Car Statistics: Peugeot - 5008 Series 10 (4 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

Peugeot's new design language has arrived. Along with the 3008, the 5008 is a sign of things to come, and the news is generally good. The MPV's nose is far more elegant than it might've been had it come off the production line five years ago and the car's size is well concealed by clean, angular lines.

Handling (4 stars)

The ethos behind Peugeot's current product offensive is greater driver enjoyment so it's no coincidence that the 5008 handles reasonably well. There's a decent amount of grip and little understeer, but don't try turning the traction control off because you can't. The steering is direct enough to instil confidence, just don't expect S-Max levels of involvement.

Comfort (3 stars)

The 5008's respectable handling comes at price. The firm suspension means the car doesn't ride quite as well as the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso with which it shares its underpinnings. The cabin is reasonably comfortable though, and the rear seats can be moved forward and back for extra legroom.

Quality (3 stars)

Peugeot insists it has raised its game in the quality stakes, but the 5008 doesn't completely bear this out. The dash and raised centre console are fine, but further back in the cabin the car becomes markedly more utilitarian. As such, the Sport trim seems to suit the 5008 better than the conspicuously flashy Exclusive.

Performance (3 stars)

The 156bhp THP 1.6-litre petrol engine is the quickest version of the 5008 (0-60mph in 9.7sec) but its extra performance doesn't translate into desirability. Peugeot's diesel engines are a better bet. The 2.0-litre HDi delivers 251lb ft of torque in noisy fashion, but does make for effortless progress; the 1.6-litre HDi has been around forever in one form or another, but is hard to fault.

Roominess (4 stars)

As you might expect from a seven-seater, the 5008 delivers a spacious cabin more than up to the job of swallowing a large family. Utilising the third row of seats will inevitably shrink the boot, but stow them away and there's plenty of room to play with. Lowering all the seats reveals a van-like load space.

Costs (3 stars)

Peugeot claims the 1.6-litre HDI engine will return 53mpg, but somewhere closer to 45mpg would be more realistic in the real world. Peugeot quotes an optimistic 38mpg for the smaller 120bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine.

Value (3 stars)

The entry-level Peugeot 5008 is cheaper than than the C4 Grand Picasso and the Ford S-Max, but things largely equal out further up the range. The mid-level Sport trim should be the big seller and its equipment levels aren't bad, but we'd still tick the glass roof and rear vision pack option boxes.

Stereo (2 stars)

Peugeot's poorly designed sat-nav is an option even on the top-of-the-range Exclusive trim. The stereo is adequate, but for a bit more cash Peugeot will install two 7-inch video screens in the front head restraints that can be connected to a games console or DVD player.