time,” explained Thompson. “Our research shows most buyers in this category use the third row less than 10% of the time, so we’ve optimized for five-seat comfort and cargo capacity.”
Technology: Sophisticated but Simplified
The 2025 model year brings significant tech updates to the 5008, centered around the new i-Connect infotainment system. The 10-inch touchscreen features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation, and over-the-air update capability.
The system is notably more responsive than its predecessor, with cleaner graphics and a more intuitive menu structure. Voice control functionality has been expanded and now recognizes natural language commands for navigation, media, and climate functions.
“We’ve focused on simplifying the digital experience,” said Thompson. “Technology should make life easier, not more complicated.”
A 10-speaker sound system is standard on the GT, while the GT Premium gets a 10-speaker Focal premium audio setup that delivers impressive clarity and depth. Both variants feature wireless smartphone charging, USB-C ports for all three rows, and a 12-volt socket in the cargo area.
The driver-assistance package is comprehensive, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and autonomous emergency braking that detects pedestrians and cyclists.
The GT Premium adds a 360-degree camera system (the GT makes do with a reversing camera), automated parking assistance, and a head-up display that projects crucial information onto a panel above the instrument cluster rather than onto the windshield.
A particularly clever feature is the night vision system available on the GT Premium, which uses an infrared camera to detect pedestrians or animals beyond the range of the headlights, displaying their outlines on the digital instrument cluster.
“I thought it was a gimmick until I nearly hit a kangaroo on a country road,” admitted Chen. “The system spotted it before I did, highlighted it on the display, and gave me time to brake.”
Driving Experience: Comfort Over Corner-Carving
Peugeot has historically positioned itself as offering more engaging driving dynamics than mainstream competitors, but the 5008’s focus is squarely on comfort and refinement.
The 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (133kW/250Nm) is adequate rather than exciting, providing reasonable acceleration but lacking the effortless torque of larger-displacement engines found in some rivals. The 0-100km/h sprint takes 9.2 seconds – respectable for a seven-seat SUV but not class-leading.
What the powertrain does offer is refinement. The engine remains hushed at cruising speeds, and the eight-speed automatic transmission shifts seamlessly, keeping the engine in its optimal range. Fuel consumption during my week of mixed driving settled at 8.1L/100km – not far off the official combined figure of 7.3L/100km.
The suspension strikes an excellent balance between comfort and control. Speed bumps and potholes are absorbed with minimal cabin disturbance, yet there’s not excessive body roll when cornering. The steering is light at low speeds, making parking maneuvers easy, but weights up naturally as speeds increase.
“We’ve spent considerable time tuning the suspension specifically for Australian roads,” noted Leclerc. “European settings are often too firm for the varied surfaces you encounter here, so we’ve found a better compromise.”
Road and wind noise suppression is impressive, creating a serene cabin environment even on coarse chip surfaces. This refinement extends to the brake pedal feel, which is progressive and easy to modulate – not always the case with electro-mechanical systems.
One notable absence is all-wheel drive – the 5008 remains front-wheel drive only, unlike many competitors that offer AWD at least as an option. For most urban and suburban users, this won’t be an issue, but it might give pause to those who regularly venture onto gravel roads or snow-covered mountains.
“We considered introducing all-wheel drive,” admitted Thompson, “but it would have added weight, complexity, and cost without delivering benefits for the majority of our customers. We’ve instead focused on making the best front-wheel drive experience possible.”
This focus includes an advanced traction control system with specific modes for snow, mud, and sand, which adjusts throttle response and stability control parameters to maximize grip. It’s not a substitute for proper all-wheel drive, but it does provide added confidence in less-than-ideal conditions.
Ownership: Peace of Mind Comes Standard
Perhaps recognizing that warranty coverage has become a key consideration for Australian buyers, Peugeot has improved its ownership proposition for the 2025 model year.
All 5008s now come with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometer warranty – matching Kia and MG as the longest in the Australian market. This is supplemented by seven years of roadside assistance and capped-price servicing.
Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km, with the first five services priced at $399, $599, $399, $699, and $399 respectively – totaling $2,495 over five years. While not the cheapest in the class, this represents a significant improvement over previous Peugeot models and provides cost certainty for owners.
“The perception that European vehicles are expensive to maintain is something we’re actively addressing,” explained Leclerc. “We’ve worked with our dealer network to ensure parts availability and technical training, while also structuring service pricing to be competitive with mainstream brands.”
Peugeot has also expanded its dealer network, now with 35 locations nationwide. While this doesn’t match the footprint of Toyota or Mazda, it does ensure that most metropolitan and major regional centers have representation.
The Verdict: A Compelling Alternative
After a week with the 2025 Peugeot 5008, I found myself genuinely impressed by how well it balanced distinctive character with family practicality. The price reductions make it a far more compelling proposition than before, bringing European design and sophistication within reach of more Australian families.
Is it perfect? No. The third row is tight, some competitors offer more powerful engines or all-wheel drive, and the i-Cockpit layout won’t suit everyone. But these compromises are offset by the 5008’s strengths: distinctive styling, a premium interior, excellent ride comfort, and a comprehensive equipment list.
“We don’t expect to outsell the Santa Fe or RAV4,” said Leclerc candidly as we concluded our discussion. “But we do believe there’s room in the market for an alternative that prioritizes design, comfort, and technology over outright space or off-road pretensions.”
That honesty about the 5008’s positioning is refreshing and accurate. This isn’t a vehicle that tries to be all things to all people – instead, it offers a clearly defined alternative for buyers willing to look beyond the obvious choices.
For families seeking something different from the usual suspects without breaking the bank, the 2025 Peugeot 5008 deserves a place on the shortlist. It’s a reminder that family transportation needn’t be boring, and that French flair can indeed coexist with everyday practicality – especially when the price is right.
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